New-York tribune., 1902-02-17

being variousIy, sarcastically and profaney
commented upon by those citizens of the town
Of Harrison who. apparently, unable 20
otherwise relieve themselves Of their just and
righteous wrath. or in any wise to properly casti-
gate this disreputable act Of the majority of the
council Of the town Of Harrison. President Rice.
who is thought fit TO be a member Of the legis-
lature. and VINO doubtless entertains some ex-
alted and intelligent views of broad statesman
ship versus peanut politics. added greatly TO the
Gayety Of the town of Harrison by saying at
the meeting Of council: Il would like to state
that, on account Of absence from the town. l am
not as familiar with this matter as ] might be!
There is said 10 be sort Of familiarity which
breeds contempt, and some of this sort OF con-
tempt seems 10 be coming Mr.. Rices way IN
the town Of Harrison.
Another matter which interests alike the good
name and the welfare Of the town OF liarTlSon
is a quick response from Treasurer Edward j.
Grace to the public demand for an intelligent
report Of the condition Of the fnances OF IN"
town So far. reputable citizens aver, II mas
been impossible to get Mr.. Grace TO make a re-
port. But, according to public report, there
have been suhtcrfuges and. as the Vernacul ar
has it, there has been plenty Of bluff l.. NJ
Hughes, who does not fear TO put his name 20
what he has say about President Rice. whom
he designatcs as the Kaiser. and incidentally.
If not specifically. about the treasurer, goes at
the kaiser in this direct way:
Some time ago the town treasurer asked 70
obgingly voted to ask Judge Blair appoint
would be Necessary for fwcnty-i1e taxpayers to
= axe affdavits that he was mis- rrcpriatlnE the
funds, or the Common Corncil's request would he
worthless. Now, to show what a faTclcal Dot
this whole proceeding
state that should twenty-five taxpayers make SIch
affidavits the books would be examined regardless
the mater 10 one you'd make the aftdavits
and the movement ended in smoke.
To make the council in general. and the
treasurer in particular. all the more ridiculous
In the eyes of the people and by the gauge Of
common sense, as Alderman Riordan puts II,
all that is necessary TO obtain an examination
of the treasureT's books is for a two-thirds ma
jority, five members. Of the Common Council
10 pass resolution requiring such an examina-
tion. The trouble is to get the two-thirds vote
= Let the citizens or the town or Harrison re-
member" says Mr.. Hughes. that when Alder
man Henry was apprehenGed. the Kaiser SAID:
II Henry is guilty, he should resign from the
Common Council But on the resolution re-
questing Henry's resignation, he voted NO.
The pesple of the town Of Harrison. who esteem
its good name and credit viii remember this fact
they are, in fact remembering that Assembly
man and President of Common Council Edward
J. Rice. and five of his fellow aldermen, are de-
flying the decent public sentiment Of the town.
The citizens are rapidly becoming indignant TO
the fighting stage, and yesterday, when the sug-
gestion was made that a legislative commission
might he productive Of rehahilitatinS the good
name of their town in the way of getting an ex-
animation Of the treasuTer's books, ana posi-
bly, in other ways. they said that unless an eX-
plicit comprehensive and satisfactory report
was not Immediately forthcoming. an appllca-
ton TO the legislature for such commission
would be made without further delay II tulf
and grass Will not bring the president Of the
Common Council and the town treasurer out OF
the apple tree Will try the virtue of stones,
said ex-alderman of the town OF Harrison
Yesterday. and there the disgraceful and dis
reputable incident was for the present. closed,
20 be reopened at tine proper time to give AS
Felnblyrnan Rice an opportunity to vote yea or
nay on a resolution providing for a commission
70 investigate the affairs Of the town OF Harm
But not entirely closed With keen satire,
biting IN its tone. the reference made yes
terday by a prominent citizen Of Harrison to
the masterful way in which President Rice re-
sponded to the request for committee 10 MAKE
an examination Of the accounts Of Treasurer
Grace This response was the proposal to ap-
point committee Of the whole tHenry, or
course included) to examine the books, and II
:t should be found that examination was
necessary, an examination would he made slN
will beat two every time said this citizen IN
The town Of Harrison, but sometimes six can
not beat the Governor and the legislature or
soz-areysn State"