The sun., 1901-05-03
C0LER WILL REALLY QUIT
AND NOT RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN. THEY
SAY. Nv WALL STREET.


become Head Of Large Financial In
stitution-Hc wont Tell What His Plans
Are Has an idea for Wig -ancc Committee.
It became known in Wall Street yester-
day that a very fiauering offer had been
made to Comptroller Coler by large
financial institution which Is so adyan-
tageous that. according to report, he has
made up his mind to forsake offlce-hold-
ing at the expiration of his term on the 3st
Of December of this year, and devote him
self entirely TO business. Up to the time
that the present revision of the Charter
was adopted the fees paid TO the Hon p
iroller of New York city for the collection
Of the Inheritance tax in the a.. county
OF New York have been so large that with
the addition Of tho salary OF $40, 900 which
went with the office. ey made the place
one 10 be sought. Under the provisions
of the Revised Charter the salary of tho
Comptroller is TO be SIS 900 year, and all
OF the fees hs collects are to be turned into
the State Treasury.
In his term Of office Mr. Coler has spent
great deal Of money. more. in fact, than
his salary has amounted to. Some per-
sons believe that he spent this money In
order TO keep his name before the public,
while others maintain that his only object
was TO protect the interests of the city.
Whatever MIR Coler's OBJ iect In spending
money so freely for counsel fees and in the
promotion of various public movements,
the fact remains that had II not been for
the fees of his office he would not have
made enough in It to cover his expenses.
At the same time he has made a reputation
which has gratifled him. He was the only
man who entered office without pledging
himself TO the Hon. Richard Croker TO
conduct the affairs Of his department as
secretly as might be possible Compared
with the secrecy Of the other departments
the publicity which has been given 10 the
affairs OF the Finance Department has
been as conspicuous ~ chalkmark on a
blackboard This condition Of affairs has
contributed not little TO the popular az
probation of the work Of the Finance De-
partment
II was said in Wall Street yesterday that
several prominent tlnancierS had been
impressed with AIr. Colers ability as an
executive. and his skill as an accountant
which were shown in the orderly manner
In which the accounts of nearly hundred
municipalities and other political sub
divisions were consolidated and arranged
after the ist Of January, 1898. These fnan-
cial experts have decided that Mr.. COler
possesses enough ability TO con duct
big bank or trust company, and they
have made advances 10 him which include
his acceptance al high salary Of the prrsi-
dency Of financial institution.
II could not be learned yesterday whether
the corporation Of which the Comptroller
IL 10 be the head is one which is now in
existence. or one which is TO be organized
but II was said that the inducements offered
70 the Comptroller were So great that hc
had made up his mind definitely not 10
accept any nomination for any Office on
the municipal ticket next fail
At one time influential members Of the
Citizens nion desired 10 make Mr. COlcr
the Anti-Iammany candidate for Mayor
According 10 political observers tie {. l.
2ens' Union has cooled considerably in It's
admiration for Comptroller tOiei in the
past three or four months. and as Il cooled
The managers Of Tammany Hall became
more and more anxious for him 10 accept
their nomination Tammany leaders have
not hastatod to say that Mr. Coer should
be their nominee for Mayor in spite Of
the bitter things that Mr.. Croker said about
him last fall
Other persons have said that Nr. Colcr
desired 10 be renOminated for the OflCe
which he now holds and that he would
accept a nomination for Comptroller on
practically any ticket tha, might bc PAT
in The field believing that his personal
prestige and popularity would carry him
through. Mr.. Coler has great confidence
IN the people, and last fall before the Demo
cratic STATE Convention in Saratoga he
believed TINT the delegates from Kings
county would not dare 10 vote against
him on the floor Of the convent ION As
u matter o' fact all OF the Kings county
Delegates except one voted against him
However. the men IL Wall Street who are
Interested IN g~eat financial transactions
know great deal about lCliiiCs and they
were agreed yesterday that Mr. Colnr
would find II 80 much 10 his advantage
10 quit oflCeholding and take TO working
for living that he would not permit lis
name TO be used before any convention
in the fall
When MIR Coler was seen Vt his home
IN Brooklyn last evening he refused 10
talk about hs uans All thar Mr. Coler
would say was,
Il am running my department now. and
| am not paying any attention 10 politics
There isn'r any polite. in the finances of
New lorl; city.
Mr. Colcr said vcr'rdav That nc was in
favor Of the organization Of great
Vigilance Committee Of business mon and
professional men which should havo for
It's object the protection o' New J orii city
from all sorts Of political Jobs ia lis
opinion this Vigilance Committee ought
20 watch clrefullyJv'ry act Of every legs
latiyc and executive officer OF the city an
the state. and raise its voice IN protest
whenever anything was proposed which
# beloved was detrimental 70 he interest,
Of the city. The Comptroller said that
il It We're known that all Of he legislation
m Albany ond in this city was TO be care
fully s.rujiui2ed by u committee Of clri-
2ens who intended 10 protect the interests
Of the city there wouldn't be very many
bad bills introduced.
coon NAV GONE WRONG. NE SiTD,