The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-27
THE RIVERSIDE AVENUE JOB
a CLEAR STATEMENT or THE FIGHT
IN TIE PARK BOARD.


York city, was Superseded by Mr.fo"over
The true significance of the result of the
election for officers held in the Park Depart
ment in the early part Of tho present month. In
which Mr.. Couover was chosen to oil the offices
OF Treasurer and Chairman Of the Auditing
Committee in place of Mr. Lane who had held
those positions during the preceding year. Hp-
pears more clearly in the light thrown upon the
subject hy the minutes OF the Proceedings Of
that department during the uHst winter.
All through the year 1878 1t seems Mr. Lane
had persisteniy objected to the payment OF tho
bills OF the contractors on the Riverside avenue
Improvement because their work had not in all
respects contormed to the provisions of the con-
tract. As Chairman Of the Auditing Committee
he had refused TO pass their bills. and had voted
against them when they were presented at tho
sessions OF the Board; and finally he united
with property owners in calling the attention Of
the Comptroller to the irregularities in the per-
Torrance 81 the contract. This action caused
tie immediate suspension OF the payments on
account of the contract. and led TO the appoint
ment Of a commission OF three expert engi-
neors. one selected by tho Mayor. another by
the Comptroller. and third by the Park De-
partmcnt. whose duty II was to examine the
work aud report upon its condition and whether
# was IN accordance with the terms OF the con-
tract. The story OF the schemes OF the con-
tractors. the neglect of duty on the part Of the
engineer. ana the questionable actions Of tho
majority of the Park Board was published In
the newspapers.
The three implicated Commissioners were
nervous and frightened. and angry with SIR.
Lane for his share in calling public attention
10 matter which they had SO many reasons for
keeping quiet This was especially the case
with MIR. Cpnover. who was President OF tho
bank ia which the contractors had an account,
aud from which they had borrowed large sums
OF money. With his interests to such an extent
identified with theirs. Mr.. Conovcr had audited
all their bills in face OF the evidence before h i'm
OF their probable fraudulent character, and.
with the votes Of Messrs. Wenman and Wet
more. he had secured the passalSe OF the bills by
the Park Board, and. with their three sigma
lures uuon them, the bills had been forwarded
20 the Finance Department for payment II
was. therefore partly with the idea Of wreaking
little private vengeance on MIR. Lane. and
partly 70 protect themselves from the I'M
comfortable publicity that was given TO their
operations. but principally to avoid the obstruc-
Tons placed IN the way OF the Riverside avenue
Ring by Mr.. Lanes criticisms, and objections.
that they ousted him from The Office OF Treasurer
md also from his position as Chairman Of the
Auditing Committee, and conferred both Of
these important offices upon Mr.. Conover.
thereby excluding Mr.. Lane from all active par
ucipation in the administration Of the depart
tion submitted to the consideration OF the Board
but rs the Ring have the good will OF Mr.. Wet
more. VINO Ia now too old and feeble TO give any
OF the department, on every question the reg
ular vote IS 3to l. which is the working majority
aud MIR. Lanes privilege ct voting no " avails
him little except Tor making good record.
The LIST payment made TO the contractors WINS
This had been refused 10y the Comptroller and
tue Mayor. out on pledge that the money
should be paid to the laborers who were clam
orin0 Tor their wages, then two or three months
A. arrears their objections were withdrawn
The money hoEeyer. contrary to the agree
account Of It's loans to the contractors.
The last awnrd made by the disgraced engi-
neer WIS Tor November 1873. and amounted to
S5.O994s When this estimate reached the Office
OF the Park Department. Mr.. Lane wrote at the
foot Of II his objections in the same form which
~ mad used upon those which preceded IT,
This estimate was retained by Mr. Wenman all
through the month Of December and then on
the Both Of that month. in face OF Mr.. Lanes
objections and OF the report OF the Commission
OF Eng neerS condemning the engineer and the
work done, under the contract. and without
bringing II before the Board rs required boy law
and the regulations OF the department. he So
cretly conniyed with Mr.. Conover to audit the
estimate. and then privately procuring Mr..
