The evening world., 1889-12-04
GUILTY OF FRAUD.
Some One May Be Indicted for The
Dredging Imposition.
Commissioner Cram Denies All
knowledge Of the Affair.
The Law Violated on Several Different
Sections.

somebody has been guilty OF offenses against
the law, which would warrant indictment under
Mt least half a dozen different sections OF the
Penal Code and also under the Revised Statutes
of the United States.
These ofenses were committed in connection
with the dredging contracts of the Dock De-
partment.
They have been suspected for q long time, but
they were proven positively when Capt. Thomas
Mcmahon testified before the Commissioner of
Accounts to the frauds practised by the Union
Dredging Company on this city.
The evidence already taken by the COMMITS
sioners of Accounts shows that 81, 100, 900 has
been paid by the city to this Company for
dredging.
How much of this, sum was paid on fraudulent
vouchers i now to be proven.
Corporation Counsel Clark said this morning
that while Capt. McMahon's revelations show
that a number Of ofhci ais of both the Dock De-
partmeiit and the Union Dredging Company
colnmiitted %offenses which render them Liable TO
Indictment, he has not yet called the mater to
the attention of the DiStrict-AttornPy's Office.
Indictments can be found for grand larceny.
Tor bribery, for forgery, and. under section 672
Of bills or claims to a public official for pay
ment.
Information will also lie in the United States
courts for fouling the harbor in violation of the
law.
Dock COMMISSIONS Cram was the first witness
called by theICommi. sioners of Accounts on the
The witness testified that he was reasonably
fb@ een d dniS '4 IT, w Snl4n at Dt fse Ws.t t9Wm asbiyp tSs
Market faithfully. for he had inspected their
work and had two watchmen appointed by him
He did not agree with President Post that it
would take fifteen years to master The methods
lutionizcd the law methods. and it has taken me
but ten days.
the city could do its own dredging much more
cheaply than at present.
He had brought up the question Of buying a
plant by the Department, and Chief Engineer
Greene had estimated that it would cost
ResaTding "Treasurers orders" Commits
mo more will be issued with. my consent
while remain IN the Board. which, | don't
When / became a Commissioner I had an
knew | was honest.
Now | am informed that have no intelli-
The witness was of the opinion that he had
done more than any other Commissioner had
ever done TO- prevent dredging frauds by object
A scare about the sanitary condition of the
docks which recommended dredging Us a cure
was raised, and the Dock Department was
urged to act. y
Commissioner Cram. however. said that he
prevented the saddliDg OF this great expense on
The Commissioner admitted that the Depart
ment had advertised for dredging at West Wash
and gave a contract to the Union Dredging
Company as the lowest bidder.
The reason for this, he said, was because this
Company had exceeded the acquisitions of the
Department in dredging Mt this point, and their
contract was let to cover this work already done.
lie admitted 1t to be Il grossly irregular pro-
cCeding.
Mr.. Cram was then interrogated with refer
ence to contracts and orders for other supplies.
and while he said that the prices paid for coal.
for cobbleatones, for cement or for rip-rap was
not exorbitant, the method of purchase he de-
clared to be bad, for the only bidders appear to
have entered into a combination to furnish all
the supplies.