The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-26
The Charges Brought Against Him BY
Mr.. Wales Reach Home.
CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.
He Tries to Bully the Sinking Fund Commits
sioners. but Gets Knocked Ont of Time.
A LIVELY DEBATE


0ete mir Of the occasion. The Comptroller is evil
IDENTITY chahng under the statements about the
way he Constructs" the administration of the
affairs Of the various departments by hts peculiar
policy which have already been made before the
Law Committee Of the Board OF Aldermen. The
testimony of MIR. Wales, Dock Commissioner, es-
peciaily seems to have thrown MIN clear or his BAL
ance, and, instead of waiting until the committee
called upon him for his side OF the story, he at
tempted yesterday to get Off big speech. which
he had carefully written out Dy which he hoped TO
vent all his
pEST UP SPLEEN
against Commissioner Wales and others, under
the guise OF explaining some of the ways OF doing
business adopted by the Dock Department. The
Mayor saw his little game and ruled him out OF
order In his remarks. Poor Green twisted and
squirmcd and resorted to all sorts or lodges, and
In manner most insulting to the Mayor, to have
his spiurge made public; but he finally COM
PEELED TO sit down, the Recorder and the Cham.
berlain deciding that the Mayors decision ruling
his remarks out OF order was right. The business
that brought the Comptroller to his feet with his
roll OF manuscript was an application from the
Dock Department. in which the commissioners
asked that the Comptroller should be directed to
Issue ST. GEO. 900 in bonds for the purposes OF the
department
THE PRRLIMINARIRs.
The COMPTROLLER remarked that the Dock De.
partment was organized BY law very peculiarly,
and he read from the law which gives the depart
ment such powers as may be established for them
by the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund. He
then went on to state that he had protest sent
to him, by contractor named william F. Morgan,
warning him, az Comptroller, not to approve OF
the suretles given In a contract awarded by the
Dock Commissioners to another party for the
whom the bid had been awarded had not bid as
low as he (Morganl had.
The RECORDER said that If such was the case the
protest. or at least copy oft, should be sent to
the Dock Commissioners. The accusation was a
very serious one, and, II true the Commissioners
should be removed rom ONCE ct once.
The MAYOR asked If copy Of the protest had
been sent TO the Dock Commissioners.
The council OF Mr.. Morgan, VINO was present by
permission. said that he had sent q copy OF the
protest to the Dock Commissioners even before
they had awarded the contract to the person
whose bid was higher than MIR. Morgan's. The
counsel blandly said he would ike to address the
Commissioners II they would allow him.
The RECORDER said he would prefer not to hear
the counsel. He said the protest involved serious
charges which the Dock Co commissioners should
know OF ofically.
The COMPTROLLRR-The awards In the contract
have been sent TO the Finance Department for
approval. The gentleman (the counseD can
THE FIGHT BEGINS.
The MAYoR-I object to any statements here in
relation 10 this matter by the counsel.
The COMPTEOLLER then remarked that as to bios
being sent to the Dock Commissioners, statement
had been made by one of the Commissioners lately
which he proposed to have read. Here Mr.. Green
cha NJ
Mr. Wales mace before the Aldermanic Law COM
mttee on Monday last.l This statement" said
'n The MAYOR neutrality-suspicious. f statement
think, ought not to b. produced here. We have
nothing to 40 with IT, Il is not pertinent to the
the COMPTROLLER-l see what pertinence
It has. propose to have 1T lead, aud tangrly)
. statement which calls In question the action
Of his colleagues aud l desire to know whether
his statement Is true that the Dock Department
higher than the lowest bidders.
The MAYOR-rne Cnalr viii rule that this state.
ment cannot be read here. One question before
US is whether the issue of $l,O0O,oOO in bonds
| ID proper. 1t has been moved that 1t he referred
that a copy OF the protest OF Mr. Morgan be sent
| TO the Dock commissioners. ! don't think the
reading OF that statement mas anything to do with
| either OF these matters.
The Comptroller insisted that the reading Of the
statement ought to be In order.
The Mayor commended that 10 was after all only
| newspaper report, not an Olncial statement.
The Recorder agreed with tho Mayor that the
| reading OF the statement was out OF order.
A VOICE FROM ACROSS THE WAY.
Commissioner Wales, VINO was present, was a..
lowed by permission, to state that alter ne made
the statement ne had made before the Aldermanlc
| Committee, he learned that the committee had no
photographer. and he therefore was not willing
made BY sworn stenogrspher OF the COM
mittee, should be taken as Official. While he was
70 anu up M ne es aa
statement 70 DC considered as In every respect
correct; Tor some errors mad been made In nearly
| all OF the reports OF IL he had read
| The CoMPrROLLER said he did not care what dis
closures the gentleman saw ft to make, but he
believed that that PORTION OF the statement he
| meant to read lirom the HERALDl had been cor.
rectly reported.
THE BATTLE GETS WARN
The MAY0R-what has a statement made before
! an Aldermantc Committee got to do with usf IL
IA evident that all this Is personal matter be-
The COMPTROLLER (bitterly)-No, SIR; I think it
can he shown that 1t Is personal matter between
three persons; ana the Comptroller looked the
The MAYOR (angrllyl-1 don't see where l come
The COMPTROLLER (sueeriucly)-But think you
90 come in, and viii snow Your HONOR
The MAYOR-Wcll, rule the whole matter out
| OF order. II the other members OF the Commits
sion see Ut 10 LOOK upon my decision as improper,
The UoMrrRoLnER-IfIa am to be confronted with
rulings tnat prevent me from making proper
statements here by Your Honor AZ IN the Board Of
AppOrtlonment--
the CONTROLLERS (with pretended meekness) -
say, sir, that 1 nave always despite Whatever
rulings may DC made against my views com.
ported myself conrtcously ana confined myself
within parliamentary usage Certain tnfor-
nation desire TO lay belore.this Board and
| The MAY0R-l would ask the Comptroller one
| question Are the Dock Commissioners RESPONSE.
| Bile to this Board Tor their actions and
The COMPTR0LLER remarked. with q leer, that it
| was not for him TO give advice to other members
| OF the Board as to their legal duties.
TRYING TO GET HUNK
After some further discussion the question OF
the issue Of the 81 900 600 bonds was eerred 10
| the Comptroller, he voting mo-"
The COMPTROLLER then offered resolution,
| which was adopted finally. which was direction
to the Dock Commissioners 10 furnish the sinking
Fund Commissioners with q statement OF their
expenditures for 1874; also, OF the location
OF the buildings hired Tor the Dock Depart
meut the amount OF rent paid for them
and the terms and conditions OF the leases; the
operations OF the Department In 1874 also First,
tho cost Of the piers and the rents and percent
age on the cost that were obtained for the same !;
second, what piers, wharves and docks are not
rented, and why; third. what piers, wnarves and
docks remain rented Tor which the rent has no {
I