The sun., 1908-06-11
REPLIEs To CIrIzENS UNION.
Senator Harte and Assembyman De Groot
Defend Their Records.


Defend Their Records.
ALBANY. June 1o-Regarding the Citi-
Rens Union criticism Of his Legislative
measures during the session Senator
Harte says:
IL have given absolutely no weight to
the attempted criticism by the Citizens
Union tso called) Of my record during the
session Of the Senate just passed. l have
noticed during my career in Albany that
the Citizens Union. far from representing
the views OF the vast mass OF tho people Of
the city Of New York and far from ad-
vocating what is for the best interests Of
the people. Is composed Of handful Of
self-seeking, vainglorious egotists. who.
like the three tailors of Tooley street in
London, consider that they are the people
of the State
Their consistent and persistent advo-
cacy OF the bill for the purchase Of the
Thirty ninth street ferry. which many
consider the biggest steal put through the
Legislature in the last twenty years, and
their strongly expressed opposition to the
Coney Island five cent fare BILL both show
to my mind how this so-called Citizens
Union represents the real interests Of the
people and that 1t ia really moribund as
sociation. which only comes to life when
the financial interests of it's leaders are
involved.
AS an evidence Of their opposition to
my legislation in the interest OF the people
Of my district this Citizens Union assocla-
ton wrote to the Legislature their oppo-
sition to the bills introduced by me com
plying between Manhattan and Long Island
City, showing they are at all times more
interested in the welfare Of corporations
than in the welfare Of the people and con-
slider opposition and criticism OF this char
acter the highest badge Of honor"
When Assemblyman De Groot was asked
concerning the criticisms Of the Citizens
Union he said.
the young gentleman who Is hired by
the Citizens Union to criticise members
district and who is responsible. for the
statement that introduced q salary grab
bill Is either In error or desires to injure
me out Of feeling Of vindictiveness. He
has wholly ignored my uniform record in
favor Of the reform legislation Of the last
sions on the bill to create the Office OF Com
missioner Of Records in Queens. After
that bill had been reported from the COM
mittee l consented to have 1t referred back
for hearing on the request OF q political
opponent OF the measure. There was
sS N'S"eS Poc'No
against it, and this was attempted In vain.
The only appearances against the bill at
the hearing were my political opponent
and this young man employed by the Citi-
zens' Union. The committee did not take
kindly to their opposition. 1t was criti
cised by the chairman and the measure was
reported forthwith. Nobody who knows
anything about the bill is impressed with
the characterization Of the Citizens Union.
This bill in its final form simply provides
for the creation OF department for the
growing borough Of Queens similar to that
existing in Manhattan and Brooklyn, for
the collection, recopying, care and preserva-
ton of our records The amount of ex-
penditure for Its maintenance Is limited to
an amount slightly in advance Of what but
a portion Of this work costs at the present
time, and all expenditures for salaries must
be with a view to economy and are subject
to the approval Of the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment. except that of the
commissioner, which Is fixed by the bill.
Il should have taken no notice of this pub
lication but for the request of several news
papers for an answer. as a very general i'm
preston prevails that it is the acme Of pre-
sumption for one irresponsible person,
wholly without legislative experience to
set himself up in the business Of an expert
critic. standing between the members of
this Legislature and those to whom they are
responsible for their public acts"