New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-24


with TRIBUNE correspondent that he favOrs
thorough investigation by a legislative COM
mittee.
FEEDING HIS FRIENDS AT THE PUBLIC CRIB,
HOW MR.. THOMPSON PUTS HIS FAvORITEs AND
POLITICAL SUPPORTERS on THE PAY-RoLLs.
The expenditures OF the Public Work Department.
were II1 per cent greater in 1882 than in 1879,
the last complete year of the administration of Mr..
ThompsOn's predecessor in Office. But Mr.. ThOmp-
sons political influence in the department was
powerful under Mr.. Campbell, and it was the cause
even then of unnecessary expenditures. The ap-
pointments under Mr.. Campbell were influenced
largely by Mr. Thompson, who was for long time
the Deputy Commissioner, and whose business it was
to see that the subordinates attended TO their
dutIes While Mr. Thompson held the place
it was discovered that Frank Beardsley, one Of
the inspectors appointed by his influence,
while drawing regular pay in this city, had been
personally engaged in the insurance business in
Chicago for three months. When Mr.. Thompson's
attention was called to the fact he denied that this
was the case, although the proof was complete, tho
inspectors name even being signed on the
pay.roll by one of Mr.. ThOmpson's intimate
political friends, under power of attorney.
As soon as Mr. Thompson discovered that the fact
was known, he sent for the absent inspector, and
his resignation appeared IN The City Record three
days later.
When Mr.. Thompson appointed County Clerk,
he secured the appointment of his friend,
Frederick II. Hamlin, as Deputy Com
missioner of Public Works, and he has
filled that place to the present time. When
a number of witnesses were examined in private
session in Albany before the Senate Committee, In
regard to their employment in the Public Works
nan ot oil asked
to do any work, they testified that they trans
acted their business" with the Deputy Commits
sioner of Public Works and Mr.. Smith. OF the
Smiths as THE TRIBUNE has shown, there is
numerous family in Mr.. Thompsons department,
many of whom are his relatives, including the
Young architect whose annual pay he has increased
over 400 per cent or to a sum larger than that re-
ceived by the Mayor or Controller.
PAYING FOR POLITICAL SERVICES OUT OF PUBLIC
FUNDS.
How many of the scores of inspectors now em-
ployed by Mr. Thompson are engaged III other busi-
ness remains to be shown. 0neOf Mr.. ThompSon's
water inspectors, Patrick Brown, while drawing
per diem paw in this city also drawing per diem
pay from the City of Yonkers where he was en-
ploycd. But in this case Mr.. Thompson had no supe-
ror to fear and although the fact was proved beyond
a shadow of doubtMr Thompson continued to
ploy the same inspector. There are so-cailed in
spectorsn on the Croton aqueduct who can be seen
in the City Hall every day of the week, attending
to political business for Mr. Thompson There ara
inspectors on regulating and grading who do no
work for weeks at time and yet draw regular per
diem pay. There is a cOrpsof inspectors on laying
pipes" and masonry" who are paid the same per
diem rate winter and summer, although work is
often suspended for good part of the winter season.
There are sixteen 4" "axemen" paid out of the Gro
ton Water Fund who are each paid from 500 to S75
a month; and there a large number OF other en-
uloyes who have peculiar duties to perform. Edward
b. DickersOn draws $75 a month from this fund for
"servicrs ;" and he is paid 1900 month as steno-
grapher TO the Assessment Commission. He also
draw, large sums for extra services" and at the
same time has a large private business as steno-
Craphcr ia the courts and elsewhere. But ao
meetings of tho County Democracy and at
Democratic State conventions, Mr.. Dickinson
is always hand 10 keep record
of the proceedings for Mr.. Thompson and his
friends. There are plenty of good stenographers
who would he willing to do all this work for
80. 500 the liberal salary that Mr.. Dickenson re-
celyes from the Assessment Commission, which
meets once q week on an average. E. Z. Donnell Is
understood to be relative of Mr. thompson and
steuographer in his private Office. William A.
Donnell is a stenographcr paid from the CrotOn
Water Fund his vouchers for March this wear be-
inp 1898 In the last three months SlS334 was
paid from this fund to lawyers and others for pro-
fessionap services From this fund the pay roll Of
engineers, otc., in the same time. was $3O,l43.
The Croton Water Fund is raised by the issue OF
bonds under a law that allows the Commissioner OF
Public Works to expend 81 100000 year to in-
crease the water supply. This is entirely independ-
ent of any appropriation made to Mr.. Thompson by
the Board of Estimate. No Que except himself has
any control over tue Croton Water Fund, and he
can spend the money i'll any way lie chooses, pro-
yidiug il il ustensby for work or services intended
to increase the water supply. This annual fund OF
81 OOO, 900 puts an enormous power in Mr.. Ihomp-
sons hands but no moro than some OF the other
funds raised from the Issue of bonds. These laws
were passed by Tweed to aid him in stealing the
public money. Tho power to spend the $l.0Oo,oOO
a year lapsed under the charter, but by an OBJ
scuro provision inserted in another statute IN 1879,
tho authority was again conferred on the Com
missioner of Public Works.
| ENORMOUS EXPENDITURES on TIE BRONX RIVER
SCHEME.
BecauSe of the enormous load of debt and taxa
| ton with which the city is burdencd COM
| missioner Campbell said in 1879 that
| he did not expect that n law authorizing new
aqueduct would be passed for many years. Hence,
| he had surveys made for the building of condait
| TO the Bronx and Byram rivers, which ne said
would add 20, 600 600 gallons of water daily TO the
| supply In this city. Mr.. Campbell expected TO
| build this conduit under the law authorizing him
10 expend 5 900 900 year to increese the water
supply. He had careful surveys made and before
he went out of office he let the contracts for the
purpose of gettinga supply ofwator from the Bronx
| nj a making