New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-31
PRICE THREE CENTS
WEMPLE'S GUILT PROVEN.
A DLSGRACED STATE OFFICIAL
ADMITS WHILE DENYING THE TRUTH OF
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
THE CONTROLLERS UNLAWFUL INTEREST II
THE ROCHESTER AND OTHER cASAI
BRIDGEs-A STILL DEEPER sMIRcH ON
THE CEILING-FIAUD CANDIDATE
OF THE DEMOCRACY.
,sY TELEGRAPH TO THE rKrnrSr.,

.BY TELEGRAPH THE rknrSE.l
Rochester, Oct 3O.-The exposure OF the
connection Of the present State Controller,
Edward Wempe, with the defective lift-bridp
over the Erie Canal in this city, and the manner
in which the job was engineered by Democratic
politicians, has caused much excitement in local
political circles Further Investigation proves
beyond doubt the truth of what has been already
detailed, as we'll as several additional facts.
1t is learned that the State Controller was in the
city about the time the motor work was done, and
his foreman also. An examination fails to reveal
the name of Wemple on either Of the motors used
in the Main-st. bridge but the fact that his 6rm
built them is shown beyond doubt in the follow
ing reply sent to the tclegraphc query OF prom
inent manufacturer asking where the Wemple
motors could be seen in operation.
Fuonville. Oct % 1880.
II cylinder at West Malnst Rochester, waterwheel a
Fort Plain. WILLIAM D. wEMPLEs SONS.
In commenting on this reply, /" The Democrat
and Chronicle says, in its telling arragnment
of the guilty Controller:
1t cllnehes the matter beyond all dispute. The firm
motor the West MaInst bridge. and It is said upon
good authority for the other four bridges in
the State already Indicated Much might BE- said Of the
insufficient working Of the motor, and Of the acedens
which being terrible event in our local
history branch of the subject need here be
entered into. Sufficient is It 10 know that Edward
Wempe. controller, auditor and member OF the Canal
Board a vendcr Of furnished the State by con-
tractors whose must be approved and payments
TO whom must be audited by the Controller.
The sale OF these motors either directly by the manu-
facturer Indirectly by him through the contractor.
absolutely forbidden by law. upon grounds Of public
policy, and any benefit derived therefrom by member
OF the Canal Board-which Controller ise heaviest
penalty is attached viz the forfeiture OF the office he
has thus prosuuted TO personal greed We quote tis
law, defining the offence and sanction. 1t is found in
Section 1856 Article TX Of the Revised Statutes OF New
York. and reads 5 follows:
"No Canal Commissioner or other member OF the
Canal Board superintendent engineer person hold
ing appointment under the Canal Commissioners or
any OF hem under superintendent Of repairs
or other officer the canals. shall
hereafter become interested in any hydraulic
work dependent the canals for supply Of water.
or interested In any line Of boats regularly
navigating the canals or SHALL either directly Indirect
y become interested in contract the canals ss
tractor surety otherwise either in his own name or in
OF any other person. or shall either directly OF
indirectly derive any benefit from the ordinary extraor
dnary expenditures canals beyond his established
compensation and II Canal Commissioner. member Of
the Canal Board superintendent engineer etc., shall
as aforesaid he shall forfeit his onice appointment
It upon this that the Controller Of the State
stands mpaed to-day having beon interested in the sale
of articles manufactured by him to contractors whose
contracts he must approve and the payments
upon which he must audit From all that
learn the FUltonville firm has been
engaged in the wholesale furnishing OF tho
State Perhaps Mr.. wemple did whist the
penalty for this Kind OF business He knows now.
he also knows how grossly he abused his functions,
when he issued Contractor Snath for $4,000
In Of the authority vested in him. BY the law
his is justly forfeited and yet he not only does
IL, but has the unparalleled temerity
second term OF that hducary trust ho has so
shamefully abused.
By Chapter 3jl of the laws OF 1ssShe act providing
for lift6rdge in ROchester-al moneys paid by tho
State for the building West Man.st, bridge made
payable by the Treasurer the warrant OF the Controller
the or.er OF Superintendent OF Public Works.
This before been alluded to- but is here introduced
for the purpose OF consecutive order And thus we nave
substautiated every the beginning Of
this article and conclude by asking whether Edward
Wemple upon the assumption either of Ignorance Yful
violation OF the law, is fit person TO be Controller Of
the State Of New.York-to handle millions Of the peoples
money and protect the STATE from the hands Of the
spoer whether that spoiler ceiling contractor or
ofical IL certainly seems impossible for Edward
wemple to protect the treasury from Edward Wempls
himself
"The Express tInd) of this city to-day con-
tans an editorial by Editor O'Connor, in which
he says of The Democrat and Chronicles
charges against Wemple:
So far as see, contemporary produces
strong presumption against Mr. WemDe He is certainly
member Canal Board, by which plans for bridges
approved he is said to be member OF the firm
Of William b. Wemple's Sons Of Futonvile. manufaetur
ers OF motors this firm they furnished the motor
the Westave bridge; the money paid for the bridge
was paid on the Of Controller Wemple as the
Revised Statutes provide instead o. FORGETTING his
Office Mr.. Wempe j. a candidate for reelection. What
has ne to say in answer to these grave charges
PRACTICALLY ADMITTING IT ALL.
LITERATURE OF THIS CAMPAIGN.