New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-26
REMOVAL OF B. S. CHURCH.
HIS EXPLANATION OF THE CASE.
THE COURTS NAY BE CALLED UPON TO DECIDE
WHETHER THE COMMISSION ACTED
LEGALLY.


Tho action Of the Aqucduct Commissioners in re-
moving Consulting Engineer Benjamin 5. Church and
.bolsbng hts Office and salary Of $4,000 year has
had the effect Of developing the fact that considerable
friction has existed between the head Aqueduct
engineers ever since Mr. rteey the present chief ana
Colonel Church exchanged places last November Mr
rsclcy explicitly denied yesterday the charge against
him thar he had been plotting with the enemies OF the
former chief for the latters overthrow.
"Not only IS the statement absolutely false, sald
MI Ftooy, but when the proposition was made that
take the place of chief engineer, distinctly refuseo
10 accept 81 until Mr. Church urgently insisted upon
my doing so. There was no humiliation IN the eN-
change for Nh. Church, for the place OF consulting
engineer is in no way subordinate. When held 1t
did not regard myself under his directons neither
has he been under mine since the transfer ii ne
Commissioners w!o are the proper Judges. decide tha'
there Is no longer need of consulting engineer MI
Church must not blame The act Is thai Oh INC
Commission ret mne.n
Colonel Church was in no gentle frame OF mino
when Tribune reporter found him IN the eng heois
department of the New Aqueduct Offices Inc a''a'n
made upon me yesterday said the Colonel was ou-
racoous and unparalleled. Its object, apparently :,
20 aiscredit me before the world ard deprive me Oh
tho means of livelihood. After my long ana ialthIW
service for the people of this city, the acuoh vi Vi"
Commission seems unbearable. In my letter U 1e"ei"
Duane i stated that l would yield 10 lesd No'0
~ legal majority Of the Commission preso"o
tho vote of yesterday abollshIng my once IS oi 'ha'
character, but this fact will not prevent INC toni
taking measures to defend my reputation as cl'zeh
and an honest man. This am determined 10 uo III
my own way,'
when did you first learn of the purpose OF tio
COMMISSIONS ,n,,.,
The first intimaton Of the real reasons when
promp,ed those outside of the exoco members Vi inc
commission 0he appoiDtees of Mayor Hewitt IdsV S"
10 get me out of the way was given III Oo'ui
uov.c,s rnmarks concerning my professional rulings
dur,np the construction of the work Undef 'le lu0"
that 10 Justify their existence the money allowances
,rust be cot down below those of the old COMMISSION
they mounted hobby and were determined 10 pay
less than the terms Of the contract proVluou oi,
ia ho.n warned 10 lean toward ideas advanced Dy
these commissioners and TO support their hoDoy Du'
the contracts make the chief engineer 'he arp''or "
deciding questions between the Commission anu INV
contractors, and l declined to lean one way y, VIZ
other ruled In strict accordance with the terms VI
the contracts. This has not peeh a0o0P
majority of the Commission Ain
After long struggle the contractors mado up '''
minds to accept my rulings, but large suI'o WIN
doubtedly result from the acts OF ms ooninii'
which may end in far larger allowances III law, 80,
The contractors when these suits are uieo
that Mr. Howe's unjust structures upon my o ',nh
actions will be fully refuted. have struggled 'nouHH
,h h,,raor and heat Of the day with complications
e,
opposition difficulties and lack OF suppo ',onr
maintaining discipline which no other chlei m
.yer encountered on a work of such magn'tuu"' .
numerous enemies have been forced 10 make Ill u''s
ny duty have at last prevailed IN. lie
- do not accuse Mr. Fteley OF treachery' o"' ms
treatment OF me since he became CHIEF engineer na
been in marked contrast with my eonsderauou io'
him His object since he reached this place mas DECD
soerningly TO convince the Commission hdt "0'0
was no longer need for consulting engineer ana -
rreezc me out lie has never actively parnclpa"c"
In the work of construction of the new AqueauGSc
hiring a whole year of the hardest labor lor ihc nv
va away on sck-ieave his pay going on during inc
time by my request . .a.o,, .ho t1eas Of new
and untrisd men. instead OF one VINO has s"V" ITO
life 10 the city's interests cannot hcp vac
None OF the Commissioners was at uciI VroT 80
,cday except General Duane, ana ne rcni..lo" -
n short time lie declined to say anything a"o"
Ioionel Church or his dismissal. -,o, c,,,,cb,s
II MAS ITimorcd yesterday that Coiohei tn ne
,,se might be brought into the courts uh'u ~ ,ror
Veteran act Colonel Chuch served GuIInE ny ond
A., captaln in the 10Th New OK i.Ss,l,ei ,ai
Mas AN engineer officer the stan OF S
rarnsrd II (, said that the ColOnei WS ., NJ wy
nriso%cr taken by the Coniederates after lle war
,ecan He was out with a force OF men ihahiNe "
reconnaissance when captured.