New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-11
HILLS RECORD AND HIS FAVORS TO PARKER

conducted that business in such manner that
he was charged with drawing pensions for per-
sons who were dead, and was sentenced to the
penitentiary.
That his power in Elmira was gained by the
use of money in buying votes was thus declared
in The Posts" article of February 6. 1892:
EIra h took ok, up R his resdenee in the Third Ward Of
IS he toT Of 5 the br9Ey 10 OF his 6oRgs ing In that w9
Mhoie city was gradually debauched. Democrats
one one Of the most corrupt cities. politically in the
D Inea "a states STAT Prominent citizens trace the begin
ne h5sf began MS political career the Third Ward
heavy negro Vote II Ras there he besan aG 10 bSg
up his political power. There is common tradi-
crisp 81 bills. With these bills he purchase sed fifty
negro neg. votes That was in the early sixties When
shen ne was candidate for Governor the price
% Two EssPonsibls, eitissns Of EImiTa have stated
The statement OF one OF these men. a merchant.
who has lived in the Third Ward for thirty years.
II personally saw Hin hand an envelope to an
TO open it and handed it to one OF my clerks. ]
saw The clerk open it and take out s. bill and
Both OF these men are willing 10 attest the facts
Totes For years Hifi has openly ana boldly bought
votes and scores OF bHsiness men in Elmra will
on December 2s. 1Ss2. he resigned the mayoraIty
on he has never withdrawn from Eimra lights and
factions In person he has directed every fight In
election, and All that day his office a; sWSTns with
his workers. 'heeers'' and friends Hundreds go
away with the envelopes that constitute the secret
Nearly all his friends are the dregs OF the commu-
nity. He provides literally Cor them.
In July, 1870. Hill started The Elmira Ca
zette" with $4,000 capital. $4,000 Of which
contributed by William NJ Tweed then at
the height OF his audacious career of crime in
New-York City and State. Hilrs friends later
tried TO show that this was before Tweeds
character had become known, but as early
April of that year Samuel ]. TIideu. whose dis
ciple Hill later pretended to be had begun mis-
attacks on the Tammany boodler. On October
81. 1871. THE Gazette" said: Mr.. Tweed any
other person residing out OF the city OF Elmira
has not nor never has had dollars worth OF
stock any interest whatever in this paper"
Yet three years later. when Mr.. Hill was candi-
date for Governor. his intimate friend, Horton
Tidd. in an affidavit in Hill's defence. acknowl-
edged that Tweed had subscribed for half the
stock of Hills paper in July. 1870.
Mr.. Hill and his paper gave a fair return for
this favor After Tweed had been thoroughly
exposed. The Gazette" defended him vigorous
ly. On August 4. 1871. 1t declared that this hue
and cry swindle was raised to divert the pub
lie attention from corruption at Washington.
This great outcry about Tweed in New-York
was raised. and IS still kept up solely for polit-
icaI effect"
In the legislature. however. Hill gave his best
return for Tweed's $4,000. In the session of
1871 his vote alone could have defeated the
Tweed measures that were taking away from
New-York City almost the last remnants Of
popular government but his vote was cast for
the ring. When Tweed lost his majority in the
legislature Hill. a member of the Committee
on Privileges and Elections gave it back TO him
by unseating honestly elected and put
ting one OF Tweed's followers in his place. Hills
vote gave Tweed and his ring all the power to
levy taxes and disburse funds, to open, close
and widen streets and avenues, to steal when
ever, wherever and however much they pleased.
and to manipulate registry lists and ballot boxes
at will
When the people of the State rose TO drive
from the bench the corrupt judges who had
made the justice they administered the laugh
ing stock OF the country. Hill opposed the peo-
pies Will He voted against a resolution call
ing for the impeachment of Judges Barnard and
Cardozo, and voted to reconsider the impeach-
ment resolution IL was passed.
Though Judge Barnard was finally impeached
and found guilty Hill managed TO find a way of
escape for Cardozo by slipping in his resignation
on a question of privilege before the report OF
the impeachment committee was presented.
OF this close relation between Hill and Tweed
the article in The POST already quoted says:
To aid himself in his canvas for the Assembly in
1870 Mr.. IIil conceived the idea of owning or con-
trolling The Elmira Gazette" He got n n oDtIon
on X and formed a stock company with a capital
OF siOrOOO, halr OF which TO be paid IN Hin
ana Two Other ftinra men took 10000 of the stock
and Edward Patrick took $4,000 for some person
not named. Soon afterward. however this "'some
person" turned out 10 be William NJ Tweed the
great thief. To him Patrick transferred hts $1,000
certificate OF ownership In the paper Mr.. Hill was
controlled by Tweed He voted for the bills that
enabled the Tweed ring TO consummate their Mot
against the city. He opposed the Impeachment of
Judge Cardozo. and on the floor OF the Assembly
George C. Barnard
Tweed's legislature good to HILL He was
attorney in suits against the State for damages
sustained In freshet in the Chemung Valley
twelve years before Appropriations to pay
these claims We're put through the legislature
with Tweeds help. the last ones while Hill was
himself member More than $4,000 was thus
taken from the treasury one-hah OF il being
for interest, and not word of testimony was
taken in behalf Of the State. When these cases
were afterward Investigated 1t was admitted
by claimants that they did not know that they
had claims until they were informed by Hill
and hts law partner. and IL was further ad-
rnitted that the attorneys were TO pay all the
expenses OF the suits and receive one-third or
(onff