New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-06
THE MUD STICKS TO THEM.
ENGINEER,IN.CHIEF GREENE CLEARS of
NOTHING.

NOTHING.
pxorNous PROFITS OF THE UNION DREDGING
COMPANY on CAPITAL OF LESS
THAN $4,000.
,s cour,.s,oners of Accounts investigation OK
The Dock Department closed yesterday io' V'
with the examination of Engineerin-Chlel "o"iho D
Cre.ne tr He had been preceded on the witness
80 =. ..ch ~ the three Commissioners Of the
MT Roart and owing TO his long years OF service
and HIS supposed familiarity with the anars OF inc
D.psrtment was expected TO clear up the uarh anu
doubtful transactions which have been Drought "
Hight and give proper reasons for the boauS sualso
way of doing business. But Mr. Greene did nothing
of the kind On the contrary. the effect OF his test
nopv was to confirm the popular judgment that the
Dock Department has been carried on with reckless
disregard of the ciys interests and that the Corpora
ton Counses declaration, when he entered upon this
investigation that II aboundcd In fraud, pecuiaush
and rascaty. has been entirely sustained
Mr. Greene testified that his connection win tnc
Department in his present capacity began in 1870
and that his salary $4,000 year In 1877 the
city abandoned its custom Of doing Its own ofeoss'
and the Union Dredging Company stepped into us
present lucrative employment From that time unlh
1881 the work was done without the trouble OF Did
ding on treasmer's orders" Then bids were re-
quired for while but the Union Dredging Company
got there all the sames and according to the com
pany's accounts, dredge alone was able TO clear
Sl4 900 for the company in a single year onder MI
Greene's recommendations this company was soio "
gobble up within a short time the entire d1eoglue
plant of the city for fraction OF what IL hdu
cost According 10 the engineers inventories us
property in the citys hands next to worthless put
as soon as II passed into the hands of the union
Dredging Company it became productive ana sssisou
In earning for II S125,o00 from the city AS MT
Clark these facts from Mr.. Greene, and fasenou
upon him the responsibility Of one transaction aiter
another, the chief engineers face assumed Rudy
hue and the glass Of water at mis- elbow had 70 be
often replenished
The remarkable expedent of advertising Tor 0fds
for 900 square yards of muc dredging at west "as
ington Market after it had already been done broug
another hectic flush Mr. Greenes cheeks, as he al
nitted that the suggestion came fI0m hiinseH anu
that the Commissioners knew nothing about It, lie
made rambling explanation the pith of II being that
IL was the best way for the Union Dredging
Company get its pay for the dredging MT
Greene was sure that Captain McMahons sworn sta'o
ment that this favored company followed custom
of emptying IT'S scows al night In the same slip where
A. had been dredging during the day, was not uoe'
His reason for so thinking his unqueseoning
reliance on the integrity of the dredging and dumping
Inspectors.
Mr. Greene admitted that IT his constant habit
TO sit beside the president at the Dock Board meetings
and advise the Commissioners matters of moment
@went, was not disputed by anybody. All acquisitions
f.xcent what came under the " annual expense ac-
counts amounting tn S1O0.O00 must have Mr..
Greene's approval before the Board can entertain
Them This includes acquisitions for supplies OF all
kinds contracts work and about everything ordered
by the Department The witness said that he went
into an examination Of the acquisitions before placing
h,s s,cpa,re upon them but in to Mr.. Clarks
ouestions he admitted that his general practice was
to take the word of his subordinates as 10 what was
necessary and proper.
One OF the things Mr.. Greene failed utterly 10 ex-
plain was Treasurers Order No. 1896 dated MaIch
os TO the Union Dredging Company, for 10000 yards
of mud dredging. From March 80 10 May "ta1
nj s 7o4 yards was charged, and then the bill was
mt in dated June and IA 200 yards were added as
Gestlmated in place" to make up the 2OoOo yards
Out of the "a 900 charged on this Dill mere was
s2s4l 20 for which dredging seemingly had ooen
DONE When supplies asked for, anything that
McClav Parker Nichols Mccarthy, Bawley, Lang or
REYNOLDS, his subordnates, said was wanted Mr..
Greene was in the habit of approving as mat1r OF
course 1t was Eve years, he said, since supplies
had been advertised for in the last ten years 'he
citv had spent SIS 900 600 for supplies and dredging
The sheds Of the New-York Central Railroad. built
upon the sea,wan at Thrtieth ST., had been thrown
mt Of plumb owing 10 the sinking of the wall, and
had 10 be jacked-up frequently. About 1000 OF
1000 feet of seawall had been built since 1917 or
1878. 1t had cost $3.50 TO 1925 a foot MT Greene
estimated the cost OF the twenty SIN UT t"cH'H
miles TO be built at about S40,0oooOo, and thousht
IL might take 800 years TO build It AT the coSe OF
his testimony Mr.. Greene said that the questions Oh
the Corporation Counsel relating 10 the Union Dredg-
ing Company seemed to indicate two things ohe
was that the dredging had been properly measured
and s,pervised Mr. Greene ready 10 submit TINS
Subject 10 competent engineers. The other vas q
suspicion that he had been currupd III ms . au
mnistration OF the work 1t was the first time that
his integrity had been questioned ii ne hdn
been corrrpt IL must have been for money lie
Wished the Corporation Counsel 10 understand that
his bank account and all his transactions were open
10 him. ,. ~, Coo,o
why should you accuse yourself Mr. Greene me-
before anv one else has accused your asked Mr
Clark NV examination and questions have
tended to show that you have been Incompetent
rather than dishonest. | have not even gone INTO
the matter OF your expenses at Albany last WINTER,
when Won went there and labored 10 get your salary
raised and charged your bill TO the city,
Commss 'oner Holahan added: This inVeSuga.
,,oo is moi over vet. one OF the most important
branches has not yet been gone into
Charles II. LoOms president OF the union Dredging
Comnanv was recalled at his own request. ana
h, answer 10 the questions OF his counsel John H.
pI1 denied that the testimony of Thomas Mcmahon
,ho,t cumming freshly diedGed scOwlOads of mud in
fhnowedce and belief" but he acknowledged that the
enormous profits Of the Union Dredging Company came
from an Investment of less than $1,000
THE hearing adjourned until Monday.
Judge Lawrence. in SuISHme Court, thamOefS, yes.
ferday refused 10 vacate - order for the arrest OF
Colonel John O'Byme, which was issued tecanse h"
refused 10 answer the questions put 10 him by the
('orporaton Counsel concerning the $4,000 paid 10
him by the Oyster Dealers Association.