The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-28

How Local Engineers Are Treated
by the Police Examiners.
FACTS FROM BOILER OWNERS
Charges OF Corruption, Injustice
and FavOritisn1.


relative TO the alleged irregularities OF The Board Of
Engineers connected with the sanitary Squad cou-
duct,ng their work OF examining applicants TOR cer-
rncatcs OF qualification. or the committee Messrs
John S HUM and d W Odiorue were present with
counsel Commissioners Wheeler and Erhardt were
also on hand
GENERAL cHAkGga
Mr. Hun stated the object oil the conference Ever
since the law OF 1862 passed, giving the Depart
mcnt OF Police power 10 examine applicants for ccrtia-
Gates OF qualification as engineers, boiler owners and
steam users had been greatly annoyed and soreiy
troubled by the way In he examining engineers
al Headquarters have conducted their work While
tho steam users had fault hnc with the law or no
reason to complain that proper safeguard was sought
10 be thrown around such agent stcam they did
COMPLAIN and with great cause, that the engineers
who examine applicants do not properly discharge
their duties For years they allese, the examining
o.ace has been conducted IN partial, unjust and IN
iquitous manner, and men In charge have been innu-
enccc by money.
sPKcIPIc CHARGES
Mr. Odiorne craved the Com mssoners' Indulgence
while he narrated the particulars of his personal expe
renee win Captain Peter Yule, until recently In COM
ma nd OF the sanitary squad and the examiners" under
MIN and subject 10 his orders Mr.. Odiorne Ia en-
gagged in business No III Elm street TAO or three
wears ago he had vertical tubular boiler. OF only SIX
horse power, placed IN his factory with which to run
several sewing machines Upon Application 10 captain
Yue the boiler subjected to hydrostatc pressure
OF l55 pounds the square inch and certificate gwen
By Yuie. IN which the maximum pressure OF steam TO
DO used was limited TO 100 pounds, but upon Mr..
the safety valve set the pressure
OF scventy-ave pounds THIS done 10 DO on the
safe SIDE anu all the power required Three days
after the boiler was inspected and the certificate Of s
evaH
Swiss, 10 tho rooms OF Captain Yule with the
rcoucs, that he be examined 10 his fitness
10 take charge OF the boiler in question. Payas
was a thorough machinist, a sober careful man.
and quahaed in every particular for the duty intended
The examining engineers Haniord Horton and Daniel
sutton rejected payas incompetent This was so
unexpected that Mr. 0diorne subsequently sent Payas
before eminent practical engineers OF this city, VINO
unhcsnatingly gave HIM certificate oil qualification,
believing capable o. taking charge OF not only
Mr. Odornc boiler but all kinds oil boilers OF whatever
size or power Two days alter Payas' rejection, an
other sober, industrious and competent sent
before the examining engineers by Mr. Odiornc, with
the same result This rather staggered the latter, and
he began to reflect Have been deceived in my men,
or have offended the very practical engineers under
Captain Yulcs orders? thought he For some time
Mr. Odiorne could find satisfactory answer to tho
soon cleared away.
LIGHT ON DARK SUBJECT
The fog was brushed by individual calling on
him who represented himself practical engineer
in search of employment He had heard that Mr..
Odiorne wanted such man, and, having vast expert
already possessing certificate oil quallhca-
ton IRON Yuie's engineers, he would be able to give
him steam IN an horr. 80
..How did you know that wanted man ?" asked
Odiorne.
..ch, heard it talked about; don't know who told
me = answered the Applicant
1his seemed little strange to Odorne as he had
never opened his lips 10 his wanting an engineer,
nor had he men sent by him be examined mate any,
body acquainted with the facL Before the unknown
applicant had lett the premises however, he was recog-
rlzed OF tue hangers on" around iue's oilcc
OF the rejection Of the men that Odiorne had Sc
Iectcd TO do his work. Subsequently, this part OF
Yulc Il Co.'s programme OF Supplying 'rcady-ipade
engineers better understood, but not any tho
moie appreciated.
'uP AND AT 'EM AGAIN"
Though crippled Mr. Odiorne not defeated. AS
a taxpayer and American citizen, he came 10 the
that he would transact his business IN his
own way or III other words. II he could not obtain
certificate Of qualification ior any oil the men he Sc
lecled run his boiler he would run 1t himself. ono
tnlng was certain Captain Yulc shouldn't drive him
into captuauon. All his lie about beilers, ana own
ing them, he thought himself capable OF running IT,
With Ills in view, Mr. Odiorne went before iules
engineers, and upon being asked lew questions about
boilers, which be found no fault with and answered
correctly, he refused certificate on tho ground OF
incOInpc Two days thereafter he went Oeoro
Mcssrs. Bue h Brevoort, OF No. 50 Broadway,
practical engineers, stating that he wished to
be examined as to his fitness to take
charge u boiler These engineers were strangers
hm, but has examination was satisfactory ana tney
CAV. him certificate as TO his fitness for The work.
Then Sir. Odiorne complained Of Captain Yule 20 tho
Commissioners of Police, who ordered re-examina-
ton, telling Yulc 10 keep record OF all the questions
and answers Presenting himself for the second exam
nation before Yule that individual saued Mr. Odiorne
with
'Il's damned pretty pass things have como to that
owners OF boilers must come here TO be examined"
IL was not pleasant reception, out Mr. oalorhe
10 get the gauge OF the men with whom ne was
private ROOM Haniord Horton, VINO rs still IN the
position, at tho request OF his associate sutton
(now deadl put him through" For three and half
hours Horton pycd all sort oil abstruse ana
scientific questions about boilers, engines, high
aud low pressure. the strength Of maze.
rails, and everything else that he had
ever bcara Of much less understood himself And all
this demanded from u person who wanted to tako
charge OF boiler OF only SIX horse power Yet Mr.
Odiornc contends that he passed crednble cxamina
lion, winch adjourned until second day. Call
ing then, he informed by fule, Horton Co.,
that IL was unnecessary TO proong the examination
further as he was engineer" The answers TO the
questions asked written by himself but left with Hor-
by his request Mr. Odornc was unable 10 procure
and while seeking them upon occasion he was told
they .'part OF the archives OF the Office This
the first time record of the proceedings in on
exami nation over kept, and ~ was The last
POLICE SURVEILLANCE
Finding that ne could not obtain anythinglikc justice
from Yue n Co., Mr.. odiorno determined ~ take
70 and arrested. HIS trial proved that he was IN
The right the law admits an owner OF boiler 10
run n without a certificate. Being honorably dis
charged Mr. Odiornc continued to look at er his boiler
as had but for ten days his place was
subjected TO police surveillance. From early morning
past O'Clock daily Sergeant elicrts or Sergeant
TAFT was on guard waiting favorable opportunity TO
catch the owner mapping Having occasion to vis't
Broadway morning. on business, M odiorne was
gone usi ten minutes, but upon his return his shop
was IN charge Of officers and he was arrested by ser
MT Ieerts charge Of leaving his boiler WITH
rto nj Mr.
cuton b +, The police being It's true coiors 10
the magistrate before whom be was taken, caused MS
instant and honorable discharge, besides some whoe-
come advice M gwen the officer who stopped
yenilcman's aud arrested him because OF per-
sona pIque Since that time Mr.. Odiorne has been let
Alone and he IS running his own boiler at this date
LEGITIMATE DEDUCTIONS.
NJ odiornc cSntcnded in closing that tho Board OF
.hsineers at Police Headquarters was an incompetent
ooarui that certificates OF inspection OF boilers were
b'lheapy Captain Y ue when tho boilers we're never
eNan'nea, and mat nspectors have received money