The New York herald., 1879-08-30
SAVE THE HARB0R
The Police Board Waking Up to the
Duty of the Hour.
CAPTAIN RIGHTMEYE DISMISSED.
Correspondence of the Pilot Commission
ers and Dock Department
AN ABUNDANCE OF RED TAPE.
AN ABUNDANCE OF RED TAPE.

as Commissioner MacIean of opinion that the
Board could not withhold tho pay of tho contractors
upon such legal pretence.
Justice Smith, acting in behalf Of Captain Mitch
ell. lauded the advantages of q certain ingenious
contrivance in the shape of boat. which was SO
cunningly fashioned to put to sea in the most
boisterous weather. and was warranted not to sink
or be submerged. Besides these qualities the phe-
nopena mud scow had the advantage of being
tomato in its operations and would unload itself in
fifteen minutes without the aid Of any human being;
and. besides these weghty considerations. the afore
said boat. il adopted by the department. will
remove the city ashes and garbage at
reduction of $4,000 from what is now being paid for
the accomplishment of that labor by the city gov
ernment. Captain Mitchell had madea specific offer
to contract for the removal Of the city refuse for
100000 per annum. and would guarantee to do the
work the satisfaction Of the city and the Street
Cleaning Bureau.
Asa doubt existed in tho minds Of the Com.
missioners that they could award the contract for
the removal Of the city ashes and garbage. further
consideration Of tho subject was LAID over.
INTERESTING DEBATE.
Tho next business in order q part Of the un-
finished business OF the previous meeting. Com
missioner MacLean offered resolution looking tow
ard the appointment OF Captain Hof in tho place Of
Captain Rightmeye of the tugboat U. s. Grant. at .
salary of $12O per month. Commissioner Wheeler
thereupon became suddenly interested. and he de-
manded to know of the acting president the causes
which prompted the contemplated removal of Cap
tain Rightmeye. Mr.. MacIean explained that Cap
tain Rghtmeye derelict in the discharge Of his
duty, iuasmuch as he did not go to sea when occa-
sion required and In allowing the scows to be
dumped in the bay in the vicinity of Coney Island.
Mr.. French, while of tho opinion that Captain
Inf ia oh
a al martyr off, I'm what respects asked
che has been doing exactly what others have done
Mr.. MacLean fell into an anecdotal mood and told
was . pleasant day and he saw one Of tho tugboats
with Its retinue Of mud scows propeing out to sea,
and the Commissioner inquired concerning the
whereabouts Of the u s. Grant when he was told that
Captain Rghtmeye Rugged the shore afraid to tempt
the deep with his precious cargo There is
no doubt in my mind" said Com missioner Morrison,
discharge of his duty by what Mr.. MncLean repre-
sents.' Mr.. MacLean took up the thread OF his mar
himself acquainted with these facts he moved for tho
discharge OF Captain Rightmeye. and deplored that
prompt action had not been taken Mr.. French
propounded the official conundrum If Mr.. MacIean
thought that 1t was consistent with his conception
Of fair play to dismiss public official without CIV
ing him a chance to be heard in his own defence.
Mr. Morris OIL replied that the answer to the inter-
rogatory to be found in the fact that Captain
Rientmeye had received public notification OF the
charges pending against him through tho public
press. Mr. Morrison had investigated those charges
and convinced himself that they were true There
could be no doubt that garbage was dumped from
the in the vicinity of Coney Island. Mr..
French insisted that all that being true still Captain
Rightmeye should not be removed, as he had only
done what other commanders Of scows and tugboats
were in the habit OF doing. Mr.. Morrison exposed
the fallacy OF that argument by quoting the whole
some proverb that 1.-TWO wrongs do not make
right
THE CAPTAIN REMOVED.
