New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-09
LOCAL. MISCELLANY.
THE DOCK DEPARTMENT..

| 1HE UOCh Ol-I AhA
INQUIRY IN REGARD TO ITS TNDEPENDENcE-wHAI
| COMMISSIONER vAsDRRPoEL AND WILLIAM H.
| WEBB SAY.
| Several members of the Council of Political
Reform few weeks ago. concluded to consult with the
Law Committee in regard to whether the Dock Depart
ment in its present relations 10 the City Government,
was Irregular or whether IL really an Independent
department. The committees opinion that the In
dependence or the Department OF Docks was abolished
charter OF 1873 aud that the Commissioners are
required to make the yearly estimates to the BOARD OF
Estimate and Apporonment, and to obtain this money
IN the way the other departments
Dock Commissioner Vanderpoel said Saturday that
the only article OF the charter 1878 relating 10 the
department provided for three Commissioners instead OF
ve formerly The expenses OF the board and the de-
partment mot by the amendments to the laws Of
1s71-Chaper 73S Of the Laws OF lS72authorIzing the
City Controller 10 issue dock bonds OF not more than
SjOOOOUO annually, aud redeemaDlo aftrr thirty years,
the money received from tneir sale TO be drawn as re-
CURED by the DOCK upon the approval OF
the Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund The receipts
deem the bonds In 1877 the net receipts $780,
900. and this year they would be considerably
opposition because OF Its independence In APP
pOlntments When men have been discharged
it was because there was no work, and IN
employing religion politics have bren
sidered Aldermen politicians generally have urged
declined because OF the lack OF work. they seemed to
think could provide work In some way. Others have
steadily Yet the work OF the department Is manly
general repair and anything costing over $1,000 must
be contracted for. SrnaorH AssemDlymen and others
here and saw, WHAT kind OF place IL thisi Here
is friend OF mine who he has had only three days
work IN many weeks
This attack OF the Council OF Political Reform looks
somewhat ike the result OF the old hostility between
Mr. WeOb and Mr. Westervelt, when they were prOm-
nent shipbuilders Or it may he little animus felt by
Mr. Webb because OF q suit pending between him and
the Dock Department About three years Mfr. Webb
engaged filling In some of his property between
Thirty sixth and Thiry-seVe North River with
providing suitable bulkhead 10 prevent the flung
from sliding the river The Dock Department stop
PED the WORK and brought SUIT against HIM, am he
Tho report Of the department for tho year
ending June ] VIII he ready this week TO send 10 the
Mayor and IL Will include what report has
aimed. IL will give every pier that rented
ing pier claim that he is paying less than
the department receives for Its property. The next
years report viii show that more than 100000 Old
debts O the de parment which had uncOeoted
Burnham have been collected and accounted for"
William II. Webb stated that this action Of the Council
was not an atick on the Department OF Docks except
in the interest OF the taxpayers. He added that the
charter Of 1873 did declare that the department
regularly tho city Government and distinct
department The Law Committee OF the council which
Professor Theodore W. Dwight Judge James EmOtt,
Henry Day, of LORD Day Il Lord Henry J. Scudder aud
Edward FllCh Trs opinion had been sent to Controller
Kelly, with formal request Of the Council withhold
Committee OF Estimate and AppOrtiOnment and the
Comm ssCncTs ~ the Sinking Fund In regard 10 the law.
The tIea ~ investigating the powers the Dock De-
pdrtmrnt, Mr. WebD SAID originated with the Council
while ne I'm Eur Therefore the charge thar he
vas instrumental IN the attack erroneous II began
with the idea OF having Wes-st. improved rapidly and
stone bulRnrads which not durable, while Tar
more expensive than those VI wood.