“THE SOURCES OF CROKER'S FORTUNE.”
The Mazet committee that was recently appointed by the New York Senate to investigate the reported corruption in the government of New York City, are not finding any difficulty in establishing the correctness of the reports. Richard Croker, a political boss that has been very successful in gathering to himself an immense fortune, comes in for a large share of the investigations of this committee. A recent editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle gives a brief survey of some of the work that this Mazet committee is doing, particularly as it relates to Boss Croker. The editorial is as follows: “The question of ‘Where did he get it?’—meaning his fortune—is one that Richard Croker has often declined to answer himself, but the truth is being ferreted out by the Mazet investigation committee. The Lexow inquiry of four years ago traced plenty of money through the dives, saloons, and gambling hells to Tammany Hall, and left it to be inferred that Croker got his share. But it did not bring out the financial connection of Croker with politics so clearly as its successor is beginning to do. “The Mazet committee has not gone deeply, as yet, into the taxation of vice, but it is doing such good work in showing up the taxation of industries and the corrupt manipulation of contracts and franchises by Croker and his pals that the other matter may be fairly permitted to wait. It has been shown, for example, that certain manufacturers of material used in making fire-proof floors and partitions could not do business in the city of New York until they had elected a son of Boss Croker secretary and made him a large stockholder. When that was done an order of the Department of Buildings excluding their processes was rescinded and they were able to make heavy contracts. There was also testimony to the effect that persons desiring the favorable opinion of a commission which is making regulations concerning the construction of buildings, were obliged to employ a young nephew of Croker as attorney, by the payment of enormous fees. It is developing, too, that Croker belongs to a guarantee company which compels all municipal employees to go to it for bonds. This company is managed by one Friedman, a chum of the Tammany boss, who pays over to the latter a sum which is believed to exceed $25,000 per year. Friedman himself gets $15,000 per annum as salary. “How many companies the Crokers have broken into and then built up in their own interest with either public contracts or the withdrawal of blackmailing hindrances, and how many companies they have formed for such purposes, will probably be counted up before the inquisitors get through with their task. We think so because every business man who has keenly suffered from this sort of competition is likely to take the stand as a witness. Many have already done so. But enough is known now to supply clews to where Croker gets his fortune, and to put the boss on the defensive in all his business operations. Incidentally, it may be relied upon to defeat his scheme for municipal ownership of the New York gas system, which is but another name for a conspiracy to give him a chance to enrich Tammany in general and himself in particular with the profits of the business.” The foregoing simple statement of facts gives but a mere glance at the fearful political corruptions in New York City. And even Dr. Parkhurst, who was the instigator of the Lexow investigation that New York had but a few years since, says that the great city is worse now than it was then. And in many respects Chicago is as bad if not worse than New York. Some of the recent “hold-ups” in the great City of the Lakes, and that right in the open of broad daylight, are an evidence of the lawlessness that is allowed to prevail there on account of the collusion of the police with the criminals. Reports of a similar character are coming also from the principal cities all over the world. Such widespread and such deep-seated corruption and general criminality are truly appalling. What will be the end of it? There is but one solution. Do you know what it is? The God of heaven will be required to take the matter in hand very soon. He has given several striking examples of what He will do when driven to it by the terribly base corruptions and injustices of men. The divine arm is even now raised against the unblushing criminality of this time. The stroke can not long be delayed. The blow of the Infinite One will crumble this old world into desolate ruins, and all who cling to their sins will go down in the general destruction. But all who receive it may have deliverance. And we have no time to lose, for the great and final day is right at hand.