New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-23
BOSTON VICTIM OF CLIQUE,
AZ ALDERMAN VI lhE HC B" PUT 1T
N THE SAME CATEGORY AS NEW
YORK OR ST. LOUIS

BOSTON. Nov. 22-In an address befo-o -.
Tuentieth Century Club here George II Tir,,-
ham the alderman who represents the six+b
ar wealthy Back Bay district and who on sew
eral occasions has attracted attention by his
Independent ACTON IN connection with financial
matters before the city government declared
today that between New-York. with Tam
many in control. st. Louis. with it's ring and
Boston with its clique there is no difference q,
principle. and little difference in fact except
in organization
After reviewing the plan of organization of
The city government and the means of raising
money. Nj Tinkham said:
A place the Committee of Finance = toin+
committee Of both branches, empowered 10
make up the annual loan bill is considered bv
the politicians the most desira Bile because ~ A.
opportunities II is appointed by the presiding
officers Of each branch and the desire is ALWAYS
10 obtain men IN harmony with any scheme
which may be undertaken by the CLIQUE which
Is in control of the political machinery and
which usually is manipulated by the chairman
Of the Board OF Aldermen and president of the
common Council
The Finance Committee can only consider
loans which have been introduced in either
branch Of the city government or by the Nav
or II is necessary TO adopt some Of the recon-
rnendations of the Mayor in order to pIscate
him and give some appearance 10 the bill that
il is reasonab BILE. Then there Is added to the
bill all The political and corrupt items
The political items adopted on the princi-
DE OF II you VIII nelp me, j Will help
The corrupt items proposed and adopted by
understanding of the members of the CLIQUE
Such bill Is sure Of passage because the clique
has the votes.
The president of a Boston corporation told me
that when legislation of value TO his company
was pending before the Board of Aldermen
certain aldermen approached him and one alder
man, in particular, told him that his company
vas 10 receive something of value. and should
be willing to give a partial return: that in New
York he would have to contribute to Tammany:
IN St Louis TO the organization electng the al
dermen. but that in Boston il was each mans
fight: that he was not in politics for his health,
and that price must be paid the legislation
would not be granted.
The president upon being requested TO go be
fore The District Attorney said be would rather
pay the price than be connected with such
scandal
Mr. Tinkham related the following Incidents:
bridge was to be reconstructed both be
cause of its condition and the narrovness OF
its draw. loan for the purpose was before
the finance committee. Beyond this bridge
an establishment which would save thousands
Of dollars per annum lighterage by the
change II intima ted in plain terms to this
establishment that if money advanced TO
those IN control Of the clique the bridge would
he reconstructed, otherwise not.
AS step toward reform, the speaker offered
This suggestion:
What has been done in Chicag go by the Legis-
iative Voters League. which defeated a corrupt
CITY Council in 1897 and maintained a decent
CITY Council ever since, can be done in Bos-
ton.