New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-20
WORSE AT EVERY STEP.
BRIBERY AND THEFT FULLY PROVED.


cc-ooration Counsel are rapidly creating the
belief that if the city's revenues were hon,'US
collected and turned into the treasury anu i.o
affairs administered with the prudence anu SN'i
due to business matters, the tax-ra'e mIsnV oe IT,
duced much nearer zero than l.So ioS'eru's
examination included an eNpIana'ois ''"O'H'no
hr nj, Commissioner j. Sergeant Cram as TO
what reforms are necessary Ill ,ne uel'i 'n'',''
and mass of testimony which shows tnat IL s'dhos
In yrcat need Of more drastic ana lar-reachihs
.srr.s than any he suggested. Mr.. Cram, who
.nn-ared of his own motion. said that the present
,nycstipation had been begun, he believed. at
his own request. Regarding the appointment of
Charles III. Thompson, son of the late Dockmaster
THOMPSON as assistant dockmaster, Mr. Cram said
that he acquiesced in it a temporary eXpedient.
Recent information satisfied him that it was
mistake, however, as the man seemed incompe-
tent" In many reforms, he said, he had met
the opposition of his associates in the Board.
The subject of top" wharfage was called to
Mr. Grams attention, and he admitted that no
order had been given the dochmasters by the Board
TO collect it. He said he had sought to have GER
tain dockmasters removed in whom he had no con-
fdence but had only succeeded in having some
Of them transferred
Wasn't Secretary Kembles statement that
there was no active competition in buying sup
plies nearly true ?" asked Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Cram twisted around good deal before he
replied that he didn't think it was, but afterward
modified his answer practically to admit the fact
He character riZed Mr.. Kemble's statement that
when supplies were wanted Engineer-in-Chief
Greene went to the chief clerk and suggested names
of firms TO obtain them from as absolutely untrue
but on further reflection and after more questions
from Mr. Clark, admitted that he didn't know
anything about it.
Is it true" asked the Corporation Counsel
that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is allowed
TO have bulkhead. under a resolution OF the
Board, for 81 81 week ?"
No." the reply. AT least MIR. Cram
added, no such resolution passed in my
time
Whose duty is it, Commissioner, 10 examine
the doclxmasters' accounts ?" asked
The treasurer's," was the reply. The treasurer
of the Board is Dock Commissioners Matthew'S
Mr. Cram said that Mr.. Matthews was assisted
in the duty by young Mr. Matthews, his son and
clerk whom the Board paid g., 600 year, but. be-
ing closely pressed by Mr.. Clark MIR. Cram re-
luctantly said that the time young Mr. Matthews
spent at the department would not exceed two or
three days in a week After a long series of ques-
tions which the Corporation Counsel PUT smilinely
to Mr.. Cram, it was ascertained that Commits
soner Matthews turned the duty of examining
these accounts over to his sen, who turned them
over TO his fathers messenger" Further eXamlna-
tion developed the additional fact thtt there was
another assistant TO assist young MIR. Matthews
The latter, Mr.. Cram thought, was " not very
efficient young man.
Is it the duty of anybody to see that the dock
masters do their duty?" asked Mr.. Clark. Mr.
Gram compelled 10 say that no system eX-
listed for this purpose.
Regarding the leasing of piers and other prvi
leges at the pleasure of the Board" Mr.. Cram
was against the plan. SeVen-eighths of the North
River piers were leased by resolution Of the
Board" Mr Cram said and not by public letting.
The only steamship pier leased by the latter
method was the that Mr.. Huntington paid
$4,000 a year for. This showed the advantage
OF public letting.
Mr. Clark next took the Commissioner through
q long list of docks, piers and bul1heads, the
result being admission at every step that the
city was losing from 20 TO 20 per cent of its
revenues along the water front. Mr.. Cram said
there was combination" in this city in dredging
and trusts" in almost everything the department
had TO buy.
Did you ever hear of the president of the
Board sending two gentlemen whose bids were
exactly alike out into the hall 10 settle their
difficulties ?" asked Mr.. Clark.
Alr Cram had not heard of the circumstance,
he said, but hints had reached him that certain
firms were getting contracts alternatoiy.F Mr..
Clark took the names of the firms, and Will plsh
his inquiry " their direction.
Who asked Mr.. Clark, is responsible for
the present condition of your department."
Mr.. Cram hesitat.d moment, and then said
"My predecessors in office, suppose
After recess Simon ID. Phelps, who said that ne
was lawyer by profession and the counsel OF the
Glen Cove Starch Manufacturing Company, at No.
29s South-st re lated the difficulties which beset
Duryea Brothers the companys other name in
getting dock facilities They secured 5SS feet
above Futy-secOnd-st. for bulkhead. General
Duryea, with the witness, called Engineer
Greene at the Dock Department, and asked if they
bought the property if there would be any diff
Guilty IN obtaining a permit to erect platforms
shedding and other improvements. Mr. Greene
assured them, after consulting with the Dock Com
missloners, that the permit would be granted
When 1t was applied for, however it was refused,
the excuse oelng that the Board had Just found
out that the practice Of issuing permits was ILLEGAL
although 1t had been the custom for fourteen or
fifteen years. The firm then obtained an act Of
the Legislature empowering the Dock Commits
Soners 10 grant the desired permit Then Mr.
Phelps SAID, fresh application was made but
still the Dock Commissioners refused and bo,a
continued 10 refuse to the present time
"Why?' asked the Corporation Counsel
We always went in at the front door-never ~
the back door, the answer
Have you ever received any suggestions as n
how you might get the permit? ?' Mr.. Clark asked
At least Dozen replied Mr.. Phelps
What suggested? p was the next question
Put up little money We have not put up
any money and we have got no permit said Mr.
Phelps.
Inc witness. being questioned by Mr. Clark.
men'ionea many piers and bulkheads along the
Laso h'ef which were leased far below their
actual rental value.
n rsInOad company" he said, leases 500
,ees rs a. ssT1I'egSO@eryst ~ eS for $500 am willing
/" sno sIo,oYV Tor 200 feet there"
lhdt WOulQ make fnr h. ~