The New York herald., 1876-12-02
THE INDICTED COMMISSIONERS.
4 SHORT EXAMINATION BEFORE MAYOR WICK
HAM YESTERDAY.

4 SHORT ExAMINATIoN BEFORE MAYOR WICK
HAM YESTERDAY
Brief proceedings took place before the Mayor yes
tcrday relation to pending charges against Park
Commissioners Martin and O'Donohue Mayor Wick
ham had important engagement SO that further ex
animation postponed until Thursday next
shortly after eleven O'Clock the Citizens Committee.
headed by Colonel Rush G. Hawkins Dorman b. Eaton
and Jackson 5. Schultz attended the Mayors Office
Comptroller Green Alderman Lewis Judge Kilbreth,
ex-Commissoner Lambcer and others were also pres
ent as spectators. together with Messrs Martin and
O'Donohue.
Upon the charge as to payment OF So per day to Ia
borers. understood to DO above the market price,
Colonel hawkins read number oi letters from pubic
contractors engaged in the erection OF buildings, IN
which II stated that the pay OF common laoorers
in this city at present is 81 per day, and for hod car
ricrs and others 81 30 per day, s,onccuters and
bricklayers receive 81 per day. 1t was also set forth
in these communications that the Park Commissioners
engaged IN paying from fifty TO eighty per cent
more than private contractors such course having Inc
chcct OF disorganizing Other employees
John Manning, an ex-ioreman in tho parks next
made statement IN answer 10 Colonel Hawkins
questions alleging that OF abontI50 men under his
charge while there employed, only about four were
skilled aDorers He had becn eighteen years in
tho Park department and did not know the cause OF MS
discharge
PARK Commissioner stcbbins was sxed whether any
men whose names had been mentioned in the charge.
Yhe gentleman said he had never heard of any, and
that. in his opinion the discharged men were efficient
workers He understood the sole 10 be that
the appropriations for the having been cut down.
IL became necessary 10 reduce expenses. He further
stated that he might have voted for their discharge
that ground The m, nutes would show
Ex-Park Commissioner Williamson was next intcrro-
gated. He said that some time ago he submitted a
plan the Park Department by which reduction of
SIS 600 per annum could be made in the expenses.
TINS proposition was never acted upon. The reduction
might have been brought about by increasing the hours
OF labor, and in paying others 50 much per hour.
Salaries OF the regular workmcn OF the parks such
ioremen, mechanics, &c. night be also reduced.
Park Commissioner O'Donohue asked Mr.. William
whether he (the questioner) had not introduced
resolution iavoring the reduction OF salaries oil Com
missioners heads of departments and other principal
officers before undertaking TO cut down the salary OF
the lapOrer.
Mr.. Williamson could recolect exactly to tho
resolution, but remembered that Mr. o Donohue had
spoken several times to him In relation to such u
project.
Six afidavits next introduced by Colonel Haw-
kns from discharged employees. showing that they had
been removed without notice or tho assignment OF
therefor This act, II is claimed BY the com
mlttee was breach OF the statutes OF the state.
An adjournment was then had until Thursday next,
when the two Com mssioners will put in defence 10
the charges The whole AFFAIR will then lay at the
disposal OF the Mayor