New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-22
DOCK DEPARTMENT METHODS.

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
COMMISSIONERS vANDERPoEL AND LAIMBEER AMONG
TIE wrTNEsSEs-RENTs THAT ARE DUE AND
HOW COLLECTIONS ARE MADE-MR. LAIMBLEKs
SUGGESTIONS.
The investigation Of the management Of The Dock
Department by the subcommittee on Commerce
and Navigation was continued yesterday. Much
testimony was given showing that loose system of
keeping books has prevailed IN the department.
and an equally loose system of making coli"ci"nS
commissioners NanderpOe and Lalnhecr we're
prrscnt. hut Commissioner Dmock was absent.
A. d. Williams, the chairman, conducted the cx-
animation of the witnesses.
The first witness was Eugene Lynch. the secretary
If the Board. who said that letter Shown HIM wa|
a copy of me written 10y himself, but dictated 10
William A. Whitney the head book keeper. by Com
missioner Dmock This letter was addressed 10
Hugh J. Jewctt. and related to the pay mrnt OF
S9.37J rent overdue
G. mmissioncr Nandcrp0cl was then called. and
said that he had not been consulted with reference
to the letter al all
Commissioner Laimbccr-A him if he ever heard
of the clam.
Mr.. Vandcrpocl-I heard Of il move than a year
ago and remember that ne OlJc, ton had been
made 20 it. Recently | have supp scd that the
The witness said further that about a week ago he
began to make collections of rents due the Depart
ment which Amounted 10 f22'lGd; one OF the a.
linqurnt. owed - 300 but he understood that this
person alleged that he had claim against the De-
partmeni of 5000 What The mature of the claim
was l,- did not know. il being simply lOttcd down
pany was in arrears, owing 10 dis pancy between
The agreement and the written terms of the lca>r.
IL was discovered "Wednesday that the date Of the
Lease which GAS or. 'nalIy January J. had been
erased and April substituted. lhl- change would
nial,ca difference in The rent OF ~ 900.
The examination was here suspended for the pur-
nose of questioning the head bunhkcclcr lie sali
that the date of the Hubs y River Tunnel Com
panys ras,. was ri It when he sent the paper Ia the
counsel Of that company for signature. nor did hc
observe that the cir ngr had been made uutll within
a day or two. The book cclc also sand that thc
letter to Hugh j. JCNctt hal been Written at the
order Of Commissioner lhm"cL. ,
Commissioner Lambert wish 10 say here that
Mr. NanderpOcl Ina, been engaged for the last week
i'm making collections IN person. AK INN II a'-
counts have not turned up at which lac has been
surprised.
squeezing himself again into The Wltu.-N char.
Ask hmn if he has not been rcpul'cd,' again sug-
gcStcd MT. LaInlc"f. 80 . -,
Repeatedly sir continued Mr. Fandrrl"cI
have asked for the names of the drlW1urnt'. ana
after running all over the cltN few more names
would be. added 10 the list. and ~ on. When
asked to have a bill made out the bookk"prr Tiid'
You can have four bills if you want them
Mr.. Wiiliams-Arc you III the habit OF submitting
to such lmpcrtncncc !
lit has been found" said Mr.. Vaudcrroc eyadiug
the question, that recent bills have been pad hy
some companies. while old bulls have never been
collected Unsettled accounts running back So cral
years have been discovered III number OIL III
Commissioner Laimbccr-I want 10 say right here
that the Department recently pasS"d resolution "a
I
dumping earth within the bullhcdd-. The hook
kecper sold 4, 900 permits 10 and thus cX-
cluded scvcn-teuths OF the men who wished to Sc
GU the privilege.
Iindsey l. Howe, once Commissioner Of Accounts,
was next called l!c sad that b" employed 10y
MAYOR Wickham To- make an examination OF the
hooks of the Dock Department, hut tine mvcstiga-
tim WAS confined To one or two subjects. The qucs
ZION came no TO rs whether T2j,OOO he'd not been
Maid To the Commissioner 10 secure certain priv
legcs.
"WcIl | don't know what you may choose 10 call
II refill I'll the witness. detective named Fisher
who il 40 employed ~ the sub uasury, worked
TWO months trying 10 get 20 the bottom OF H.
"Wlat was the result of his inVcstigltiouhi
81 prefer to let Mr. Fisher answer That question.
Commissioner l.ambceT was the last witness. lie
said tint me had never known of the letter 10 Mr.
Jewett until the day before, nor bad lac been con-
suited in regard Ia il. Since Lis connection with
the Department last December, he had been hnslly
employed ia examining INTO all OF us bfahcHes ana
ieihOds. " believe, hc continued. That tie en-
gineerng and clerical forces COULD be reduced and
ecs noly introduced into the construction depart
Incnt by buying materials and getting work done by
contract. As To tie hulkhcads. large amount oi
money is being expended or them. aud DO not
think the people are getting what they ought u
have in return. Owing Ia cOmiual Ons ~ IS llIlws
sible 10 get dredging done without paying eXorbi
tant prices
Mr. Willams-Is Secretary Lynch here much Of
the time
: My opinion is that he il away from the office
very much of the time. There are two assistant
work"
is it a fact that the Burnham defaIcatiOn hai
not been ma lie upf"
Il believe not 1t seems to me there is S23,0O(
| yet unpaid"
The committee then adjourned without date.