New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-08
TRYING TO INlPEACH DEVLIN.
pAYNEs UNFAIR METHOD OF PROCEDURE
ATTACKING THE CONTRACTOR IN HIS ABsENCh-AN
INSPECTORS TESTIMONY


INSPECTORS TESTIMONY.
Whom ,he senate Committee that Is investi-
eating the puho Works Department began IT. session n
me Cyv Han Yesterday M. Payne the counsel ioI Oo
,o,ssoner Thompson desired 20 mpeach the character
ofiCoptrsctor Joha j. Devin ny oacIing I'D e'loeAce
MIA, he stated % De tie record OF his DcVAn 81 coAF
e., IN SOME cass lie said that the witness had II Ais
touv made serious charges against che department.
ora he 6crT 20 nut IL record % conviction as evil
Jence Mr. whi-rdge, OF The committees counsel on
ectee 20 MI Payne being olo0edfonaNe any suc- a''c
uent as highly improper Chairman Gloos sara llal ~
The absence Of the witness be would not permit N''
1,,ne 70 asson him Mr. Whitrdge said that e charges
made against M Thompson by the witness were brought
out op Examination. and entirely different
from ANYTHING brought ont ia the direct testimony Tine
charges were thereby made oy MI DeNun while Wit
ness for Department and there was no rule oil IA" o!
which MI Payne could impcach bic own witness MI
Ivne then desired present evidence the aiud"lt
o. Commissioner Thompson Deputy Commissioner
IIaIin Chief clifford and tic two inspectors deny
inythc charges made by Mr. Dcylin They were ruled
out "a improper MT Payne was Informed lu'1 'n'
witnesses would have 10 bc sworn and submit 10 cross
examination.
Walter C. IIumstonc. superintendent OF tie Western
Union telegraph Company, testified 10 the 1iancr in
which Mr. Devlin performed his work His testimony
was unimportant, he was not personally acquainted
with the details.
Isaac S Bum4uthal, Superintendent Of Incumbrances
He testified that he had inspectors under him 10 re-
port upon membranes II any complaint was
made OF street ucumbrauce II was ordered 20 DC re-
moved, but action was taken unless sccohu cou-
plsnt was the department Membranes wcro
then removed unless they authorized by aresol-
ton OF the Board Aldermen or by permit from the
Mayors office lie had FIRST discovered aboui two weeks
ago that resolutions OF Board OF Aldermen purpor-
ing To authorize ncumbrances. had been forged ana
sold for $40 each. lie did not know how many such
i,ftf MY hfep n4ll
cred by the bureau lie did think any officer OF She
Bureau had asked the Board OF Aldermen 10 pass
resolution authorizing IA street incumbrance. such
resolution might have been drafted by clerk IL the
Bureau to accommodate persons outside
When Mr. Blumentha had finished Mr.. Payne rose and
said Tagan ask .huye spread upon the record the
aidsvits OF the gentlemen who have been put under
ban by the testimony OF John Dcynu."
Mr.. wmtridgeMr Chairman, object TO this irregular
Mr. Payne--r have here the record o. convection.
CHAIRMAN ia sed m 15d a ayee Of fG' pan Nil DEE
Mr Payne-Do you decline 10 hear me at ain
The Chalrman-I shall decline 10 hear yon further
unless YOU state what YOU gong 10 talk about
Mr. Payne Shall l take you i1to a side room TO tell
The chairman-No neither you nor ANYBODY else con
nectcd with the Department VI Public Works can take
luc into a side room
senator Lansing suggested that The Department pro-
ducc It's witnesses let them Ice examined n regard TO
the matter Harrison Palmer one OF the inspectors u-
pncltcd by Mr.. Devlin. was thcn examined 10y Nj.
Tavue lie swore that Contractor Dcyhn failed 20 obey
tho rules and regulations OF the department from Che be
ginning and that the oi his not being allowed
20 continue. lie made frequent complaints % the
Western Union Company In regard 90 &C. In regard TO
the dinner go Nicholas he said that was gi'cn 90
Tire inspectors by the hotel superintendent because OF
sine service rendered u clearing passage FOR carriages
ir % the hoto, and that De invited Contractor
p.t.lu fo 90 with them ,o dinner M DcFHn, knowing
tsf le .he w,ine-- candidate for Alderman. told