The New York herald., 1875-11-21
THE SENATE INVESTIGATING coMMrrrEE.

THE SENATE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
The Senate Investigating Committee resumed its
sicn yesterday morning at the Firth Avenue Hotel
Some startling testimony gwen showing corruption
in the Dock Department
The first important witness Colonel Meehan, en-
gncer in the Dock Department, admitted that he had
done private business during office hours, prepared
maps, &C., ana that he had gone away TO Prince
Edwards Island for month and to Bridgeport for
days do private work. Tor which he paid while
drawing pay ut the same time from the department
He denied, however, having made any purchases for
the department or having received any commission
those purchases He was asked whether he had not
tried TO intimdate certain Mr.. Penn who going
TO testify against him, and he denied it in the most
emphatic terms
Mr. Penn who bookkeeper for Benot Wood
suppliers OF drawing materials &c, for the Depart
ment Of Docks, testified that Colonel Meehan
RECEIVED TRf' uESr COMMISSION
on all purchases made by the department This ten
per cent was added the bills IA Ia Garvey Inger-
solD or Benot & Wood but the commission was
charged such the books OF the arm and the
money handed to Colonel Meehan in sealed envelope
This matter rested on open understanding between
the witness and Mr.. Benot and the latter would gen
orally take the money to Meehan but this
Penn handed tho envelope the latter and once he
remembered distinctly, it amounted to about $40
When recalled Penn said Benotw also in the habit OF
making presents To Meehan which charged to the
department He remembered presents In particu-
lar-an opera glass and a caster-which were SO
charged by adding their cost the number OF pounds
of paper supplied, and increasing correspondngy the
cost of repairs
The most damning statement OF Penn was that Nee
han and Bonoit called upon him a lew days ago and
threatened
HIM INTO JAIL
II he would testify against them
Another branch of the inquiry now opened
Deputy Comptroller Earle went the stand to testify
that Mr. Maurice Power, clerk of the Marine Court
the last two years had failed 10 turn OF his
fees TO the city treasury since he had In
office. The Comptroller had written letter to the
Justices Of the Marine Court calling their TO
tins matter but without effect
Justice Spaulding Of the Marine Court testified that
he offered resolution TO remove Power, as well as
Rice and Ryan and four other useless and Incompetent
attendants, who were simply holding sinecures The
resolution, however, was voted down, he aud
Justice Joachimsen being the only members
Of the who voted for it, whilo Nc
Adam, Shea, Gross and Alker voted against
It. subsequently Ryan and Rice were removed, but
their places were filed BY the appointment Of brother
OF Fernando Wood and brother OF Chief Justice Shea
(laughter.l DR.. Merkle, who did no duty whatever,
not assigned to any work as witness had moved in
his resolution Justice Spauding took occasion say
here that the power Of patronage should be taken from
ance to them. The Marine Court had for years been
only an asylum for
DiIAPIDArRD RELATIVES or rHB JUSTICES
and broken down politicians and the political parties
made up the sates" Of the appolnees regardless Of
the candidates qualifications for their respective duties
lature should pass eonhding the appointment Of
the court clerks and attendants some other local
authority, while the justices should only have
the power to remove those who proved in
competent in the discharge Of their duties Were
tho Marine Court managed on real business
principles it woud be for half the present cost
When asked as to how much the fees retained by
Power would probably amount 20, Justice spaulding
said he did not know exactly, but they must be very
considerable, as under Powers predecessor they
amounted TO from 500 to 81 600 per month, and
then they must have doubled
Iudra Epuu fprh hay uIpd he
OF the Dock Department was resumed
Mr. William b. Aitken, young draughtsman en-
ployed in the department, testified
TO PRIVATE LUCRATIVE WORK
done by Keller Niser and other draughtsmen during
ofice hours. He admitted that he himself had gone
with Colonel Meehan 70 Bridgeport TO survey the har-
bor had stayed away ten days, but drawn his pay on
his return Just usual he made report General
Graham Of the waste Of public time by the employees OF
the Engineering Bureau, which contains soIno ludi-
passages showing that they gave much time to
preparations for balls games &c which should have
been employed for the benefit Of the department
Mr.. Thomas Murphy-not the celebrated Tom, but
Superintendent Of Construction in the Department. OF
DOcks-was closeiy examined in regard 70 his quah-
cations for the position he holds He asked where
he had been educated, what works submarine con-
structon no had read, &c but he failed show that
nc was familiar with submarine construction He also
admitted that no did write his daily reports the
Board bat simply signed them. He had brother and
two sons employed IN the department. but he stouty
asserted, no other relative whatever. [Laughterl
President Wales who had listened TO all the testi.
mony said that he desired explain that Immediately
upon his into Office last January be took the
advsabilty OF Colonel Neehan's removal into serious
consideration. Soon after, he offered resolution TO
remove Meehan which voted down,
his two colleagues voting against it. In
May, when the Commissioner, Dimmock,
Office he made another attempt 10 have Nee.
han removed, but this was frustrated by General
Grahans sudden resignation, which, in the opinion OF
his colleagues and OF the new engineer n-chef made
II desirable that Meehan should stay in his place until
the Battery pier, OF which he had always had charge
should have been finished. President Wales hinted
strongly that that the Battery pier nearly
finished Mechans official head would rest long upon
bis official shoulders
The committee adjourned until Tuesday morning at
half past ten
RECORD or CRIME