New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-15
a CHAOTIC MEMORY.
WORTHLESS DOCK BONDS AND DEFECTIVE
LEASES.
THUMB-scREws COULDN'T ELICIT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE DOCK DEPARTMENT-SECRE-
TARY KEMBLE AGAIN QUESTIONED
HOW CONTRACTS ARE GIVEN.
HOW CONTRACTS ARE CIV.

HOW CONTRACTS ARE GIVEN
The investigation of the Dock Department be-
lore commissioners Holahan and Barker, OF the
bureau of Accounts, went on yesnr rday, and
corporation Counsel Clark took up his task OF
showing that the city has been swlndled out OF
large sums by means of the loose methods and
general rottenness of that department. An ex-
animation which the Commissioners and MIR.
Clark made as to the Dock Boards leases, after
adjournment ON Wednesday evening, revealed the
startling fact that forty of these instruments were
practically worthless the most ordinary legal
formaties having been neglected
Corporation Counsel Clark said that he had
been informed by telegraph that after he had
sent an agent to Port Jervis the day before to
examine DoclmaSter David w. Bogarts bank
accounts, in conformity with Bogarts written
agreement thereto, the dockmaster had tele-
graphed the officers of the Port JerviS banks with
drawing his permission and directing them to
refuse the examination. Mr. Bogart here pre-
sented himself and said that he had withdrawn his
consent of the day before by the advice Of counsel
He said also that he had not brought his check
and account books, as he had promised, for the
same reason.
Gouyerneur Kembe, the Boards secretary,
whose rusty memory and untutored condition of
been demonstrated several times, was called again.
Mr.. Clark asked him for the names of the twelve
dockmasters in the Boards employ, but he was
unable to give them without being prompted by
Docllmaster Bogart, although the secretary had
his records in front of him. He admitted having
suppressed an important letter from the Controller
TO the president of the Dock Department relating
10 the improper way bills for services were made
out Mr.. Kcmble said that he had suppressed the
letter at the request of Commissioner Post.
According to the secretary, little or no super
vision WAS exercised over the docfmastcrs. No
complaint-book any record of complaints was
kept in the department. The rules requiring a
daily report from docllmasters were constantly
violated The Civil Service rules had also been
made nugatory, he said, by the appointment of
skilled laborers as clerks.
The Corporation Counsel then began TO question
Mr. Kemble about the department leases which he
and the Commissioners had examined The
suit was that the secretary made a deplorabe ex-
hbtion of ignorance, carelessness and neglect OF
duty. The bond of the RdgewoOd Ice Company,
at East Seventyeighth-st., was shown to be worth
less the lease of the Bridgeport Steamboat Com
pany was found defective; that of Robert ).
Briggs at West Eighteenth-st., had never been ac-
llnowledged. In this case Mr.. Clark compelled
Nlr. hefnDe 10 ADMIT lndb OHc lnOHidS NuuhihS-
ham appeared both as the surety and the notary
who took the acknowledgment The leases of the
Fort Lee Ferry Company's two piers never had
been signed by the Dock Commissioners. After
placing long array of similarly defective docu-
ments before the secretary, Mr. Clark asked HIM
if these were specimens of the way leases had been
made by the Dock Department. Mr, Kemble was
speechless
After recess, Mr. Clark by dint of much ques-
tioning. gained from Mr. Kemble the information
that certain contractors, who are highly spoken OF
bv George S. Greene jr., the chief engineer have
been in the habit of getting the river front work
and the orders for supplies. Mr.. Kemble stur'i1ly
refused to say that the engineer dictated TO
those matters, but said he rccOmmended,' and
his recommendations were always adopted Among
the contractors whom the engineer spoke highly
of were Stats Brothers and b. 5. Cronin, and
John w. Flaherty, who is building Pier No. %,
East River.
DO you know whether he is doing any work
for lessee of PIERS private owners p asked Mr.
Clark.
The only information that I have on that
subject" was the reply, " Is when the engineer
in-chief reports the completion of repairs and re-
ports the names of the contractors who had the
work.
But in the first report, the report as to the
necessity for the work, is there any suggestion as
to who the contractor shall be?'
mo, SIR"
is 1t generally contractor of whom he speaks
highly ?'
Il think that more generally the contractors
are men of whom he speaks WELL
Mr.. Clark asked him if he ever heard of work
being given to a contractor of whom Mr. Greene
did not speak we'll. Mr.. Kemble said that ne knew
of work being done by John Gillies, against whom
Mr. Greene had prejudice on account OF not
being up to time He had not done much WORK
last year.
Would the fact that Mr.. Greene has preJu-
dice against him." asked Mr.. Clark, cause that
4" | can't say" was the reply, because IN all 'ne
contracts Mr. Gilles has not been the lowest, IL
he had been the lowest, the department would nave
awarded the work to him.
But" persisted Mr.. Clark, am talking no"
of contracts made with private PERSONS
Well SIR answered the witness nave ho
information of the private work BEYOND the ~
ports of the engineer-in-chief as to the men WHO
perform the work"
MIR Clark then went into the question OF sup
plies Mr. Kemble said that for cohslueiuDio m
amounts notices asking for bids are issued in'
bids are sent in TO the treasurer who opens tnen'
makes the awards and reports them TO 'nu pV
Mr. Clark had another pertinent queS"pm notico
Did yon," he asked ever near oi l. rerSon mgs1
asking for bid on supplies being SEM 10 bgHbIyP" H"
Of whom the CHEF englneeiT i u'E EKambie meckIy, Il
No, SIR answered MI h1in''''
did not" sriebed the de-
Most of the contractors who urhlSner hn countcd
partment supplies he admitted coulu S T9 onc hind
nd more than that he thought the chet englneef
gave the names of the persons ",aon oor " hoard Of
to have informed to bid lie ber meyer tbap neaIi those
notices being sent to persons QUIET '"'H ''''
Ihen said Mr. Clark the RfchaSgh ir to the Oh chief
plies in this great department IS iei' 10 '' 'i'''
engineer?' H. .JJo has a very
nortant Usn nenence on the purchase of supplies
The examination ran on thus -. aou.,,msnt who
Q.-Do you know anybody else ~ ' =, supnIiesI A.