New-York tribune., 1884-01-14

indications that even this does not cover all OF
his transactions in the furnishing OF supplies 10
the department. Notable instances OF the eva
sion of the law in giving out orders are men,
toned below.
MAURICE B. FLYNNS FIRMS AND FRIENDS.
HIS HIGHLY PROFITABLE CONNECTION WITH TIE
DEPARTMENT.
There are many peculiarities i'll the methods FOL
lowed in the Public Works Department in
eyading the law regard to contracts as
well as in the letting of contracts. In re-
gard to contracts it is singular f&ct
that the successful bidders are usually men,
bers of Mr. ThOmpsOns political organization OF IN
business relations with some personal associate OF
his And the large sums paid ont under the
5000 order system go to Mr. Ihompsohs per
soual associates, who are also his active poht-
ical supporters. The men who supervise
the contracts hold their places in many
instances by the favor of the contractors The
bureau officers James J. Mooney, Joseph Blumen-
thai George A. Jeremiah, Thomas II. McAvoy, the
Deputy Commissioner Hamlin, the inspectors ana
others are polifcal associates and cO-workers Win
Maurice b. Flynn, Richard A. Cunningham anu
the favored contractors, and these men are aso as
sociated in the same way with W. '. smitn'
Douglas Smith, J. Mcintyre Smith and the other
Smiths and Smyths who do 50 much OF the WORK IN
making out estimates and returns on contracts ana
other work
ONLY MEMBERS OF MR. THoMPsoNS fAClioN
WANTED IL OFFICE.
If by any chance one of Mr. Ihompsons en-
ployes shows an unwillingness to carry out ms po-
itical wishes his head falls promptly. conspicuous
instance of this occurred soon after Mr.. Thompson
came into office One of the bureau officers Thomas
Keech. Superintendent Of Repairs and Supplies
was not a member of the County Democracy. Af.
Thompson tried to force him to resign, and faillns
in that he removed him on charges OF delaying pun
lie work. the whole fault Of which was due to MI.
Thompson himself. An appropriation was inaa"
for fitting up certain armories and markets. ana oy
Mr. Thompsons orders the bOokkeeper or the Dc
parment did not credit the appropriation TO the
Bureau Of Supplies probably for the reason tnas
he intended to place the whole IN charge
of his cousin Douglas Smyth, VINO was tncn
emnloyed on q salary of So, 900 as an architect on
the Croton water mains Without an appropria-
tion 70 defray the expense the superintendent did
NOT nnder the charter incur any expense. And be-
couse he did not do il Mr.. Thompson alleged that aa
an excuse for his removal. Thomas II. McAvoy'a .
member Of Mr.. ThompsOn's political FANNY, was
appointed to the vacancy, and thus the pontlo1
harmony of the department officials ana conlrae-
tors was assured. Although Mr. McAvoy ls An
a&bitect and not builder required by law,
vet n new place as an architect was created for
Douglas Smyth Mr. ThOmpsons relative. As
was probably intended in the first place,
he was taken from the salary hst OK
the Croton water mains, and given the Work
ON commission of preparing plans for the armories
for the alleged delay in which Mr.. Keech had been
had heen removed In this way Douglas Smyth
has been enabled to increase his pay at the expense
of the city treasury the extent of 400 per cent.
This harmonious relation between the department,
ts insnectors contractors and order list men, wnue
il does not keep down the city expenses as is shown
NV the fact that since Mr. Thompson become COm-
missioner he has increased the expenditures Oh tna
deportment slry-fre per Cent-yet 1t has SUCCEEDED
wonderfully well in strengthening Mr.. Thompson
as political " boss" and prosperous Official.
RICHARD A. CUNNINGHAM's PARTNER.
Another striking pecuiarity of the methods
of the Public Works Department IS tns
fact that the same men are interested III TUT
nishlng supplies and work under different names.
This is particularly true of the large sums PAID out
on the 5000 order system. ltwas shown IN lhh
TRIptrNE of Thursday last that since Mr.. Thompson
became Commissioner of Public Works he mas paid
10 his political associate, Richard A. Cunningham
over sea.. OOO on orders for S999 and less. Mr.,
Cunningham testified before the Senate Committee
that while he did business in his own name 1t was
ali for the benefit Of his tirm, W. ii. Taylor being
his mariner. 1t now turns out that w. III. Taylor
has also been the recipient of these 1898 orders tor
the benefit of the firm of Richard A.
Cunningham & Co. In three months the payments
made in Mr.. TaylOr's name amounted TO S7,asS'
Hence the sum If 1923, ,000was not all that was
maid to Mr. Cunnnghams firm on these orders.
MAURICE b. FLYNN TURNING UP EVERYWHERE.
What was true of Mr.. Cunningham Is also true OF
Maurice B. Flynn. 1t is impossible from the records
of the Finance Department to trace all the con-
tracts and orders in the Public Works Departments
IN which Mr.. Flynn is interested. At the time he
has been carving on work under his own name a.
contractor he has been interested in contracts under
other names and is known TO have been iurhisnhs
supplies on orders given TO two firms IN nellher ono
of which his name appeared On these orders anu
contracts alone payments have been made 10 the
amount of S9J7,39 But there IS also reason
70 belieye that he was interested heavily IN
o,ber contracts and orders. For instance Mr..
rhomnson purchased most of his hydrants aud stop
cocks from the firm of Guy e. HotchkiSs, Field IL
70 IN which NJ. FLYNN is the principal. (Air.
Uotohkiss being dead, and from the firm of Julius
Ionson Il Co. reOrganized some time ago under
the name of the Jonson Foundry and Machine Co.
In the Jonson firm a large part of the stock is held
by Aston Gerry as trustee. Mr.. Gerry Is an iron
broker who transacts a large business for Maurice