New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-03
PRESIDENT POST EXAMINED.
DEFENDING THE DOCK DEPARTMENT:
. REPORTED SPLIT BETWEEN THE COMMITS

prpoprrn SPLIT BETWEEN THE COMMITS
sIoNERs AND THE ENGINEER IN CHIEF.
The three Dock Commissioners, PRESIDENT Ehwin A.
Post James Matthews and j. sergeant cram, together
With Eneueer-n. Chief Greene. were present at the
,,.,,,cat,on xssterlay OF the Dock Department by
tho Coumi,s,onars OF Accounts. No word re
ceved from, Colonel John O'Dyrne TO whom the
ovstermen had paid the $4,000 for getting them
alleged dock privileges, and corporation Counsei
Clark sad his case was for the time being beytnd
the Commissioners control
The first witness Mr.. Clark called and 1t took all
d.v 70 examine him. was President Post. II had
never been the Departments custom, Mr. Post said
N advertise for BIDS for supplies He defended the
ers,or bsc,uae combinations would be formed II
N. svstem ~ awarding contracts TO bidders after
publ,c advertising were resorted To. Mr.. Post was
sure the Dock Departments supplies were furnished
only by reliable business men, and
was serenely innocent of any knowledge
q, nrssent combinations Advertisements for
sunnes he said were sent to The CITY Record for
pbljcation but Mr. Post had not discovered that they
or No, nublisbed or that It unlswfu to publish
them in 1.-THE Record" He related his connection
with Pier S. East River, which vas leased 10 the
sneced Thomas OBrien through ex-Cfvn Justice
William H. Kelly although William L smyth turned
out to be the real lessee He had talked with .,
Iudge Kelly and another man. whom he called
49,
so.n smvth to his knowledge. Yet when Smyth 5
testimony was read relating the action Of the Com
nisetopers after the injunction dismissed by
which smyth was permitted TO remain ON the pier al
a nominal rental Mr.. Post was Obliged 10 ADMIT e-
luctantly that Smyth had boon before him and that
ir had assented to the Arrangement. lie added that
the entire matter relating TO bonds was In the discre-
ton of the Commissioners. They could waive the
bonds II they thought proper. He then defended the
citvS Oisrs by " resolution OF the
BOARD instead Of by public letting because OF the
danger which existed. he said Of the most valuable
rarts of the water front falling into the hands OF
some great syndicate
Mr. Post acknowledged that he knew no way Of
fndinr out whether the dockmastefs PAID over all the
wharfage they collected or not we arc at the
mercy Of the dochmasters,' he said. Nr. Post had
made no examination 70 see II the dock1nasters were
volsStps the law Of 1888 regarding THE employment
Of other persons ~ collect wharfage.
is scerything assumed?s Mr.. Clark inquired.
at would take q very long time 70 familiarize
ones self with all the workings and details OF the
Dock Department. was Mr.. Posts answer
You haven't been able to do H. then, in eighteen
months Mr. ClarH said.
Mo-" the Commssioner answered.
CHOW long do you think N would tske you. Mr.
rreshensf"
About fifteen years. the suaye reply.
In the mstter Of dredging. NJ. Post could not see
oat the city had host anything in permitting the
wozk to 70 % the Union Dredging Company on treas
urers orders
Mr. Clark read from the minutes Of the Board, pup
lished FL The ty Record Of November Is, 1889, to
show that Oh one day, October "a last The Board
had given the company named orders aegrcgatins
s38 $50 for dredging. and asked II that one days
proceedings didn't astonsh him.
Nothing astonishes me now" Mr. Post ansWe OF
inperturbably. at done the recommendation
OF the Engineer Chief" the witness added looking
toward Mr.. Greene he spoke. II Is rumored that
the Commissioners and the engineer are at eggerhea1s
and that both Mr. Matthews and Mr. Greene will
make frantic efforts 10 themselves BY giving
away somebody else
sworn to by Acting Secretary Miller that Pier 81
had been nterpoIated by Air Post in the oysermerls
resolution after hs passage Mr. Post denied the state
msnt of Miller but after much crossquestionin9 sd-
n1ftted that he had done So but said that he had
irst obtained The sanction Of Mr.. Matthews
The witness insisted that the promotion Of laborer
10 higher place without Civil Service examination
tas had been done) was not violation Of the Civil
Service law. eve had letter from ex-Civil Service
Commissioner Everett P. Wheeler" he added saying
that we could do It,"
Confniss Toner Matthews will take the stand at IL
a. to-day.
Judge Lawrence n Supreme Court Chambers yes
teylay dismissed the suit Of the People against te
pany to compel them TO remove the shed from Pier
No. al, North River. The company has lease for
the pier and obtained permit from the DOCK De.
partmeht to build a shed.