The Elk Mountain pilot., 1912-01-18
Il Don't" Blasted Expectations

sured. and felt convinced that they
could. with him. carry the state OF
New York even though General Grant
was again candidate for president
These politicians OF influence. who had
already brought about the election OF
Mr.. Hoffman as mayor OF New York
and as governor. we're the leaders OF
the Tammany Hall of that day. and
their leader was William NJ. GLOSSY
Tweed.
In the senate In the state legisla-
ture OF 1871. which was controlled by
the Democracy. Mr.. Tweed caused to
be named a committee on cities whose
members he himself selected. He
was himself member Of that COM
mittee. That was the committee
which had authority to report favor
ably or otherwise measures relating
to the government Of New York city
Shortly after the session began Tweed
offered a resolution which authorized
the commissioners who had authority
over the construction Of the new court
house In New York city to audit bills
without limitation OF expenses In
Cured and to add the same to the tax
levy. which was then made up In AL
bany. II was the measure which made
the gigantic county courthouse frauds
possible. All OF the wise politicians
realized that there was some impor-
tant Joker behind this resolution. and
although some effort was made to
limit the amount permissible for the
county court house commission to
audit. nevertheless Tweed forced the
resolution through the committee by
four votes out OF Ave.
After that was done came the cru
cial and what proved to be the fatal
moment for Gov. John T. HOFFMAN. A
senator went to Mr.. Hoffman and
urged him to use his influence to have
this measure defeated.
Governor Hoffman looked steadily
and sternly at the senator for few
moments. He took the resolution up
and read 1t over and over again. Then.
turning to the senator. he asked: 3
DO you mean to impute dishonesty
to the county courthouse commission
ers of New York. who are sworn pub
lie officers?".
The senator replied that 1t seemed
to him unnecessary 10 impute any dis
honesty since the measure on It's face
was a dangerous grant of financial
power,
Again Governor Hoffman asked:
DO you mean to impute dishonesty
to these public officers?"
The senator was silent
Ing from his chair. Il don't: and be-
cause | don't. | won't interfere in this
measure"
How different his own history and
that OF the Tweed ring would have
been had Governor Hoffman said: 81
do impute dishonesty and will in
terfere!" For by reason of this meas
ure. which the legislature passed and
Governor Hoffman signed. bills largely
fraudulent to the amount Of six mil
lion dollars passed the county court
| house commissioners. and 1t was the
disclosure Of these frauds that led to
the overthrow gf the Tweed ring In
November. 1871.
Governor Hoffman's II don't" cost
him all his political future. 1t cost
Tweed his leadership and his liberty
and brought him to prison cell 1t
cost Richard B. Connolly. the comp.
troller OF the city. his residence in
the United States-for he fed to Eu-
rope And It cost A. Oakley Hall. who
was mayor Of New York when the
Tweed looting was going on. tie Unit
ed States senatorship. which 1t had
| Ionu hoan his ambition 70 oocura
| copyright. 1911. by f J, Edwards. All
Rights Reserved.)
EnaIand AaII