New-York tribune., 1903-04-01
A SHABBY TRICK.

Controller Grout seems TO have reached the
end Of his shabby little campaign against GOV
ernor Odell. and is devoting himself to making
much noise about another matter in the apparent
hope that admiration of his new pose as hurler
of loves lightning may cause his last empty
thunders to be forgotten. His own engineer,
after carefully considering the Central Hudson
Steamboat Company pier lease, reports that the
terms agreed upon by Commissioner Hawkes. are
entirely reasonable. The rental is about that Sc
cured for other piers in the neighborhood, be-
ing 66 cents q square foot, while two ADJOINING
piers TO the north rent at 56 cents a foot, and
the adjoining one 10 the south at 81 cents a
foot, If its bulkhead is to be valued the same
as others though much lower If the actual
worth of the bulkhead as a ferry slip is to be
deducted from the gross rental. Mr.. Mclean,
the engineer reports that there are precedents
for abrogating leases now in force to renew for
a longer period when Improvements are con-
terminated which would not be justified without
an assured tenure. Thus the charge that the
city's interests were being betrayed to private
company with a political pull Is disposed OF
and the lease recommended by Commissioner
Hawkes. shown to be an entirely proper one,
fair TO the city and to the steamboat company
in which Governor Odell happens TO be inter
ested.
OF course Mr. Grout could have discovered
all this without setting the newspapers to talk
ing about Governor Odelrs alleged grab ii
he had any reason to think superficial ex-
animation that the terms Of the lease might be
too low he could have made private inquiry into
the comparative size and value of piers ana
into the precedents for abrogating leases. II
his sole wish had been TO perform his trust to
the city he would have done this. Then, if ne
found his suspicious were unfounded he would
have done no HARM while he might greatly III
lure a business corporation by unjustly de-
nouncing it as attempting TO cheat the city.
But that was evidently not what he had In
mind He saw A contract with which Governor
0deITs name was connected. so without know
ing or apparently caring anything about the
merits of the case he hastened to denounce it
as a steal
That course served two purposes 1t enabled
hinl to pose before the public as the ncorrupti-
BILE official who preventing Governor Odell
from defraudng the people. 1t gave him a
chance to vent the spleen which he has long
cherished toward the Governor Mr.. Grout
was made Controller by Governor Odelrs aid
and along with the other fusion officials has
had his loyal support in giving this city good
government From the first however, be
showed narrow partisan spirit toward the
Governor and other Republicans, and has fire.
ouently mfsrepresented their acts and purposes
and sought to pose as the only true friend of
the people No doubt he thinks he is. He is
not much to be blamed for his suspicious of Re
publicans, and, in fact, of everybody but him
self That is his temperament. Moreover, he
is ambitious, and looks upon all other public
men with feelings of Jealous rivalry But yet
1t does seem mean and petty business for him
to use his Office to start vicious and baseless
scandals rehecting on the Governor of the State.
We should think he would, indeed, now that
the facts are known, seem tremendously busy
about the Fire Department or something else.