New-York tribune., 1902-03-18
FISKE'S RECKLESS WAY.
COST or RUNNING 1T. YER
NON ARAHEAD OFLNCOUE.
REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL RECOUNT OF
VOTES NEXT MOVE N FIGHT
TO GUST HIM


latest mayoralty election in that city. yesterday
served notice on his opponents that at 123O to-
day he would ask Justice jerks for an order
Interpreting the decision handed down by the
Appellate Division Of the Supreme Court on
Friday on the application for recount Of the
votes cast in Mayor Fiskes home district the
First Election District II the Second Ward. In
his application for the order Mr Sherman will
show that rht. decision to meet the require
1neuts Of the case should require a judicial
canvass OF the votes cast in the district at the
electioa last November if the ballots found in
the box did not equal in number the ballots
mentioned in the official report of the election
clerks Charles W. Sinnott. attorney for Mayor
Fiske viii try t. have the decision of the court
interpreted 50 10 evade canvass if the
number OF ballots in the box is not greater than
the number the official tally sheet.
The ballot box which contains the ballots
was in the custody Of Mayor Ffske's city clerk
for two weeks before it was sealed, Mr.. Sher-
man says. and the clerk had the key TO the
box. Therefore. the attorney declares. it would
he farce 10 make count Of the ballots in the
box without examining the ballots. An exami-
nation naturally would show how many ballots
now in the box were cast for Mayor Fis1e and
how many We're cast for DR.. Brush.
Il fully expect that we shall be able to get
judicial recount Of the votes in all the dis
Ehow that Or. Brush was elected. also ex-
pect3hat Dr. Brush viii be seated as Mayor Of
Mount Vernon at the expiration of Mayor
Fishes present term in the middle of June"
THE people Of Mount Vernon will not be sat
5sded now unless there is a recount of the votes
tor-Mayor," Frank N. Tchenor, a former mem
berof the Common Council said yesterday Il
Eonot know that a recount would show the cleo
aion Of Dr. Brush, but know that the people Of
Immediately after the election Mayor Fiske de-
e+ared that he would consent 10 a recount by
ktder OF the court, because he did not want to
SeTpaiD 3n the office unless he had been legally
Fe-elected. His position before the public would
be stronger if he stood 10y what he said then
Probably his political friends and supporters
persuaded him 20 make the fight against a re-
Sounts-because there was too much stake for
them.
THE@COMMON COUNCIL REPUBLICAN.
The Republicans elected all the members II
the Common Council. and would have complete
controIof the city government if they had the
Mayor. III the appointments made by the
Mayor, however there Is about all the patron
age. The Mayor appoints with the consent and
approval of the Common Council. but if Mayor
Ftske remains Mayor for two years after June
-. and names the same men he nCw has in
Office. they viii hold over. even if the Common
Mayor Fislle's friends and supporters, there
fore. could be kept ia office as Corporation
Counsel. city Clerk Health officer and Com
missioner of Public Works Whatever the re-
suit Of recount however. Mayor Fiske has
lost much of his popularity since the people of
Mount Vernon learned that it was necessary 10
issue deficiency bonds 10 meet the extravagant
expenditures of his administration The dis
closures Of the wasteful Of public money
Of fh. fr1r Of he cit
and taxpayers have caused great revulson
Of feeling in Mount Vernon, and Mayor Fiske's
political star is believed 70 have set"
Alderman James p Hayes, who is chairman
Of the finance committee Of the board. said to
Tribune reporter yesterday afternoon that after
June j. there would he nine Republicans in the
Common Council Of Mount Vernon 10 one
Democrat and at that time a resolution would
be passed providing for the employment Of ex-
pert accountants TO go over the affairs OF the
city
BY combination Of extravaEance, careless
ness and reckless expenditure he said. the
cost Of running the city has far exceeded its in
come. We think there is sufficient ground TO
employ expert examiners. and the taxpayers
and citizens would be better satisfied TO have
that Gone. Mayor Fis<e vetoed about two
months ago a resolution Of this character We
had only six Republican votes in the Board Of
Aldermen then, which left US one short of the
necessary two-thirds to pass the resolution over
his head. After June - We viii have nine
members in the board, and viii then pro-
Ceed without unnecessary ceremony.
NEARLY ALL FUNDS OVERDRAWN
The city has been constantly borrowing
from one fund To meet deficiency in another
AS a result. nearly all the funds are CverdraWn
in compliance with a resolution Of the board
the Controller, on January Is. submitted a re
port showing the condition Of the finances He
estimates the probable deficiency in the general
fund on May as S152.OS} is which will be a
very annoying state Of affairs. He suggests
that the problem has only one solution. an ap-
plication 10 the legislature for the passage Of
an act enabling the city issue deficiency
bonds According 20 his report the following
deficiencies exist Sinking fund, S4OvpO; flag
walk fund, S4571 -: sewer construction fund
Sll945 80. The total city money held in all
the funds on December II. 1901. was S2I ,SO7 50
The total sum chargealIe against the city in
claims on that date was 500 400 a. with moneys
cue other funds 10 repay transfers amounting
q So 10 o6 This makes total Of more than
s-Si"te which we are expected to pay with a
patry S2l.SO7 80.
The Democrats were authorized by the legfs-
lature 10 build the bridge over Eastchester
Greek at cost not 10 exceed $4,000 When
We came IN they had either spent or obligated
the city 10 the extent Of So 900 and il is est
mated that u VIII cost at least $4,000 more 20
undo The poor work that has already been done
the bridge
THAT is The problem they gave rs 10 work
out went 10 Albany and had a talk with
Governor OGeH as 10 the best way to get over
The difficulty. He suggested the introduction
OF a bin 10 authorize the issuance of deHciencv
bonds. such a bin was prepared and has be-
come law. The bin authorized an issue Of
bonds 10 the amount Of SlT5oeO os .-bfcI va
have already sold SlO0oO0 worth
"our action after June 10. when W.. viii ta f.,
control Of the Board OF Aldermen win be GOV
In III L