New-York tribune., 1901-10-12
FROMME COULD GET 1T PAID
THAT MYSTERIOUS TYPEWRITER BILL
WOULD HAVE \ CHANCE IF TAM
MANY SHOULD WIN.

II Register Isaac Fromme should be elected
Borough President there is strong suspicion
that what many citizens believe is one Of the
most transparent Jobs ever perpetrated on the
city will be successfully carried through at a
cost of $4,000 to the taxpayers
Sleeping in Controller Coler's official ''icebox"
where many excessive bills have found a long
resting place is bill for $4,000 or there
abouts presented by the Elliott Hatch Book
Type Writing Company for about one hundred
book typewriting machines furnished TO the city
in 1898 under most peculiar circumstances.
If Tammany should elect its city and county
tickets Mr.. Fromme would have sufficient pull
to have the bill paid although there is nothing
to show that the city ever ordered the machines.
Mr.. Fromme was hauled over the Goals by the
Mazet Investigating Committee for this very
thing in the summer of 1899 and his examina-
Jion is recorded in volume T. page 1927, of
the minutes. At that time he could not or
would not give any satisfactory explanation
for the presence of the machines in his office.
He denied that he had ordered them. however.
and asserted that the city would not have to
pay cent for them.
His assertions counted for something until
bill from the company reached the office OF
Commissioner Kearny. who has charge of fur
nishing supplies of this character. Mr.. Kearny
refused to go K" the BILL and there was long
wrangle about it at that time. That was not
the last of the matter. however. Assemblyman
j. F. Smith a close personal friend of Register
Fromme who can be found almost any day in
front of the Registers Office, succeeded in get
ting passed at Albany bill authorizing the city
to pay the bill OF the typewriting concern. A
hearing the bill had before Mayor Van
Wyck. who allowed It to become a law. The
bill was permissive in it's character and when
the companys bill for the typewriting machines
reached Controller COler he laid il 10 side,
and ii has never been paid. 1t can be called up
before the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment at any time. however. and should Tam
many elect its ticket, with Edward NJ.
Shepard as Mayor. there is little doubt that
Fromme's influence. backed he is by Croker
and Sullivan. would be sufficient 10 get the bill
paid
When Mr. Fromme was seen with reference to
the matter at his office yesterday he said
Il never ordered those machines, and the city
never will have to pay for them"
How came they in your office?'' he asked.
The typewriting machine people sent them
there OF their accord. so far l know.
The machines that I ordered were necessary for
the discharge of the business of the Registers
office and they were paid for; but this bill for
$4,000 for over one hundred extra machines is
something that I never stood for"
Mr.. Fromme was feeling jubilant over his
nomination for Borough President. His friends
were sending him congratulatory messages all
day, and there air of great prosperity
around the Registers office
Il don't care how much you roast me about
that typewriting machine deal said Mr..
FTomme. There's nothing crooked about il.
The company never got pay for the extra
machines. because never ordered them. I want
10 say that if am elected Borough President
I will not stand for anything crooked 7 will not
stand for any Shakedown' by an official under
me. | shall conduct the office in q manner that
will rebound to the credit of the city and my
self" after declaring which Mr. Fromme rushed
off to talk with Borough President COOgan.
of his callers.