New-York tribune., 1901-10-28

DR.. Brush when he accepted the nomination
for Mayor. said that he would meet Fiske on his
| own grounds. and he has kept his word. 1t has
been Mayor Fiske's CHEEKY disposition and ia
niliarity with the working people and the vol
unteer fremen that has enabled him to carry
Mount Vernon three times. But the popularity
of Mayor Fiske does not exceed the popularity
OF DIR. Brush. who is known as one of the most
public spirited citizens Mount Vernon has
| had In a generation, and is held in high esteem
| by all classes of citizens. The people have be-
gun to ask themselves why Mayor Fiske should
| want to be Mayor all the time. when it has been
| shown that If one man is permitted to hold the
| office four terms only about three citizens in a
| generation can have the honor OF being Mayor.
| The Republicans are making charges against
| the Democratic administration in Mount Ver-
non which are arousng many people from their
l dications are that DIR. Brush and the entire Re
| publican ticket will be triumphantly elected
| They say that thousands of dollars in valuable
| contracts have been given 10 TaHmany con-
| tractors and that enough money has been
| wasted in public printing to pay for the cost
part of $4,000 appropriated for a drawbridge
| over the Hutchinson River has been wasted.
| they declare, the steel is rusting on the
ground and the bukheads and pilings have
been carried away. and S1O0.0OO has been spent
in improving East Sixth-st., which there is
not a single dwelling. pumping station for
| sewage, estimated to cost about $4,000, cost
| almost three times that amount, they charge. and
is now not capable of doing the work The
| Democratic majority in the Board of Aldermen,
they continue, is endeavoring to spend S2OO.OOO
more for a sewage disposal works. when this
system OF dsposing of garbage. ETC., is admitted
TO be In the experimental stage.
Mayor Fiske is accused OF signing a ten years
contract with the local water company. aggre-
eating something like S0OO.tOO. without giving
public hearing on the question. According to
| the terms of this contract every householder
must pay not less than $12 a year for water.
For this the Mayor and Aldermen were con-
| dernned by a committee of the Board of Trade
appointed to investigate. The Democrats claim
that some Republican Aldermen voted for this
contract Nevertheless, DR.. Brush bitterly
opposed to it at the time that the contract was
| signed. and endeavoring to secure a mu-
nicipal water plant for Mount Vernon.
| The most interesting thing that has come out
about the Democratic administration is the
posure OF the state of affairs in the Office of the
| City Clerk. 1t has been shown that that off,
cial deposited the city's money with his own in
the FIRST National Bank. and then checked the
money on deposit out 10 various Democratic
politicians. including some OF the Democratic
ofnceholders and Mayor Fiske himself. When
called on by committee who desired to see his
cancelled checks, the City Clerk refused to show
them. he said they were his private affairs
| When questioned closely he declared that he
had burned up his cancelled checks The Re-
publicans do not charge City Clerk Hoyt with
any shortage. but they do hold that the manner
| In which he conducts his Office is far from be-
| ing up to the standard required in any we'll
| regulated business institution. In order IL pos
| sible, 70 save his administration Mayor Fiske
has been forced to announce that il he is
elected he Will not appoint Hoyt to another
l
| The Republicans also dispute the statement
that Mayor Ffske has built more good streets
| than any one who ever held the Office They say
| that under Mayors Brush and Lewis more miles
| or streets were built year than under Mayor
| Ftske, and at a less cost. They also attack the
| administration in the gift of Hartley Park to
| the city They say that, notwithstanding the
land was given by Mr. Hartley. who is a lawyer
| or this city, the Democrats tried 70 spend
$500 or more searching the title. This bill is
still hung up in the Common Council as the
| Republicans have voted not 10 pay IT, The
park contains about two acres and the Repub-
| lcans say that notwithstanding IL Is a gift IL
| VIII cost the city about $4,000
| The answer of Mayor Fiskes newspapers to
| the charges against him are that the RepubIi-
| cans are eXaggerating the local conditions and
| throwing mud They declare that the Repub-
| icans In the Board Of Aldermen are blocking
the progress OF the city by objecting to public
! | improvements, and call them "obstructionists" I"
| Mayor Fiske. in his characteristics Way saws
that the issue is largely one between the De-
mocracy and Hypocrisy The Democrats are
20 end the campaign on November = with big
parade The Republicans are holding rallies
| nearly every night.
The result of no election I'm Mount Vernon In
years has been so eagerly awaited. The Re-
publicans are claiming the election OF their en-
tire ticket and majority in the Board OF Al
! dermen and, 10 some extent. their Judgment is
timely putting their money on Dr. Brush The
| Democrats admit that they have the fight OF
their lives on hand but they declare that they
viii win by a safe plurality.