New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-16
MIDSUMMER MUNICIPAL RUMORS.
TALK AROUND THE CITY HALL.

CHARGES AGAINST THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
OTHER DEPARTMENTS SAID TO BE IN DANGER
JOHN KELLY AND AUGUSTUS sCHELL.
Soon after Mayor Cooper began his pro-
cee6rgs the removal Of the Police Commissioners In
March last 1t was rumored that similar attempts would
be made Tammany officials In other depart
mens OF the city government This said to be par
tcuary OF the Park Department against which certain
scandals had prominent IN regard TO the River
side drive Improvement. 1t was known then that in
had been obtained by the Mayor In regard to
the action OF the Park Commissioners, and 1t
thought to be the purpose to push the
Investigation and effect q speedy removal OF
the Tammany Commissioners. This was believed
TO be part Of a plan maturcd in Mr.. Tllden's
interest TO capture the Tammauy Society and the dele
CATION from this city TO the Democratic State ConYen-
ton The difficulty encountered in the attempt TO re-
move Police Commissioner Smith, followed by the break
ing up of the Anti-Tammany and Republican combina-
ton In the Board OF Aldermen evidently DELAYED tle
prop sed changes in the Park Department The Com
missOners ceased their wranglings az their meetings
and presented better face 10 the public, although II
claimed that th.rc has been improvement In the
management OF the affairs ~ the department A few
weeks since, already ublshed In The TRIBUNE, an
investigation ordered by the Mayor covering
period antecedent TO his inauguration This nVestlga-
ton, which has been conducted under direction OF Con"
missioner Of Accounts Sherman, has just been COM
pleed. Mr.. Sherman has been aided by one or more
persons employed by hun, and has made thorough III
vestgaton not combining himself to the mere book ac-
counts Of the Department. The scandals attached 10
TRIBL Ne. have been verified II IL said, and nuch tdt
has not heretofore been known by the pu0lc mas Deen
brought to light John T. McGowan, lawyer ana ex-
A-sembynan has been secretly at WOrK on tue lnVesu
CATION long me and, 1t said IN connection win
Maurice j. Power aided by Mr. Tlden, he has prepared
charges against the Commissioners.
Mayor Cooper sad yesterday that Mr.. MCGOWAN had
that he had not yet read them. The report OF MT
sherman WAS not before him yet, and until 1t was he
could not say whether he would prefer charges against
tue Commissioners not He should give the matter
his careful attention. and do what he believed to be his
Mr. Sherman said his report would not be ready for
several yet and that he could not give any part OF
It publication. He mtimated, however, that IL con,
tained some choice bits Of information when would
rather stare the public to the way in which the
business III the Park Department had been conducted
MIR Sherman obtained from the Department on Monday
all the correspondence, etc.. relating to the Riverside
Dive -..
Commissioner Lane has been opposed TO the payment
the warrants for tue work ON the Riverside Drlye,
and 1t Is said that the action OF the Controller III this
will be OF the things spoken OF IN the I0f
coming report. Mr. Lane has been aiding the nyesuga
ton aud lie has long claimed that the management OF
the Department not all that II should be. whether
he Will be included ia tue Qrihc0mng CHARGES as CoD
missioner Eruardt in the Police Department lnyes-
ugItiOn under similar circumstances remains To DC
President wenman was greatly troubled about the
matter yesterday He absent from his place OF
in search OF information, IL was sald III re-
lard the Of charges 10 be preferred against
Charges TO be preferred against Commissioners in
other departments were also matter of run0r yeser-
day Commissioner or Accounts Hatfield has been en-
gagged IN investigating the books of the Finance De-
partment tour months, and has not vet com
pieted his task Whether this long delay an iudicP-
non that mine Of information has been struck there
NOT Is subject OF remark. investigations. hereto
fore, nave been completed IN week or two. The time
occupied IN the present instance indicates, Is said,
that thorough investigation Is beng made Mr. Hat
field is not alone IN this work Whether The frequent
among CITY Hal politicians that startling de-
vrpuueus are expected from the Controllers Office
have any foundation in fact 1t is impossible TO ascef
tain.
The long delay Of Governor Robinson in deciding
the removal of Police Commissioner Smith has gwen
rise "a rumOr that the Commissioner VIII be allowed
TO gn failing in which no viii be removed In time To
appoint AntiTammauy Inspectors Gt Elections Tor the
Fall election l. sad that MI Ilden, becoming Tear
ul the effect OF his action III nstlgaing the removal
General smlh, requested the Governor not to APP,
prove OF the Mayors action ms the Governor sald
10 have replied he could not do because the charges
we're The same rs those against Commissioner Nichols
whom nc promptly removed. lie only way me COM
Mayor with raw his charge. This the Mayor IS said
to have refused to do because 1t would rum his ad-
minstratior" Mr. Tildeu finally obtained The Cover
uors to allow the papers to remain in the at-
ters possession for few weeks IgerG Is eohsiu,Iape
curiosity 10 KNOW what Will be the tual result.
Yesterday good day for ramOrs about the CITY
Hall, and one stating that john Kelly ana AUGUSTUS
Schc had falling out created considerable excitement
IL was said that the action OF MI Kelly In aiding the
defeat OF the Vanderbilt Elevated hallway by the bOafd
of Aldermen bad resulted IN GOODNESS between himself
and Augustus Sche and that tine latter absenied hm-
day nignt that account Mr.. Schell is director IN
the NewYOrk Central Railroad, ana Is largely inter
with Hugh j. Jewett and Edwards PIerrcpont asked
the Rapid Transit ComnsionerS to locate an elevated
road on Fourti-aYe lie aiso Glaud oaoheh Oh tle
Iammany Society, and 1t is said that he believed himself
entitled 10 the support OF the Tammdny Aldermen, but
that John Kelly refused him any such aid. Mr. Kelly
il strongly opposed TO the injury OF private property ma
such way without compensation, and 1t was largely
owing TO his opposition that the RAPID Transit Commits
soncrs' report rejected Various runOrs were cur
about the Instructions he To 1ammany Alder
men, part 0fwaOm roYOlted because OF their allegI-
Mr.. Schel Mr. Schel also said TO be- offended
because Mr.. Kelly afforded so much aid 10 Francis B
Spnola IN his steamhetng scheme, aud refused 10 aid
Nj. Schcli IL his elevated railway project. Whether
there Is any truth in these rumors or not Is very doubt
iul, IA MI sehe Is one OF me principals IA tAe sp0a
Steam Heating Company. lie was IN Newport on Fri
day, which may nave accounted for his absence from
the Tammany Society. A prominent rammany pOliti-
can refused say yesterday whether he thought there
WAS any truth the of i'll feeling not, but he
said that Kelly could not afford TO quarrel with Mr..
Schcll MIR. Vanderbilt as the latter had been very
kind to Tammauy Hall Mr.. Kelly himself pronounced
the entirely untrue, saying there was no
foundation for 1t.