The New York herald., 1879-09-08
A CARD FROM COMMISSIONER LANE.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PARKS, I
NEW YORK, Sept. Z, 1879.

DEPARTMENT. PUBLIC PARKs,l
NEW YORK, Sept. Z, 1879. !
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD:-
charge against mo is that received money to
influence my action in regard to the Riverside
tract. This charge is false. Tho evidence that
Mr. McEncroe. the contractor. gave money to Mr.
Douglas A. Levien for the purpose of giving it to
There Is evidence statement that Mr..
Lcvien did give 1t to me, only letters and
circumstances from which false inference
that he gave it to me is forced. Mr.. Leven knows.
and regret the delay caused by his absence. Ii he
tells the truth. and says he did not give offer the
money to me- then does not the whole charge fan
absolutely lie knows that tho letters capable
of a different and proper explanation. II. on tho
contrary. he joins the conspiracy and says he did
give it offer it to then civil criminal proc
ceedng will be the most certain mode of dealing
with tho question. viii you not ask him to speak
in one way or tho other2 think it proper to wait
for this. and II is ali am waiting for.
word as to Mr.. McAlpine. 1 am sorry he at.
tempts to obscure the real question by personal
controversies. I will not descend with them
s,ve mo- doaSs ,ss. he Seiioves esf .h ha
performs his duty when he gives his certificate
to the contractors. but he does not perform mine.
contract. think the work since March. 1873. is.
great deal of It. disgrace to every one con,
ccrncd in it. I will not vote to pay for it. and
will in respectful language give my reasons
for my negative vote. There is reason why he
should regard this professional attack or lose
his temper about it, The Comptroller will decide
whether to draw the warrant pay for the work.
The Mayor will decide whether to countersign tho
warrant. The assessors will review the questions
when they lay the assessment aud will the SUI
premo Court when the property owners come to them
to vacato II. IL ho Is right they will decide III
his favor. and why can he not be satisfied
Ms am? This process of ''crushing mo OUT does
not change my opinion that the work is not in
cordancc with the contract 1t docs not deter
from voting against paying for 1t. is my opposi
ton ut all factlous. Under date of December 20,
1875 Messrs. Haswell. worthen and Bogsrt. the COM
mission of civil engineers. certified to the work,
1t then stood, that the contractors 'havc complied
sions of OF tho materials and In the character
of tho work thereon yet they have materially failed
in other details aud requirements"
Under date Of january Ia. 1879, Mr.. McAlplna
certified OF tho same work. that. with proviso
about the quality of tho stonc .the materials fur
nished are every way suited to make good and per-
manent work, in accordance with the spirit of tho
Contract. (See Document ID. p. p. No. 81, pages
ii and 1851
Since then the Comptroller and Mayor have fol-
lowed Mcssrs. Haswcll. Worthen Bogart and noe
estimates under examination has never been issued.
l have followed them also.
several times. by resolutions of proper charac-
ter. offered aud voted down In the Board. have
sought official information to this work. 1t was
not supplied to When tho last estimate was
presented, the 22d OF August. 1879. voted
against II intellectually. and my reasons were given
To the Board and appear on the minutes. sent
them also to the Mayor and Comptroller. Mr.. Nc
Aipincs letter. dated August 30 1879. camo to mo
afterward. II has not changed opinion as to the
quality OF the work. l am determined, 80 tar as l
able. that good and honest work shall be done in
this department. and shall tako such steps to en-
forco IL as from time to time shall judge proper
IL good aud honest work Is done then have no dif-
ference with MIR. McAlpinc; that Is the sole ques-
tion, and he cannot niystify or confuse. Very re-
spcctfully, SMITH h. LANE.