New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-26
HOW PARKER GOT MONEY
Connection of Aqueduct Contracts
zcith Cam paign He Managed.

Parker rendered In conducting the campaign
which made Hill Governor OF New-fork state
in 1885. The Esopus judge was not even
member of the Democratic state committee
at the time but he was called into active ser
vice and made chairman of the executive COM
mittee of that body.
The campaign of 1850 was a warm one. John
@ Bren. the Croton Aqueduct contractor was
chairman Of the State committee. Judge VIII
lam L. Muller. of Emra, was secretary. and
acted as treasurer for Edward Murphy, jr.. OF
Troy Parker. O'Brien and Muller really con-
Quoted the campaign with headquarters at
the Hoffman House. in this city.
few days before the election the campaign
directors found themselves getting short of
funds and Governor Hill was sent for. He
drew up and signed note for $4,000. which
was Endorsed by Judge Muller. by John OBrien
and by Mr.. Clark. his partner in the aaueduct
contracts. O'Brien secured the money in bills
of small denomination at the Mount Norris
Bank and took it to the Hoffman House, where
II duly expended for political purposes.
This $4,000 was not sufficient to carry the
campaign through. however, and Judge Parker
drew up a note for $4,000 which he signed. 1t
Endorsed by Governor Hill and by Secre-
tary Muller and the money was secured from
John Keenan,. member of the committee.
After the election. at a meeting of the State
committee. Judge Parker thought he had ar
ranged for the payment of this note. Other
bills came in. however. which used up the
money that should have gone TO keenan,. It
along for several months before Muller
and O'Brien raised money TO meet IT. For some
reason or other keenan, was not particularly
anxious to give up the note bearing the sig
natures OF Parker and Hill and it neces-
sary TO send John @ Craft. of Kingston. a
special mission to Canada. where Keenan, was
then living. in order to pay it and the
paper
Thanks to a Senate Investigation of certain
abuses alleged to exist in the city of NewYork
in 1883. the details of these interesting incl
dents in the campaign which Judge Parker con-
/ Quoted were brought out. They have been pre-
served in the Senate documents of that year.
the report of the Senate investigating commit
tee filling four large volumes. which can be
found in the State Library at the Capitol
building in Albany.
committee of five was appointed by resolu-
ton OF April IL. 1883. 1t alleged that the
public service in the city OF New-York was
corrupt: that abuses existed in the jury sys-
TEN; that political office and employment
gained the result of corrupt bargains
among representatives OF political parties and
candidates: that money and promises Of SER
vices 20 be rendered were exacted and paid for
viding for necessary expenses OF election; that
public contracts were awarded to favored con-
tractors against public interest because of the
connection OF such contractors with political
organizations. and that the passage of the act
creating the Aqueduct Commission pro-
cured by corrupt bargain. The committee
was instructed TO investigate the matters above
mentioned for the purpose OF remedying and
preventing such abuses by proper legislation.
The committee consisted OF ]. s. Fassett.
Francis Hendricks. Cornelius Van Colt. James
F. Pierce and Donald McNaughton. The COM
mittee retained as counsel General Benjamin f.
Tracy and Albert b. Boardman. and after the
investigation had been under way a month
so Delaney Nicol also retained.
The committee began 10 look into certain mat
ters connected with the letting OF aqueduct
contracts overcharges and poor material 1t
not long until they developed an official
curiosity regarding the conduc. OF the Demo-
cratic campaign Of 1885 especially rs TO the
two emergency notes which OBren had han
died. II at the afternoon session OF April
%. 1855. held in the Superior Court Room, Part
II. at the courthouse in this city. that Judge
Parker called. on motion of General Tracy.
tho taking of testimony was interrupted to hear
his testimony. as he was holding a circuit Of
the Ulster County Court the time and il
was important that he return 10 Kingston.
General Tracy conducted the examination.
which was follows:
Q. You ara at present judge OF the Supreme
Court OF the State of New-York. believe?
Q, And in 1855 were you a member of the Demo
A I was not a membe- OF the State Committee;
was elected chairman OF the executive committee,
although not n member OF the State COMMITTEES
proper,
committee during that campaign?
8. wan. to ask you whether a note was made
A Yes sir
g Wh9 Me, we're fI the J parties to that note?
9. Was that note cashed by any one1
a. Yes sir; by John Keenan,.
mittees % THO 0'a'' COM
Q. At what stage Of the campaign was that note
made and the money obtained on IT?
about Thursday prior to the day Of efection was
that note? VI
.. state In your own way what was done with IL
ana what was the last thing you knew about it?
a About Thursday; think it was. prior to the
somewhat short, and while had made every effort
possible to set in the bills SO that everything
that there were some bills constantly Coming i'm
and ! feared that before Election Day. as ali the
members of the committee were TO be bsent ex-
cept myself, there would be no funds with which
enced and sa dnI to Nh M pills Which we had
was possible that had enough 10 pay the ex-
In that event Should very much ds H 4a a 6sy ana
bill presented which we were unable 20 pay.
mttee had some time prior to that said 70 oo me
that while he didn't wish 10 contribute anything
time we wanted any money during the daytime or
loan the money TO the committee at any time and
All he wanted was security that he should get his
70 borrow about 5000; If it is not needed we can