New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-19
THE ALDERMEN AFTER THE Mayor

The Special Committee of the Board OF Aldermen
appoir ted TO investigate the matter OF the contracts
for raising the ship Joseph Walker, met yesterday
afternoon in the room of the Clerk Of the Common
Council, City Hall. Present, Aid. Ely, lChairman,)
voorbis and Varian.
The first witness called was James Fnrey, Street.
Commissioner who testified in substance as folows'
Numerous citizens complained TO me of the ship Jo-
seph Walker as public nuisance but / told them
that had power in the matter without special d.
rection; subsequently received such directions from
the Boards of Aldermen and Councmen, as near as L
can recollect; bad done something toward raising
the vessel before the Commissioners OF Health
action in the matter; the acquisitions Tor payment
were made upon the fund for wharves piers aud slips;
had a conversation with the Mayor PRIOR to the inst
requsition for 1000, on May 5; the second roqui-
sition was written twice but the inst copy was 90
siroyed in consequence of difficulty between the Sher-
i'll and Mr. Jones the copy preserved was or<5 500 Nay
co. have measured The depth Of the waer al mo
foot of Dover-st.; have visited the vessel ,reasenuy
before and after Mayor Woods accession TO the Mayor
atty cannot tell whether 1 ever heard any person
complain of an unpleasant smell there, or whether
have smell such my SELF do not think myself Judge
of such matters; have seen sketch OF contract
between the Mayor and Mr.. Jones; think 1t was for
81 800; the acquisitions drawn almost immedi-
ately after the contracts made thought myself
entitled TO them by virtue of my ofice do not
know whether any person ever complained OF an un-
pleasant smell about the ship; do not Know mat any
rpousitoL has ever been drawn for 500 for WORK on
the chip; do not know who IA the owner OF the SUPP,
or that the CITY would be liable for wharfage IL com
repc,d 10 raise the sbp intend to sell the ship and
cargo to pey the expenses; shall do 80 BY vnure Oh
the order of tho Commissioners OF Health ana oy w
tue of my own office; do not know the volne OF inc
shin and CARGO will the risk OF any one else
claiming il or procuring il in preference to the CITY;
no Other officer but myself has power TO raise tne Ses-
sci.
The next witness sworn was his Horor the Mayor,
Fernando Wood who testified IL substance as tolowsi
assume the entire responsibility or the whole trans
action; did not pay the money; made the con-
ire cts with Mr. Jones' after my accession TO tho
Mayorality opened Complaint Book, on which
complaints registered from all parts OF the cry;
among hese az ainst tho ship Joseph Walker,
which was sunk at the foot Of Dovers'., az public
inoumbrance, and calling for Der removals referred
the matter TO Of the Departments, deemdng 1t to
be the proper place for the remedy Of the evil but the
conf laints were renewed in Jauuary, February and
March; in April received memorial signed with
the amos Of many influential citizens doing business
in the vicinity asking TO have the vessel removed;
thew sup. osed that had been a merchant imnef-
asly in front Of the place whore the vessel sunk
that | would realize the necessity for her re-
mova and net accordingly in April the mat
TER was presented TO me ne . sanitary ques-
ton, o. the vessel was partly loa'ed fur sea with
car 90 of grain and cotton, and that Us warm iher
approached it would be very detrimental to public
health; went down and saw the vessel lying there,
bu did take any extraordinary pains to ASCERTAIN
the truth Of the sanitary complaint thought that
the matter warranted immediate actioni there was
sufficient in the statements OF the sanitary reasons 10
give plausbiity to the statements then sent Tor inc
Controller toward the last of April be said that he
thought il was my business 10 attend to ~ then
held correspondence with NJ. turey and others,
which il already before the public the Controller
then advised me TO take the mater In my own HANDS,
and believed my sell justified in taking the vessel out;
then sei for several persoDs whose business II "ns
to attend such things, among these was Mr. Jones,
whom knew 10 be particularly qaa,nea 70 JSags ;c e.
was 10 do the very thing reqaued sent Tor him
solely for the purpose OF gaining Information as 10 the
beet manner of raising the vessel; | took especi3
pains 10 assure myself that had full power under the
law; discovered that the May il Health lnstitu
ton himself and the power rests In himself, ana
be is perfectly solus and independent TO DC per-
eoily sure, laid the matter before the Heaitn
Con missioners, who approved OF my course.
wish il distinctly understood that was the man VINO
PROF osed the matter and wanted the vessel raised
lumber OF bids offering to remove The yesee were re-
ceived; there one conditional bid winch vas
thrown out as nfouDal the next lowest bad was Mr.
JOness he consequently received tie contract, Deing
tbe lowest bona fee bidder; 80 careful was 10 Sc
cure The City that took good bonds for siooooo ior
MIR. Jones's faithful performance OF MS contract;
wish il distinctly understood that IL the City loses by
the Transaction I will pay n money out OF my own
private pocket; the power Is given to tho hen'th
Commissioners 10 remove whatever Is detrimental 70
the public health at the expense OF TIE owners tho
Civ could make the owner Of every dead horse pay
for its removal; and 70 it could make the owners OF
tie joseph Walker pay for her removal wnen she Is
public nulsaDce; the law gives Tue I1eaIh OmccIs
powtr 10 ecdc what is nuisance, and II Is Lobodys
business / ow they arrive at their conclusions; re-
nov ed aour-siofy house In WGrenst few days since
because thought l. likely TO fail, and removed the
JOSEPH Walker for sufficiently good reason; II the
building had been ellowed TO fall and persons had
been killed OF the Joseph Walkers cargo lad been
allowed to become putid and spread infectious dis
ease alone would Be responsible the law gives the
Health Officers power 70 decide what is nuisance
and claim 10 have 30 decided with all due pTecau-
ton; large portion Of the vessel was above the
wafer although statements have been made 10 the
cotrnrv vain efforts have been made 10 raise ner az
a cbean price; never for one moment doubted that
he civ would be reimbursed for al expenses for rails
inc ne hin; think that either the Street Comms
s;oner or nv sef bad full power TO her, and
he owners are responsible for the cost; do not
thnk that Dir. Jones understood that the City
was to relinquish all right to sell the vessel and
cargo; did not 90 understand il; there war
rant drawn for money until and the Controller and
the Commissioner of Streets had satisfied ourselves
that the City would be secured in paying; we saw
that some work had been done; do not know that
there was an agreement with the owners Of the ship
previous 10 my contract with Mr.. Jones; should
think that the work done 10 the ship at the time the
first requsition was paid might have been done since
tie axartiDg Of the contract.
The Mayor then gave the Committee numerous re-
ferences to the legal authortyby which be has been
guided. He oilated at some length upon the almost
absolute powers conferred upon the Mayor 10 bis ca
pacify as the first Health Officer Of the City.