New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-23
TO UNVEIL HOVE STATUE.
Monument to Marx abolition of Fee
SyStem in BrOOklyn.

| Brooklyns monument TO the abolition OF the
| fee system IN the county offices, the James r.
Howe Washington Equestrian Memorial Statue.
Will be unveiled at the Williamsburg Bridge
plaza next Saturday. The event IS arous!ng
much interest, and an elaborate programme has
been arranged. in which all OF the borough and
many OF the city officials VIII take part.
Several years ago. when Kings was a compare
lively small county as regards population. the
Offices OF Register. County Clerk and Sheriff
We're conducted on a fee basis. The fees obtained
from these Offices were frequently referred 70 as
honest graft" and many Of the oldtin1e Office
holders made a small fortune out Of their term
in these Offices. To hold any OF these three posi-
tons meant the beginning of a fortune for the
lucky who obtained il.
Several OF the politicians We're opposed 20 this
system of graft among them being James r
Howe one OF the best known men in Brooklyn
In 1899 the Republican party in its anxiety
to secure an upright man whom il believed
could successfully compete with John Mori.ssey
Gray. the Democra tic candidate for the place
Of Register. selected Mr.. Howe. who had served
two terms in the House OF Representative and
had a sterling reputation for his honesty The
fight bitter Howe promised thar f. he was
elected he would give back To the people an the
receipts OF the Office. with a small deduction
which he would consider a salary.
That campaign marked the close OF the fee sys-
tenn Mr.. Howe was elected by an oVerq.hrIni-
ing majority, and his last act 10 make good the
promise that he would return all the money OUT
Slde ms salary was the presentation of the
statue The completed statue shows Washington
on horseback overlooking the camp at Vale,
Forge. With the base which was designed by
Lord 4 Hewitt, the statue viii stand forty-fve
feet high.
The site in the Williamsburg Bridge plaza
was selected by Mr. Howe himself IL wa. IN
this section that MI Howe had lived am his Ire
ed D. .- lt Sc rr..
that he was best known
The unveilins will he roJ1rI" event u the
history Of the borough. Mr Nct.oHtu President
OF the Board OF Alderman. viii dg.ent the statue
on hena1 ot the citizens of BROOKLYN
tine or the features Of the uuveiling Will Do a
parade Colonel Edward r. Brittuu his been
selected as grand marshal and many .'ri. .".i
social organiza tiOus I'm the borough win take
part Among the organizations that have been
as Sited To- place On taH parade are drfa,LurutF
ot sailors and marines from the Brooklyn Navy
/ ara. irand Army of the Republic posts. De-
ttchmentS or soldiers from the various forts IN
New York harhOr and Governors Island tho
Grams. Army and Navy Union. the Ntevi.ar Wrr
teI'ns. Tho Volunteer Firemrn's Association.
thr cadet National Guard. the Young American
' oiunteers and the Volunteer Life Saving CORPS.
IN ad-ltion. several thousand school children VIII
be en- line
ah. commandment ~ the FroCoklyn Navy Y9r1
Two WarshipF Will be stationed undcr the VIII
tns"urg bridge. and al given signal win IRE
twenty one guns the national salute AFTER the
salute has been fired the school children WIN Join
IN tn singing ~ the star Spaugled Barler"
10 Is expected that an enormous crowd will
We on hand 70 witness the ceremonies. Invita-