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Inspection

of accounts.

formation of the people, regarding any and all details of the financial administration of public affairs. . .

The auditor of state, a deputy inspector and supervisor, and every state examiner shall have power by himself or by any person legally appointed to perform the service, and shall make such examination at least once a year. On every such examination inquiry shall be made as to the financial conditions and resources of the taxing district; whether the constitution and statutory laws of the state, the ordinances and orders of the taxing district and the requirements of the bureau of inspection and supervision of public offices have been properly complied with; and into the methods and accuracy of the accounts and reports.

CHAPTER XXX

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

222. The Operations of a Municipal Boss

THIS testimony given by Mr. Croker during an investigation into the offices and departments of New York City in 1899 indicates the methods employed by a political dictator in operating party machinery. It also affords an insight into the character and outlook of one of the most striking municipal leaders of recent times.

Q. But you are simply the leader of the Tammany Democracy, are you? A. Yes, sir, you say so and it must be so.

Q. You admit it? A. Yes. I don't deny that.

Q. There is a difference between the Tammany Society. A. It is not necessary to bring all that up, I should not imagine, because everybody knows what they are. There is no use playing to the galleries.

MR. Moss. We are making the record.

THE WITNESS. Give good straight talk and let us get through. There is no use making speeches. They all know everything you have said here. I am the leader of the party and I acknowledge it, and all these people are my friends and I am going to stick to them all the time. I don't shy away from them. (Applause from the audience.)

MR. Moss. That is right. I hope the chairman will allow that once in a while.

THE WITNESS. No, we don't want it. Just give me good straight talk and let us settle it. That is all unnecessary. All those gentlemen know that I am considered the leader, and all those gentlemen are my friends, and yet you have taken a half hour up for nothing. Now, what is the use?

A little by-
play between
examiner
and witness.

Mr. Croker and his friends.

City officials to be con

Mr. Moss. We will try to accommodate you. I do not want to make this examination any more lengthy or uncomfortable. The Witness. You must pardon me now for saying that. I am only saying that for both of us. You have got quite a little time, and I have got a little time and we want to make good use of it.

1

Q. You say these gentlemen whom I have mentioned are your friends, do you? A. Yes, sir.

Q. You are their leader and have discussed together the political matters of the city, have you not? A. Yes, sir.

Q. You give certain directions and advice? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And they follow it? A. Some do.

Q. And when they do not? A. Some do and some don't.
Q. That is the only way a political party can be made prac-
tically successful, is it not? A. That is the way.

Q. It does not do to have divided councils at the head, does it?
A. No, not very well.

Q. For that reason, when the party is dominant the men who trolled by the are put into the city offices to administer the affairs of the city organization. ought to be in such relation with the head that they will do what is generally considered by the organization to be the proper thing? A. We agree on that. We believe it is right, yes.

Tammany officials are

city officials.

Q. The leader of that organization is always looked to for his advice, his judgment and his direction, is he not? A. Not always. Often things are done that the leader don't know anything about.

Q. But there are so many things that you cannot be expected to know and understand them all. I agree on that. A. There are lots of things done that I am not accountable for at all.

Q. I want to read the names of the Sachems. We are not only talking but we have got to make a record that is to go to the LegisJature and I want it straight. It is stated that the Tammany Sachems now are Thomas L. Feitner, President of the Board of Tax Commissioners, Grand Sachem; John Whalen, Corporation Counsel; John F. Carroll, the assistant or deputy of your1 Men prominent in Tammany Democracy. 2 Officers in Tammany Hall.

self; William Astor Chanler, Congressman elect; John J. Scannell, Fire Commissioner; Charles F. Murphy, President of the Board of Health; Randolph Guggenheimer, President of the Council; Maurice Featherson, State Senator; Major Asa Bird Gardiner, District Attorney; John Kelly; George C. Clausen, President of the Park Commission; John Fox; Thomas J. Dunn, Sheriff; Secretary, Thomas F. Smith, Clerk of the City Court; Sagamore, J. T. Nagle; Wiskinskie, John A. Boyle. Is that list substantially correct? A. Yes, sir.

Q. And all or nearly all of those men hold prominent positions now in the city government? A. Yes, sir.

How the

party leaders filled the

Q. Is it not a fact that upon the success of the Tammany ticket in the election of the fall of 1897 there was a gathering at Lakewood of the important members of the Tammany organization city offices. including yourself, at which was discussed the offices that were to be filled and the candidates for these offices? Is not that so? A. Oh, yes.

Q. And at that conference at Lakewood practically all of the important officers of the city and county government were selected, were they not? A. Well, pretty much.

Q. And your advice was asked upon them all, was it not? A. Mostly all, yes, sir.

Q. Do you recall any member or any important officer of the city government now who was not discussed with you and your advice asked about him? A. No, I do not.

Q. These men were all agreeable to you, were they not? A. Yes, sir.

Q. And most of them were your personal selection, were they not? A. Well, no, they were not; not my personal selection at all.

Q. But the selection of yourself or of your immediate associates? A. Yes, sir.

Q. And they were selected partly because of their presumed ability to fill the offices and partly because of the loyalty they had to the organization which had triumphed? A. Yes, sir.

Contributions to the Democratic party.

Contribu

tions to the Republican state fund in New York.

had was in somebody else's name, wasn't it? A. No one's name at all.

Q. You have no connection with Mr. Freedman, have you, in financial matters? A. Yes.

Q. He was not handling it for you? A. It was all private business.

Q. Working for your pocket all the time? A. Yes, sir; as you are working for criminals in New York.

Q. Just as I am after criminals? A. Yes.

Q. I take your language? A. Every man in New York is working for his pocket.

223. Corporations in Politics*

In 1893 charges were brought against the Sugar Trust to the effect that it had been exerting improper influences on the process of tariff revision, and the United States Senate made an inquest into the truth of the matter. In the course of his statement before the investigating committee, Mr. Havemeyer described the political operations of the Sugar Refining Company:

SENATOR ALLEN. Had you or the sugar refining company con-
tributed anything to the campaign fund in New York last year?
MR. HAVEMEYER. The Democratic campaign fund?
SENATOR ALLEN. Yes.

MR. HAVEMEYER. Do you mean the national campaign fund? SENATOR ALLEN. The Democratic State campaign fund of last year?

MR. HAVEMEYER.

SENATOR ALLEN.

MR. HAVEMEYER.

I will have to answer that in the affirmative.
Relatively, to what amount?

To a moderate amount.

SENATOR ALLEN. Have you any objection to stating what it was? MR. HAVEMEYER. I will have to look that up. I have not charged my mind with it.

SENATOR ALLEN. Did you also contribute something to the Republican campaign fund?

MR. HAVEMEYER. I will have to look that up.

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