New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-23
nTEDGING THE TREASURY.
How TO EARN A MILLION WITH THE CrrY'S
TOOLS.
r,,oNE1 oBYRNE TOO ILL TO TESTIFY IN THE

Il
DOCK BOARD INvEsTIGA TIoN-J sLoAT
FAssErr WILLING TO DO so.
II was rumored yesterday morning before the
,earng in the Dock Department investigation was
oer,n that something sensational might be developer
during the course of the day regarding the sloooo
hnd raised by the oyster Dealers Association anu
said 10 have been paid to Colonel John ohSr"e a.
counsel fees and regarding the $1,000 gratui'ouss
civen N James w Boyle by Jacob !. housnia".
what gave rise to these reports was the iac' n"'
Uousman appeared early in the morning at "Y -.
~ the Commissioner Of Accounts, III U"0
Building where he one Of the paruoip" 'S,a,
extended conference in which inc O -
corporation Counsel Clark and Inspector d! ros WY
.,ra.1 u WAS surrnised that Housman
would disclose the real use '"
money had been devoted ,, and
In reply 10 the request which JUG Non' , ,,..
Mr. Clark had sent TO state een"'o % 80 -,
IN appear before them at his conNo"oi'o anu non
such public statement as "o"u '' s.,a".- o,o
,D,.os+ra,iop Mr. Clark received inc ioho"ins ho'o
INV - str. please excuse informal reply 10
NV De ,as S I shall be very glad to lend you and
,he SgorfS 10 clear up the affairs of the Dock
RHrnsrtment and to end will cndcavor to see
~" ~ S. FASSETT.
fifth Avenue Hotel. Nov. Of, 1899
Dock Commissioner ]. Sergeant Cram was the first
witness called yesterday. Mr. Clark asked him to
by the Dock Commissioners July H. giving TO the
oyster dealers the exclusive Of Pier No. ID. The
witness said that he remembered having seen Boyle
and Colonel OByrne in the Office Of President Post
The former had showed him certified copy OF the
legislative act of 1889, and he Cram had promised
10 for granting the privileges which the provisions
Of tie act empowered the Dock Commissioners to
confer.
Charles Miller, jr., who was acting secretary OF
the Board the time Of the passage of the resoln-
ton testified that Boyle Shaicr and OByrne had
visited President several times about the applica
ton. which hal been made for the pier privileges.
At the meeting Of July IL the application granted
upon the notion as the witness believed. of Com
missioner Post BY the direction of the latter Mr.
Miller drafted the resolution. 1t granted TO inc
oysermen the exclusive of the bulkhead between
West Tenth and Eleventh SITS. Boyle and his as
socia.s were not satisfied with this and wanted the
use of Pier No. 81 added. BY order of President
Post, the insertion was made and new copy prepared
and handed to Boyle.
Frederick 2. Thompson. the surveyor of the DOCK
Department. recalled to the stand. Mr.. Thomp-
son was examined Thursday and displayed a
lamenablo lack Of knowledge to the affairs Of his
department. His testimony revealed the fact that
the Union Dredging Company had during the last
nine years. drawn over ~ 100000 from the city
treasury and, in addition. had worn out the dredging
plant belonging 10 the city.
He rehearsed yesterday the extent Of HIS duties and
he had general oversight OF all dredging
done by the Department. Mr.. Clark succeeded in
getting from the witnes, statement that although
the Union Dredging Company had been the lowest
bidder for all contracts, other competitors, notably
the Atlantic Dredging Company, the Morris Cum
mincS Company and Henry DuboisS sons, had never
theess been able do of the dredging for their
successful rival The witness said he didn't consider
il his business to interfere with the work of the Com
missioners and hence. while wondering how the com
panes who got sub-contracS could afford to DO The
work. he had never said anything about it, He never
imagined that combination between the four com
panies possible.
Mr. Clark asked him why it was that number Oh
orders had been given 10 dredge certain slip instead
of having the work all done at once. The witness
explained that he made out acquisitions to dredge Only
nar of the slip for the convenience of the contractors
The Controller objected paying large bills, he said
and them too, the Union Dredging Company wOuId noc
have TO 50 long for the money due it,
The witness then subjected to fgid eAahiil"-
ton concerning the system employed IN the pepar'-
ment for ascertaning whether the inspectors coecS
reported the exc amount of dcdged material carried
out 10 sea lie was at length forced to admit that
tbers was no absolute system TO prevent Hand, ana
that for every scow dishonesty reported TO nave Deeh
lowed out the city lost SEQ outright. II Inc "ln'
and tide were favorable he said d" and the inspectors
were scallawags and worked together every 'nns
would 80 smoothly for thcm."
The CORPORATION Counsel then began 10 que'uoh
Mr. Thompson as to the cost of dredging. lie learned
tina, eleven men employed on one OF uie dic'sos
now at work at West Fifty seventh st., and ten men
an that now al Washn gton Market. Each diecSe mas
Two capans and engineer ALLOWING He "i !ta
H. make lie estimates OF the salaries para 10 lhc9
mon Nh Clark computed the amount pald iof ldpOI II
te SiI3-O The value of the dredgcs ana sc0%s
lcinr estimated on the witness at about TlJOVOO' INC
Interest on this would be $4,000; the yearly ueP
lion in value Of the plant being put at 81 E
his al so and the cost OF repairs Al 1870 ''
tnt,l cost of dredging estimated 10 De So0'1oV'
Mr. Clarke than asked the witness a. ta5 a;d %
The dredging department. how much han Decn pau ~
The Union Company for The year ending April o.
l-S8 lie did not know. Mr. Clarke tneh rtl IU VI
The records that the amount +l12 SAB, making the
n,ofts OF the company SlO6.4G3. In 1S-2 the pohts
with the same EXPENSE of working the dredge> welc
found 10 have been Sl5O,1lO
Is there nothing TO prevent The city from earning
The profits Of The Union Dredging Company 7" was then
asked.
Nothing was the reply.
The witness declared thai the way he calculated IN
most case, the amount Of mud 10 be eXcaVated from
any dock order 10 make a certain dcpm OF WAFER
ence7 told him how deep cribs were sunk when such
iufOi nation desired.
Mr.. Thompson that he had never derived
any lcueff from the profits OF the Union Dredging
Company and that neither he nor his wife had bank
account Whom he first entered the employ OF the
Dock Department bis salary was 80 week now II
S2.4OO "A year.
Colonel John O'Byme subp0eDaed TO appear
The Investigation yesterday. but al ahdavt was
produced i'm which DR.. T. +. joyce, Of NO. 211 East
lhiiy.fr,i St. swOrc before Robert OBylne nottry
public son of the COlOue, that the latter was suffer
Ing from = attack OF Scatica and would be
unable 10 leave his house for several days, being IN
osvacnated from attending any business Whatever.
Monday mOnins