The New York herald., 1876-11-24
TO-DAY'S HEARIN G..
The Commissioners and Petitioners Mott
fled-Copies Of the Charges.
THE PRESENT DEADLOCK.
Statement by President Martin Relative to
Past Expenditures.

Wckham at his Office This committee was headed by
Colonel Rush C. Hawkins They arrived at the City
Hall shortly after eleven O'CLOCK just the Board Of
Apportonmcnt had organized Among the delegation
who presented the charges we're Messrs Dorman B.
Eaton, Jackson S. Schultz and others. on entering
shc Executive Chamber
Colonel HAwkiSs said:-Mr. Mayor, We appear hero
behalf OF a large number OF influential citizens,
who. believing with large portion Of the community
that tho Central Park has not bcen managed ms it
ought TO have been managed Tor the last few years.
have preferred charges against two of the Park Com
missioncrs, and have delegated US appear before
you and present them
Mayor wIcKHAM-This is = meeting OF the Board OF
Apportionment, and when tho business before us is
concluded II you desire to address Mayor shall
be happy to hear yoa. Our proceedings be dis
turbed but when adjourn shall receive you.
Colonel HAwKISs-I will state we do not wish to
make any argument at all. Our charges in writ
Ing. and we desire simply TO hand them to Your
Honor.
Mayor wIcKHAM-I you wish only to hand in
written charge you can do So
Colonel HAwKiss-That is all we want, sir.
Mayor WIcKHAx-Of course, gentlemen, there is
nothing in the charges you do como prepared to
substan tiaef
Colonel HAwKISs-wc certainly expect to.
Mayor wIcKnAM-Wcll, gentlemen. eau only say
Nil the consideration and attention TO which they
are entitled. viii send copy of them to the Park
Department, to The gentlemen who charged with
neglect OF duty, and will give you opportunity 10
be heard in their presence at the earliest possible
moment will expect. of course. that you will sub
Btantiate them.
The delegation then withdrew.
CHARoEs.
The following is a copy of the charges:-
To tho Hon. WILLIAM H. WIcKuAM Mayor of tho city
SlR-The undersigned your petitioners. citizens OF
shc State of New York and residents and taxpayers
ohc city OF New York, respectfully show
First William r. Martin and Joseph J. 0 Donohue
are now, and were at the time hereinafter menu ned
members of Board Of Commissioners OF the
Department Of Public Parks in said city. That at tho
times hereinafter mentioned they, their Official
capacity as said Comm, ssioners, caused TO bc dis
charged certain clerks and others who charge
OF bureaus IN said departments and that tho names
ami occupations Of the persons are as follows, VIZ ::
l. George H. Harrison, clerk in the office OF tho dis
bursng clerk for about four years,
William h. Beames, property clerk for about
g. B. N Barlow, clerk in the Office of the Civil and
Typographical Engineer for three years
l. Isaac Evans, assistant secretary for about fve
years.
for about twelve years
4. +. Bel,on, clerk in the Office OF tho disbursng
officer for about eight years.
That all OF said persons were, az your petitioners
have good reasons TO believe, discharged from their
employ ment without cause; and previous to their
ceIvng IRON the secretary OF The said depart
ment informing them that they were discharged they
informed OF any cause for said discharge,
were they allowed opportunity Tor explanation;
and that up tins time has been assigned or
presented TO them Tor their removal and that the
records of said show that no cntry OF the
true grounds OF said removals were forthwith al
any timo entered upon them That oil OF the said
movas were direct violation OF section 2S OF chap
ter 335 Of the Laws of 1873.
.Second-The minutes OF the meetings of said Board
OF Commissioners show tha, December 8, 1875 rcso-
luton voted Tor by said Commissio ncrs Martin
srd o'ponohue Of which the following Is true copy,
VIZ =
Resolved That in the opinion of this Board 81
much Tor a., days o i1sg, Of eight hour, oomn
81 bbins and williamson
And that the following further true copy of an
from the minutes OF tho meetings of said
Board, viz -
WEDNESDAY. May 81. 1875
suires the following number Of iaS,rer, mechanics A
mason stoncouters, carpenters, painters go sbores
commissioner siebb,ns offered tho olowins resolution
which was laid on the table =
guircd by the Superintendent mentonea in his
Ss ss s % s for ss e. e s
iun 81 work and that Is be referred the President
Comm .soncr Donohue moved tina, the Of labor
the reply OF tile comptroer the wages be reauced
NAYs-Comnissoner Stebbins
That for long time previous to the passage of tho
lvcr since the pay for days labor Of eisht hours
he Department OF Public Works has been 81 so; that
bor tho same period the pay OF common aborer
aay's work OF ten hours has been from 81 10 81 So
These last mentioned are the prices paid by private
Contractors. That at this time aua tor long time
previous The said Department OF Public Parks had
In s employ a large number of common laborers-l50
and upaard-and that there has been pald each OF
ucm 81 per day or day OF eight hours labor. and
that during the whole o said time said Martin and
D'Donohne knew that they were beiug paid large
amount above the market value Tor tncir SAID labor
Ihai IN
Df said Com Martin ana O'Dopohue reus-
Ing to reduce operate in reducing the pay OF
hbor was within their power and duty members
OF said Board 10 have done the city OF New York
been deirauded out OF argeamount OF money, which,
II they had performed their oilcal dnlies-imposcd
upon them as public oncers-honcstly and IN good
faith, would have been saved.
And your petitioners charge that such neglect OF
duty omittng to obtain labor AT reasonable market
lair rates was TO have DONE and Illegally
Aisehargng clerks and employees, IS part Of arb
trary and reckless and extravagant of Official
eonduct on the part Of said Martin and q 0Donohue.
s nsy ha se yqur ns
Joseph J. o'Donohue be removed from the Board Of
Commissioners oi Public Parks
Dated Nxw YORK, september 20, 1876
Rush G. Hawkins Jackson 5 Schultz, IL Kennedy,
Z. B. Eaton, William II. Webb John H. Sherwood,
Charles 5. smith, Charles II. Ishsm, J. " Brokaw,
Joseph H. Brown, Parke Goodwin. Richard Butler,
Henry N. Tabor, John 9. Emo stewart Brown, Russell
sage, James Buell., Jonathan fhornc William H. Lee,
J. B. Dutcner, Y. l.. Van vaikcnburgh, g. Wctherbcc,
Joseph 8 Lowery, George G. Richardson h Co. Lewis
Bros. Co, y. b Claim Co., W. $. strong 4 Co.,
Frederick Jacobson and others
NOTIFYING
Tho following communication sent to McssrR
Martin aud O'Donohuo during the afternoon by the
Mayor
EXECUTIVE DKrARrnKST CIrr HALL,
Nxw YoRK, Nov. a. 1876
SRA communication has this day been .de pre-.
rring charges srainst and another OF which com
bunication . copy IL herewith served on you
Opportunity IL afforded TO be heard before me In the
24th inst At eleven O'Clock A. NJ. At this
Office why should be removed from oicc
Der Of the Board OF Parks CT the Depart
Of Public PARKS Of the city Of New York for the
them in that communication alleged
requested make writing. she time indi-
Gated such reply ~ you may the charges And
you further requested attend At that time at this
ONCE the persons who have made the
charges all whom been invited to be here At
such evidences they snbst
1iate the charges Very respectfuily
WILLIAM H. wICKHAM. Mayor.
roTfrYfSo TIM srGxERa
Mayor wickham addressed the following to each OF
ehc gentlemen who signed the charges:-
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MAroR's 0rricx.
Nxw YoRK. Now ~. 1856. !