The Outcome Reviewed

The trial of Mr. Clark, president of the Board of Public 'Works of this city, by tlie common council, acting as a court öf inquiry, closed yesterday 'afterao-on with a verdict in favor oí Mr. Ciarle om a ti e vote. Two republicana voted for Mr. Clark's comviction and two demócrata ■verted against his coovriction, so that it could 'Dot be called eatirely a partisan verdict, althO'Ugh it was a partisa,n prosecuticm. luiere is no question in the minds of a large majarity of the people that tlie ■ p'iislinng' oí these charges against Mr. Clark originated in a de &lre to destroy or control the Board of Public WcM-ks fby a cliíiue of people here in the city who found; out that they could not run the Board to suit themsehs. Thiat ist the way it oa-iginated. Ilhce it was added to by the contractors and their friends whö had been obliged to fulfill their contracbs, and do the work occording to Bpecificatiioins ; -then a.a'n, the Board has used quite rigid economy, Mr. Clark managihg the city's busineiss as he would liis own, and there are people wlio dio not belie-- in tliat, bnt think that ainytihiinig the city can ba baaten ont of is so niuch clear, legitímate gain. Tiren thore are others who are op■posed to anvthjng that exists anyway and also tihose who are ready to juinp in and condemn a man without a question, all tliey need being to have so'tnO one eay a word, and some ome to lead. p' All tliesO classes ccwnbkied to oust Mr. Clark and epentually destroy ihe Board of Public Works, a,n'd put tlie city back again into tbe old rut -wh&re tlhie aldernien controlled the work and oonsequeaitly tlie patronage. Tlie trial was emiinently fair. Th ere was no sliuttlng out of testlmony, eitlier lieresay or aoy other kind. 33veryfching tnat -was known caoie out, as it should. It is the opinión, oí many ttliat Mr. Clark's attarneys injui'ed Iiis case eoniewliat by objecting to the introduction of testimony tliat would have been ruled out in a.ny court, but wtiich ia this instance it was best for 1?. Claife's otth interest 'to admit. It was not for Mr. Clark's interest 'have anything shut out, but on the contrao-y to have a ful, -free amd clear expoisition of everytliing. TSiero "svas not .a partiële of evidenco 'broiiight out that wouW conT'ict Mr. Clark of the charges preferred aigainst hirn. Tliere was evitloace, liowerer, that a sharp agent liiad attempted to do something - just -wliat miay poseítity' he knowa liereaftr. It is easy to feee how men coald coasider it a duty to voto ■vith their party ; it is easy to see how others wlio wcre determined to kill off Mr. Clark and the Board of Public Works, could vote to convict him on the soit of testimony brought out ; but how a taan -vlio pa-eteads to 13 an exponent of the law, and a good one at tliat,, a man wbo inakes pretense to extreme faimess, could vote to canvlct on testiinony that would not stand foa" a minute, even in a justice's e-aart, is aimomg the inscrutable mystei-ies. Such a Tote from such a so-urce might not effeet a man's staoiding as a lawyer, pei'haps, lut ït wo'uld eeem to sdiow a total deficiency in the peculiar qualities that go to make np an impartial aud sattefactory judge. City Attorney Kline lid admirably ia handling1 the case. Considering Uie little ground Jie had to stand on, and tlie up-hill flght he had to' make, lne did himself credit. It was no ia uit of his tliat Mr. Clark was not convicted. Neitiher does tlie Courier have any criticisms to make upom the council fchey managed the case admiraWy froom tibe first ; and Mr. Hiscock, who presided -svitli much dignity, ability aad eminent fairness to all sides, is due much po-aise. Aid. BrowR and Prettymaai also proved lully alive to all Ithat -svas going on, and allowed no evasions or dodges. The tri.il wals coinduoted with üignlty and fairruess, and a desire to obtain all evidente posible that could throw any ligflif lupom the subject. The rateóme, -w-Mie not as decisive as could be desired, is creditable to all cocneernod, iall the more so to Mr. Clark Ifroim tlie fact that his enemtes lett mo unturned, no possible point uncoiered, and y et 'did not produce a BCintilla oí ovidence against liim. Tlius ends ifche chapter. Things will probably (move forward again now'.