New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-18
SENSLTITE ALDERMEN.

honor they have done us by their belated ac-
tivty over the talk about improper motives on
their part in dealing with the Port Chester
franchise question. We can but regard as a
compliment their sudden show of Indignation
and sensitive honor over one publication in The
Tribune recountng a rumOr which had come
TO the railroad company to the amount it
would have to put up 10 get the desired fran
chises after they had sat silent for months in
the face OF other publications containing the
names of witnesses who might be called and
offers on their part TO detail TO officials sus-
picious circumstances at which they would only
hint In the newspapers. We appreciate the
evident feeling of aldermen that, however they
may ignore other thrusts. it does matter what
The Tribune says, and that we do not lightly
and without probable cause entertain suspI-
cions of the motives of public officials. Never
theless, fear, they do us honor overmuch;
for we cannot claim any exclusive enterprise
in a discussion Of aldermanic motives which
has now been going on for many months. In
justice and honesty cannot fail TO acknowl-
edge the remarkable patience of aldermen in
the face of repeated imputations quite as
serious as any published by The Tribune, and
forcing the present investigation, which long
ago appeared in various newspapers including
those Of their own political party
AS was pointed out TO the committee at the
beginning Of the investigation on Monday by
the first witness, Mr.. Brown, and afterward by
Mr. Meade distinct rumors Of corrupt purposes
were put forth publicly months ago by James
T. Hayes. president of the City Council OF
Mount Vernon and by Louis 4. Cuvillier. Mr..
Cuvillier sent 4 letter 10 Mayor Mcclellan tell
ing the story of remark by Il Newly DIRK al
derman that the Port Chester people would
have TO see the captain before they could get
their franchise here. He gave the complete
chain by which this story had come from the
alderman to him. making il possible To trace II
down. An account Of this letter was published
in n Democratic paper, The New-lor World
on February II, 1904. and elsewhere. On Feb
ruary 10. 1904, an interview with Mr.. Hayes,
Offering to tell the Mayor of certain state
ments made TO him by a New-York alderman.
was published in 1.-THE New-York Herald"
Mr.. Hayes has been quoted as saying that a
New-York alderman approached him. asked If
Mount Vernon had granted the franchises for
the road, and being told that it had. said: How
much did the Port Chester people give upE
To the answer. Not a cent; the Port Chester
people knew it was not necessary for them to
spend any money TO get their ordnance the
reply said TO have been made was That is all
right for Mount Vernon, but it don't go here.
"You may make up your mind that Port Ches-
"ter will get nothing here until the captain has
been seen" References were made TO this
story in The New-York Sun" Of February Il,
1904.
At . hearing in Albany on February TO- 1904,
according TO THE New-York Times" Of the fol-
lowing day. Joseph Wood. Of Mount Vernon,
charged that SO long as there was only one
hove
was nothing dom" but that later there was
quick action, and he ended with the remark:
~ wish could say Just what 1 mean. but
presume / am understood" On February II,
1904, THE New-York World" contained an ar
ticle about "a mysterious fund Of 100000" in
connection with this franchise matter, Accord
ing to THE New-York Sun" OF February IS,
1904, Alderman Daniel Z. Sickles declared in
the open board:
l appear here to-day because I am anxious TO
preserve the good name Of our city government
Your honor has only TO glance at the columns or
the public press 10 know that this matter has
become a public scandal in our community. Is
II any wonder that such a scandal has been
aroused when we have on the one hand respect
able and responsible parties applying for fran
chise and having their application held up for
seven months, and, on the other hand rival
company coming forward TO have their appIlca-
ton granted in the twinkllng or an eye! Livery
body knows why the application of the Port
Chester company was ignored, ana every pody
knows why the application Of the Westchester
company was granted so speedily. l need not
voice this public suspicion. but am AFRAID IHaI
it is too well grounded.
So far as we know. his colleagues never re-
scented those suspicious. They have never taken
any action to follow the cleHs offered by these
many newspaper stories. Neither Mr.. Hayes
nor Mr.. Cuvill!er was subp9naed for the in
yestigation when some three months after their
offers Of evidence. the aldermen were hnaly
stung into n pretence of a wish TO find corrup-
+fon 81 II exists Nor when these names were
given at the hearing was any alacrity 10 follow
such clews displayed. We hope that Assistant
CORPORATION Counsel Burr, Notwithstanding his
efforts TO frame questions which he can get
newspaper men to refuse TO answer, and so
give an excuse for stopping the hunt, will find
time 10 call for subsequent hearings these wit
nesses whose stories have been n matter OF
nubljc notoriety for months. And If he wants
to go to the bottom of the matter, let him try
10 find why, without ostensible reason, the Board
Of Aldermen has been struck with paralysis
with reference 10 this franchise. The course
of the aldermen themselves with respect to the
onplication OF the Port Chester company IS 50
inconsistent with any theory of good and hon
est motives that the stories purportnS 10 reVeal
transactions. Of course siilfully hidden If they
took place at all. are mere side issues IL Is Inc
long and inexplicable delay that raises Ques-
tons which cannot be disposed OF 10y any White
washing investigation.
GOVERyOR BLANCHARD'S INAUGURAL
In his inaugural address on Monday the new
Governor of Louisiana. Newton c. blanchard
nc VIII 1-G