New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-09

made for the purpose of familiarizing
himself with the financial operations
of the private charitable institutions
20 which the city was making large an
nual contributions, grave Irregular
ties were disclosed. They were brought
TO the attention Of Mayor Gaynor, who
directed the commissioner of accounts
to make a thorough investigation.
Directed TO Make Inquiry
AT the time Of and as q result OF
these disclosures, Comptroller Prend-
ergast and | were directed as COM
m;ttee of the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment Of the City Of New
YORK 70 conduct an inquiry into the
accounts Of private charitable instltu-
tions which are the recipients OF city
funds. IL became our disagreeable
duty, through the medium of the COM
missioner Of accounts, TO examine
under oath certain Catholic priests and
70 pursue closely inquiries concerning
the disposition of certain funds and
the methods of accounting therefor.
although this was our public duty,
imposed by virtue Of our respective
Offices and discharged under the obli-
cation of our respective oGths, the
comptroller and |, because our duty
was discharged vigorously and con-
scientiously, without favor and with
out the impression of any fact, became
the objects Of abuse and misrepresen-
tation by certain members of both the
Catholic laity and the Catholic clergy
of this city. This political campaign
of abuse and misrepresentation-for
it became political against the comp
troller and myself was carried into
meetings Of the knights of Columbus.
Meetings were held at which the
Controller and |, either by name or
through implication, were denounced
as enemies of the Catholic Church and
as slanderers of her institutions, and
efforts were made TO prejudice mem
bers OF the order against me. with
view to the political effect thereof. ]
will cite TO you certain instances that
remain fresh in my recollection. In do
ing SO ! purposely refrain from men
ton Of the names Of those persons re-
ferred TO, but am prepared to furnish
them at your request"
Pamphlets Distributed
The Mayor referred to the pamphlets
which were distributed at the Catholic
churches throughout the city on the
Sunday preceding Election Day, 1913,
and at the meeting of the New York
Chapter of the Knights Of Columbus
held that day. The Mayor declared
that these pamphlets were distributed
through prominent knight Of Co
lumbus," and through the Democratic
executive committee of Kings County
The Mayor further said that follow
ing his taking Office as Mayor and the
public discussion of the opposition Of
fered by certain Of the CathOl!c priests
of the Archdiocese to the work OF the
Department of Charities, another series
Of attempts was made to use the meet
ings Of the Knights of Columbus as
media for political attacks or him.
The Mayor cited instances IF this at
"a meeting of a council in Manhattan
on April ., 1916" and in speech at
a communion breakfast of )ne of the
councils in The Bronx in May, 1916"
From the foregoing you will easily
observe" wrote the Mayor, that | had
ample occasion 10 believe from expert
ence that there was a disposition
among many members of the order to
WELD readily TO influence exercised to
my prejudice and to the prejudice OF
those acting with me in the great pub
lie undertaking for the welfare of the
little children who become the depend
ent wards of the City of New York, to
which | have given myself, without de-
nominational prejudice and without the
fear of UNCONVENTIONAL animosity or
attack.
while, of course, know that the
Order of the Knights Of Columbus as
whole does not, and would not, sane
tion the conduct above described, | am
sure you will agree with me that, to
make this plain to the world as it is
to US, and to vindicate its own tenets,
rules and principles, it would become
the order TO purge itself of those who
have so grossly preached its rules and
misrepresented its purposes and prin-
ciples."