The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-30
MT. VERNON'S PUBLIC SCANDAL
MAYOR FISKE'S ENEMIES ARE
MAKING IT HOT FOR HIM.
They've Got the Council. Tut He's Got the
Omceholdrrs-Court AFTER His Ola
Receiver Wf Taxes-Part of the Pc.
lice Department D. Under a Cloud.

MOUNT VERNON Nov 20 After a period
Of nearly seven years Of plenty. the Affairs
Of this city are undergoing investigation
and the citizens, through their expert ac-
countants. are beginning Ia get their eyes
open ~ 10 how much the good times given
them by their han isome and popular young
Mayor. Edwin W Fiske. and his Demo-
cratic machine have cost
For ,ix yeai- the Mayor, who has been
known by his followers as the young lion
of the West ch.s,-r Democracy" has run
things in Noun Vernon pretty much rs
he pleased. But since the election last
fall. when Republican Board Of Aldermen
was chosen, the strong machine built up
by him has been weakened until il is now
almost In a state Of collapse.
Even the Democratic newspapers are
slipping away from the Mayor and he is
faced with the necessity of starting an
organ Of his own.
The Investigation which was started
by the Republicans and other inquisitive
citz, ms has already resulted in some sen-
sational disclosures. and it is expected
that more bombs will be exploded as the
experts continue 10 dig deeper into city
affairs.
Charles MADE.
For instance the experts report that
the city il dangerously near the debt limit;
that there is discrepancy Of At least $4,000
in the accounts Of the former Democratic
Receiver Of Taxes, John II Brett; that
Mr. Brett. although he handled more than
a million dollars in the last two years and
q half in which he held offio,, was not under
bosd; and that many citizens who have
paid their taxes have received no credit
on tn. books
\ motion is now pending 70 punish the
ex-Tax Receiver for contempt Of court COR
failing 10 obey the order of supreme Court
Justice Dickey 20 produce the cash books
Of his Office, which should contain the
records of at least q .ooo 900 paid into the
city in recent years for taxes. An appeal
from the motion has been heard by the
Appellate Division. which court has reserved
its {. -ision A decision is expected on
Mon, ~, and IL II is against Mr., Brett, he
will p shabby have TO remain in Jail until
his books. which are now 50 much desired
by the city experts, are forthcoming.
Almost every one in Mount Vernon would
be sorry to hear that anything 80 unfort-
innate had befallen johnny" Brett Like
Mayor Fiske he has been known as a good
fellow and the people have repeatedly re-
elected him to ia on this alone.
Brett has been for many years the presi-
dent Of the Lobster club. an or ganization
Of Westminster politicians and sporting
men, and It Is said Of him that he has opened
as much wine and given as many clam
bakes az any politician around New York,
Nobody in Mount Vernon believes that
b. is dishonest. His friends are still con-
fident that it In a case Of bad bookkeeping
and that he will patch matters up some
how and get out of his present difficulties.
As to the whereabouts Vt the books, Mr..
Brett says that II they are missing they must
have been stolen from the Office on the night
he turned it over TO his Republican sue
cessor. Colin Mckenzie.
rAMAANY JOB ALLEGED.
There are many other matters pending
in Mount Vernon growing out Of the reign
of too much plenty. In one part of the ci'y
known a. Vernon Park, or. TO be specific,
Bedford avenue. a score OF property own, Is
are seeking through their attorney Judge
George c. Appel. to set aside assessments
for improvements which were made in
front Of their properties and which. they
saw were illegal and very eytravagant.
The taxpayers have practic ly charged
COLLISION between Bart Dunn. II m
| many contractor and bi other OF ea-Shcli q
10 Dunn Of New York. an some Of the
city ga ids They have asned Ia have the
| cost of the work. aggi egatng about SIS 600,
set aside,
IL was recently openly charged by Alder
m, IN Ch, les n. Love,t that quarter Of a
| million d llals had been sunk in unnec-
essiry improvements IN this neighborhood
and that the assessments In many cases
| ATE greater than the value Of III" abutting
property. There was spent in the Sixth
street extension alone about &o7 go |, il
| said that there l. only one house on the line
Of this improvement aud hat il was left 50
| low that after the impI oNomcut war done
| the inmates abandoned il, and il is now
| tumblng down.
BAD FINANCING.
Az for the financial condition Of the city
| II is sufficient to say that it has been very
bad. but is improving now. The last re-
| port made by the Democratic Comp o. or
| showed an csti mated deficit in the general
fund on May | Of Si52. 0s3 * and an esti-
| mated deficit in the sinking fund of about
$4,000. The total amount in all funds
combined on Dec. is, 1901, war S2l 500 n
and there we're claims ohargeable against
this amount OF more than s.S0,OO.
| part oi this Ihd, his due ~ has since been
reduced by Alderman Hayes Of the Fnahc,
| Committee, who sec ured the adopt ion Of a
special act of the Legislature TO permit the
city 10 issue deficiency bonds Forty
thousand dollars' worth Of thes. bonds ha Va
been sold and have been applied to the
floating Indebtedness.
| These things are all known to tie people
Of Noun, Vernon. Some Of them were
known before the elect ION last fall and had
a great deal to do with the result, which
Las lei, only two Democratic Aldermen
in the board out Of ten.
| But the temperature Of the public Lad
not risen quite high enough az that time
10 cause tho defeat OF Mayor F,skr. Tho
people Of Mount Vernon have always given
him credit for being a shade better than
the Democratic party, and he was re-
elected, although his former ina jority o.
from 500 TO 700 was cut to 10
| The Republicans aro row in p position Of
having cprriod the city. hu' es thew did not
got the Mavor they cannot make any of M
appointments, Mayor Fiske and his Demo
cratic flock still hold the fort
AFTER THE MAYOR.
Having failed TO defeat the "young lior
Of the Democracy. the Republicans have
beon talking over all kinds ~ schemes &c
clip his claws. There IL report that
charges will be- presented against the Mayor
and that Gov. Odell will he asked to IA.
move him.
II ia said that the Mayors accusers viii