New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-05
PARK DEPARTMENT DISCORD,
CHARGES AND CONTEMPORARIES.

TRACTORS STORY.
The charges made by President Wenman,
OF the Park Department, against his colleague, Com
missioner Lane of the meeting OF the Board on We'd
nesiay, were generally discussed yesterday anu
created considerable surprise In discussing the
charges yesterday Mr.. wenman said to TRIBUNE re-
porter, 81 do not intend to press the charges any
further ms they are now IN the hands OF the Mayor Ine
Investigation to be made by tho Mayor VIII DC conuneu
ia the Riyersde Driye A very thorough examination
of the accounts OF the Department has areadV oeen
made by Mr. Sherman. the Mayors accountant, hnu
everything has been found in a satisfactory conntoh'
Now I want the same searching Investigation 10 pe
made with regard to the work on the kiVers'ue INV
Iprescnted documentary evidence at the boaiu i
ing which formed a chain OF circumstances .e"ui"h "
show that Commissioner Lane had bars'uheu io "'V"'
with the contractors In order 10 remove HIS p'o''
against paving the amount OF their bnls
.Wbcn did Mr. Lanes opposition TO the contractors
begin Z" asked. .,,
well" was the reply. he signeu Only quo Is, 49,.
bills About year ago the contractors pu' III " D' "
$1,000 and ifr. Lane entered protest 10 Inc Muyor
against payng the money. stating that the WORK was
%, ,-ooerlv norformod Mayor Ely would not pay the
money 90 long as the protest continued Shortly after
ward Mr. Lane Withdrew his protest. ana he now STATES
that he did the abOrers we're actually In need
~, nancy The facts which have come 10 my knowledge
and which have been working on for year. make Inc
think differently. Mr. Lane had n friend in whom he
think that the letter which this friend sent to Mr. Nc
Encroe ono Of the contractors in November, is con-
elusive evidence against Mr.. Lane The letter says;
Lane insists to paid by the contractors salary OF
So 500 year. monthly. which he wants the Park Board
10 pny him treasurer least until he receives sa
airy from the Department. No matter what You
may promise him TO make him act squarely you must
not under any circumstances pay him money because
II would juro you II It should get out. and ia against
the law. -. And would see him --bcfore
would hin blackmail me- That rs very strong leu
ter and OF itself demands investigation Then there
the letter Of Mr. Decker the contractor, which only
received Yesterday and which makes very grave accl-
sations against Mr.. Lane"
In this letter referred to nv Mr. wenman. the contrac-
for Mr. Decker states that he has been contractor on
tho public works for years. and he has learned by eN-
rerence how 10 deal with blackmailers.. lie makes
that statement while discussing Mt. Lanes protest
nqainst paving the amount OF their bill due August l.
The letter concludes follower That there should DC
anv possfhIe obstacle placed in tho way Of prompt
settlement with the contractor can only be explained
nv the facts that one Mr. Lanes conrces made tho
distinct proposition to me TO pay $4,000, assuring me
that by so doing should be exempted from all annoy
ance or delay I'm tho settlement OF my accounts this
proposton treated with the contempt II deservednnd
from that time TO THE the viihcston Of all persons con-
nected with this has been persisently maintained
This ia nv answer 10 Mr.. lanes protest that desire
Won 10 transmit 10 the Mayor"
NATURE or THE EVIDENCE.
"vhat IL the true history. Mr. Wenman OF the $500
check which was exhibited at the meetings" the re-
porter asked
at is said" the answer. chat Mr. McEncroc. the
subconracor Of work and the drswer OF the check
had been told by some persons that upon advancing the
sum OF 81 900 ali the warrants would be signed by
Commissioner lane, erd I'll protests against Mr..
McEncroe's recovering his money would he wthdra W.
MI McEncroe said he wond pay the amount out o ms
estimates Int that plan ala not sult JIG was theh tol
That the whole matter cond be settled for 500 IN cash
MI. McEncrOe drew the chccf on bank IN
Schenectady, and made It payable TO The order
The letter TO Nh McEncroc in November. The
was paid at The Produce Bank. The object OF this IN
make their statements under oath IL u certain tnat II
Mr. Lane received that $500. tie public should Know
IT, and the other members of the Board should be exon
Grated from guilt heard Of this transaction the very
next day after 1t occurred and although II Is nearly
~ II officially the charge such grave one
# Is fact that Mr. Lane afterward removed his pro-
Mr. Lane claims that action caused by the SUIT
fering among the laborers. tie says bis protest WAS
made because the work not done properly; he a.
h,,r The nat hi sibmtted hy the contractors was
for 600 Mr.. Lane entered his protest. ana the
money has yet been mad ~ ~ claimed tal per
sons svoied 10 get $3.50 from ,e contractors. bur
been submitted was due August l. and MI Lane again
" of course" continued Mr. Woman tits not vie
for state publicly that Mr. Lane has received his
money! this evidence, and great deaf more that
possess my duty ID ask FOL an Investigation 10y
the chief executive Of the CITY what Other evidence
have VIII send ~ the Mayor Mhlc nave no dou1i
in ny own mind about Il true state OF the case, think
1t only right that the Mayor should cIdmi Vie nater
amt render hs decision thihh ther. trough eNi
dence for jury 10 decide the case upon without much
deliheratIOn."
samuel Conoycr one OF the Park Commissioners was
city Yesterday. II is SAID that Mr. Conover
was Informed 81 tire transaction III connection with the
$500 check ABOUT The same time That Mr. "enman
heard Vi IT,
COMMISSIONER LANES OFFENCE.
Nj Lone was found yesterday afternoon at his office
made Wholesale denial OF all charges preferred by Mr.
W.nman 81 am perfectly satisfied" be said d" 20 take
tins matter the pubic VIII nrd out that these
men are a Of backguards. They have formed con-
10 force Inc TO approve the ns ~ the Riverside
Drive contractors but not At all ghtcucd When
the tlui h comes out Will b. fully oxOnerated."
But how about those letters produced by Mr.. Wen
man which apparently bear out his charges T. asked
the reporter ..,..,.o. ,r,,.,o,.o- ., ,,o,o,, and
can all he explained, and they VIII he at The proper
time have drawn up short statement for the press
to-day. and as am at leisure. probably tOmOr-
row. shall make detailed statement IN explanation
OF THIS whole AFFAIR. have nothing pew TO say now.
check for $500 diawnand who said to have paid
the money over 10 him. Is very prominent man, ana
There is DOUBT MIR. Lane said. that This unknown
received the for the check aud poeketed every
cent Of II. II placed under oath he must either ac-
knowledge that he used the money himself or swear
nat he pad II to Mr. Lane II he does the latter Mr.
ton OF an Official DO You see he added how ne is
made 10 induce Mir Lane TO give tie name Of this
hui he declined. Tue following statement or the nc
cused Commissioner prepared for the public yes
terday:
CARD TO THE PUBLIC.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PARKS. I
NEw-YoRK. 1 Ia S-pt., 1879.
To the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR. Two questions are raised by the matters pre-
scented by Dir. Wenman at tine Board meeting on
Wednesday. published In the reports the papers OF
to-day.
First-Whether the work on the Riverside Drive IA
well done In INV judgment II Is not The original de-
Ier Ia bee uof Ia be
paid for On this ground nave voted against the pay
mems the contractors and when the estimates
were passed by nv associates sent INV To the
Controller and The Mayor. III the Is well done
and my objections are untcnabie. the Mayor aud Con-