Metinores signature. they sent It down to the
Finance Department obviously hoping that
they had been sly enough 10 hoodwink Mr.
Lane. and TO yet the money for the contractors
without mourning the public notice which was
80 dangerous and disagreeable. But Mr. Lane
was on the alert, and learning accidentally Of
what had been done. be went To the Finance
Department and stated to the Auditor. Mr.. Jack.
son. his objections to the bill. and protested
AGAINST its payment on the ground that II had
not been legally authorized. In face OF such
notice TIE Auditor had no recourse but 10 agree
with Mr.. Lane and refuse 70 pass the estimnte.
A. the next meeting OF the Park Board on Jan.
O. 1873 Commissioner Lane offered the follow
ing resolution:
Re.o,,~i That the seton OF Commissioners wenmAn
Wetmoe AID ConoyeI in signing the estimate of Decker
alnsnfs DyPsrgmsn, 9, Mithog, the approval
% ne sai nnd ~itn9ut ine knoSledIe Of Comnssicne
chapter 5l9 The Laws Of 1859 and OF seeton OF art.
said bv.aws, which reeile, follows Tie yeas aud
NAYS shall be called and recorded on all appropriations Of
1t was rather too much to expect the Commits
sloners TO condemn themselves. and the resOlu-
Ton vas DULY defeated by the regular tol vote.
But the effect OF II was Wholesome for the est-
mate was q day or two afterward withdrawn
from the Finance Department. and on Jan. Is
II came before the Board in tie usual way. The
following extract from the minutes OF that date
Will show how the bill was passed:
Commissioner tOnOver. from the Auditing
Committee. presented the following report:
Tae AS%ns cS Ss beg esye to report that they
nit The same u the board Tor approval;
Decker. Nicholas y and Geo W ouintard.
lah,r and materials 1mprovement and con, 49,. -.
strucuon Riverside avenue IS 900 -
Amounting 10 the sum OF fye thousand and ty nine
lreuse to audit The foregoing estimate Of Decker and
Qnnard ior - 80 -, Tor the reason that my personal
performed according To the contract and that the
nhes! :. OF me e9pnser Toma. Franklin that It has
mitse engineers have been appointed to examine tho
AN December, 1878
z. LANE Auditing Committee.
hereby audit the above mentioned bill
SAIL coSovrR Auditing Committee.
The shove mentioned bill having becu read and passed
on the President moved That the board do approve
u and that the Secretary he directed the
Finance Department for payment
The President put the question whether the Board
would agree To sHid motion and determined In tie
affirmative. majority all the members OF the board
Noln- IN favor thereof, as follows;
ntas-Commssioncrs Mennau, Wetmore, Conover-3
Nay-cOmmissioner Lane-l.
The bill was thereupon again forwarded to
the Finance Department, but the damaging re-
port Of the CommlssiOn Of three expert engi-
neers having been made public in tho mean
time us payment was suspended and II now re-
pains IN the same condition. An Intellectual
enort WIS made however. to procure its pay
ment 10 the contractors on the plea that the
laOorers were suffering for want Of their wages.
Such dodge worked very well with the pre-
ccding bill OF $4,000. but It WAS folly to expect
u would answer the purpose a second time.
Besides. the report OF the Commission ~ Engi-
neers so completely discredted Mr.. Franklin
thar his certificate could hardly be expected Ia
command the confidence Of any one, and least
OF all OF the Comptroller Mr. Lane had
promptly offered a resolution to suspend the
engineer but this was voted down. and rs
Quid pro cilO the following resolution was as
promptly offered and triumphanty carried
Reseed That the resolution adur ted the hoard at
meeting held on the 2uth OF March 1878, authorizing
The treasurer To purchase supplies ana materials Tor the
department. which shall be approved hy the Precedent
Nl.a