New-York tribune., 1903-06-30
TIE DOCKS NQCIRY.

T. fs GRATIFYING 10 observe that other news
rane-s are at last manifesting keen interest
in the charges OF profigate and illegal cohoucI
on the part of the old Tammany DOCK boafd'
which The Tribune investigated, marshaiIed
and brought TO public attention. and when Iorm
the basis of the extremely important proceeo-
ing which the District Attorney has undertaken
against Messrs Murphy, Cram and Meyer For
q qood while after our publication OF curious
and striking facts relating to pier and dumping
board leases began We failed TO secure from our
esteemed contenporaries the cooperation which
we hoped for and indeed invited; Dut OF ldte
there has been no cause for complaint on that
score. Impressed at length with the sondlty ot
The mass of evidence which The TrlDunes per"
sistent and skilful investigator was rapidly ac-
cumulating the local press in general TOOK the
matter up in earnest, and is now pursuing IL
with praiseworthy zeal.
There is certainly good reason for this change
Of attitude Seldom, indeed, at so early stage
of an official inquiry relating TO acts of munich
nal administration have those most closely con-
cerued been put in SO distressing position It
2 doubt exists anywhere as to the degree or
anxiety which these charges have produced IN
the minds Of Mr. Murphy and his colleagues no
s1lch doubt exists in this Office. We possess
annie proof that they are in painful state OF
perturbation. and that all the other Tammany
leaders share their emotions. Contrary to his
usual habit Of silence, Mr.. Murphy has delivered
himself of a statement so intrinsically feeble as
almost TO excite commiseration- week or two
ago he was contented to bluster about the ad-
vantage Of looking into the conduct Of the pres
ent Dock Commissioner He would have been
better off if, under increasing pressure, he had
not attempted personal justification
Aside from conventional general denial, the
substance Of Mr.. Murphys defence is that
waterfront privileges have been too costly, and
that the individual Of small resources must be
protected from the rapacity Of opulent corpora
tons. Very well. The purpose Of the present
legal proceedings is to ascertain If, in devotion
to that principle, the Tammany Dock Board
carefully selected favorites of the organization
as the objects Of its solicitude; If it consented
to an illegal alteration of records, including
even a forgery, in connection with one Of its
leases; if, contrary to an express provision of
law, it had certain dealings with one or more
public officers, subjecting them to serious penal
ties; if It knowingly leased, under most peculiar
circumstances, a dumping board privilege Of
great value at pier when the law forbade such
privilege to be granted; If it made an extraor-
dinary succession Of contracts, without adver-
tisement, at extravagant prices, to an amount
exceeding 100000.
These and similar questions Of great public
interest remain to be answered, and the proba-
biIity is that Messrs. Murphy, Cram and Meyer
will have opportunity TO answer them under
conditions favorable to a revelation of the whole
and exact truth. In the mean time 1t is evi-
dent that Tammany takes considerably less
pleasure in the near prospect Of a municipal
campaign than it boasted Of taking few weeks
ago.