New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-13
VIZ. CIRCUITS REPENTANCE.

Controller Grout has recognized the drift OF
pubhe sentiment about his surrender TO the gas
confirmation. and characteristically abandons
his farmer position 10 get on the side with the
greatest political advantage His change is
somewhat awkward but man who has turned
against every political interest he ever sup
ported. who WAS Shepard Democrat and left
Shcrard for Mclaughlin. and then left Nc
---igblin Tor Low ana then left Low for Muir
ply. and then left Murphy for McCarren. must
have acquired some Of the agility needed 10 be
violently against the gas companies in the days
of reform. eff1,svely for them in the days of
Tammany. and then against them again as soon
as be sees popular storm brewing.
Mr.. Croui l. adroit in discovering changed
Circumstances which will serve him as cloak
of consistency The attempts of others private
citizens. 10 guard the treasury ~ which he has
seemed the fierce watchdog give him an excuse
for repudiaiinc his agreement TO pay the con-
Iroverted Gas bills That is strange confess
siob- He could not stand mp for the taxpayers
nil somebody showed him how. A little more
than year ago he was as strenuously opposed
as could be to paying the gas bills. He was
sure that the right thing 10 force an in
vestigation ard make the companies prove the
Justice Of their claims. Suddenly all his cour-
age eYaporated. 4 haze obscured his mind He
became convinced that he must paw the bills Of
The combination which his leader. McCarren
serves A horrible vision of interest charges
doomed mp in front IF him. and TO avoid II he
agreed 10 pay in full the bills he had pronounced
egtortonate. Then he saw his mistake The
ceal did not pass unnoticed. Mlsrepresenta
fion of ex-Commissioner Monroe as approving
fhe surrender when he only approved the Wells
bach light arrangement did not satisfy the pub
lie. Mr. Grout saw himself throwing away his
carefully nuftured reputation as an a,lstere
guardian Of public interests the only man in
official life Of whose honesty he was completely
satisfied. So be has done his best 10 get bach
% his original position As an opponent of the
gas companies. YET poor man. he has to con
Jess hat he can only fight behind others who
refused 10 surrender when he did.
The excuse that The private litigation against
Commissioner Oakleys new contract alone en-
abies tho Controller 10 stand oIit and that with
out IL mis- settlement of the gas bills was the best
Thing 10 be done is pitifUly weak Mr. Grout
could ~ least have voiced his disapproval Of
the contract instead of praislng az n good bar
gain what he prerehds to regard with aversion
n0w that somebody else has attacked It. Even
though the contract stood. If be had denounced
g. II he had fought against # half as hard as
MI oleT fought against Ramapo and forced
lpFesrgation into tho "a rness of the disnuted
bills, b" could have secured ruling on the
merits.
AoE that lie wants an excuse for his sudden
change. he discovers that the claim for interest
Whlcl be WIS before sure could no collected n,
the companies. probably could not be collected
Therefore he finds there was no consideration
for his agreement and repddiates IT, But ~ he
wassa faithful guardian Of the treasury. why
oia h not discover this before making the set