After considerable dilatory byplay the motion to
to appoint in his place Captain Hoff exhumed
from the rubbish Of debate and bade fair to come to
q vote, when superintendent Walling stepped for
ward chant the praises Of the proposed candidate
for tugboat honors. The Superintendent said. in
falsctto voice. that he had known Captain Hof since
the rosy days childhood. and that in his
fsntile stages OF development the captain had given
promise OF useful and successful future. After
considerable parieying in disposing OF "amend-
ments" the original motion was put and carried.
Messrs. MacLean. Morrison and French voting in the
Affirmative and Mr.. Wheeler recording his vote in
the negative And Mr.. MacLean carried his point.
and Captain Rightmeye was relieved of his job as
commander of the tugboat U. 5. Grant and Captain
Hon appointed in his place.
PILOT COMMISSIONERS AND DOCK DEPARTMENT..
The wholesale exposure of official misdemeanor
and neglect made by the HERALD the harbor
question is slowly but surely accomplishing de-
sirsbe end. Already two Investigations under
way. and some Of the true nwardness OF the case is
coming to light In order to excuse themselves
from blame the Pilot Commissioners accused the
Dock Department few days ago Of having refused
to support them in suit brought against the Union
Dredging Company last year for dumping mud in
tho lower bay. To HERALD reporter Com missioner
vanderpocl characterized this accusation as false.
and challenged tho Pilot Commissioners to prove IL.
Yesterday the following documents were sent to this
office by Pilot Commissioner Marshall:-
OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS oY PILOTS.
No. 40 BURI.ISo SLIP.
NEW York. August 20, 1879. }
To THE EprroR HERALD
sec in the HERALD of to-day statement that Mr..
Vandcrpoe denies that any notincation was made by
his department that they would not continue to hold
amounts due to the Union Dredging Company pend
ing the settlement OF suit brought against them
by the Pilot Commissioners. He further character
ICES any statement to the contrary as "a groundess
fabrication. AS this is grave charge beg to sub
NIT to you the accompanying copies of correspond
ence. with the following statement of facts:-
About August last our Board obtained proofs that
the Dredging Company was disposing of dredgings
In violation OF law We informed the Dock Depart
u of this. and having furnished proofs OF the dredg
ing company's misdeeds to tho Dock Department
received from the latter under date of September
~, a copy OF resolution which informed us that
they would not make u settlement with the dredging
company till this corporation had satisfied claim.
Il enclose copy OF this communication marked
No. p.
ON receipt OF this assurance from the Dock De-
partment n suit was commenced. The penalties in
the at 50 per cubic yard of the amount dumped
were $3.50. Tho affair dragged on till spring, the
credging company refusing 10 pay moro than frac-
ton OF the hno imposed Mr.. Dimock then notified
our counsel. Mr.. Butler. verbally u believe moro
than once) and Mr.. Joine, his associate. that the
Dock Department could not defer longer the pay
ment OF amounts due on contracts with the dredg-
ing company, alleging that further refusal would
expose the department to legal proceedings. On
the strength of this statement of Mr.. Dimock Mr..
Butler wrvto us letter lcopy of which Is enclosed.
marked No. ~ dated March 20. 1879. and We subse-
quently compromised the suit. feeling that IL the
Dock Department released tho dredging company
our chances for the enforcement OF our claim would
be proportionately lessened.
You will soc that H. Lough the Dock Department did
not notify In writing OF any change In their ac-
tion such notification was verbally made TO our
counsel and by him to our Board. according to his
note OF the 10th OF March last.
l saw Mr. butler and Mr.. Joline yesterday and OBJ
tanned from them confirmation of the above.
CHARLES II. MAlisHAII..
mo. III
PILOT COMMissIONERs NOTIFICATION.
PiLor COMMISSIONERS 0vrcE,
NKw loKK, August "a, 1875.
BOARD DEPARTMENT DoCxs:-
-lsncoscd send copy Of report made to
this Board by Its outdoor OF violation of law
by the contractor employed by department for tho
mo- alofd dredrings