New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-21

Hin had used threatening language toward mm' All
the explanation that Mr.. Shanahan ever made OF MS
resignation was that he desired TO go into private
buslness He was receiving superintendent OF
Public Works the large salary OF $4,000 year ne
had held his ONCE with contentment for six years
yet suddenly he resigned it, and retired ron .no
public gaze. Why did he do soH He wss one OF inc
leading Cleveland men Of the state, and was noiu'
ing fort" IL were, Of patronage, unul hins 0ro'o
the First came again.
As for Ashe no sooner did Edward Hammer inc NC"
superintendent Of Public Works. come into once ulan
Mr. Ashe surrendered his place TO some one eise' anu
retired to his homo in the Mohawk valley bu' ho
had political pull with Controller Wemple ana therc
fore the latter appointed him clerk OF sing eng
Mr. Ashe viii DO of the first witnesses Wien V'0
senate Canal Committee gets to work at its invesuga
ton. IN =,
Then there is Controller wemple- He also VIII DC
a good witness Mention was MADE IN "usy
tribune Of the canal contract which Mr.. wemples
Arm at Fultonvslle the firm Of William b. WehPies
Sons had few years ago to supply the s'aVe WIN
motors N move canal locks The newspapers Of 1853
also made some slight illusions to this subject winch
rather embarrassed Mr.. Wemple when he sought a
denomination at the hands OF the Democratic oVa'o
Convention OF late years Democratic State onicers
have received a denomination for second tern as
matter of course and have not had to suffer oppos-
tlon But in this case even Tammany Hall oplec'ou
to Mr.. wemple and opposed his renominaton! hd"aIu
Mahar of Albany, was the opposing canulua'o. NJ.
Wemple was nevertheless nominated, DuC tfe o4i'0O "
the disclosures which had been made in relation 10
the canal contract of his firm was clearly SHOWN at
are nolls that November While Frank Rice. the Dem
crtsc candidate for secretary of state had pluratS
NJ % 5o7 the plurality Of Mr.. Wemple was OILY
1I,190. .,,.. xou,r,o,s
when the charges concerning Controller Wempies
firm were first printed he furnished an explanation
(which did not explain" in dispatch when was sen"
tn 9Tbe New-York World HsFe is the dspatch'
Albany Nov 1.-Controler Wemple to-day answered.
those who charged him with being interes'eu III '''
tracts as follows - .,.,oo.orv and
nnroAtabe work Of pursuing all the campaign eanaus
that are started by partisan newspapers ior e &C.
Of injuring myself and the Democratic pNI9 A. = -
canvass. The stories published 70 the ehe'' % -.
been interested In any canal contracts for state WORK.
directly or indirectly, during my term as Oon'oT, VI
that have violated any law in respect to sueh contrasts
or work are wholly false. am MEMBER Oh 'no UiN
49, ern n, William b. Wemple's Sons, Of FultonVille'
that has furnished some bills Of machinery TO the linton
Bridge Company. That company hao rev Vo'T 80
with the State Superintendent OF Pubic "orks W 49,.
some bridges The Hilton Bridge Company bought ue
machinery from nv firm were able 10 lursh
them what they wanted cheaper and better ohah .hey
could obtain IL elsewhere the same as we sell 10 any oi
parties did not have any contract WIN 1ne So w.
"a oro M. IN any way Interested in the contract FOR
such work The Hilton Bridge Company personally pau
for what they bought. the same as any other huluu
The allegations that have violated the law In any
respect are wholly well as absurd Inc priuse
entraets I'm question for bridges Rochester and IN rev
other places not canal work, nor was he VOTE o"
with moneys canal fund and the Canal BOARD anu
the Controller nothing do with the suOlec' Oh MAKING
the plans doing the work or eNpenuns e
MONEYS for such purposes.
The statute OF 1913 which It falsely declared have
disregarded passed when all canal contract "or w
Done by the Board Commissioners That board "a
abolished by constitutional amendment in 1875 ana III
their authority and responsibility in respect to the "ofk Oh
the canals put in the hands Of the superintendent
Public Works whose appointment then provided for IN
the Constitution All the bridge work in question was
done under special laws in each case passed by the Lg
ture and which made appropriation for the same ana e
all authorized TO be done solely chuer inc super
vision OF Superintendent Of Public Parks VINO alone was
enowe.d 70 make all contracts eXpend the moneys
under hem Neither the Canal Board the Controller
lad anything do with making or approving such contracts
or ulsns or doing the expanding the money.
Now 1 repeat In positive terms that all this partisan
newspaper talk respect to and my official action Is
entirely untrue. No one can trutmuly say haV nave
since assuming the Controller, been n any way
whatever party interested In any sVaVe cohac' i
canal or other work Of the State"
This IS highly interesting dispatch, especially so
since Controller wemple says owe did not have any
contract with the State, and were not in any way in
tcrested in the contract for such work" But, then
what could people think when they read in the an
nuaI report of the superintendent of Public Works for
1885, regarding the contracts which he had made IN
1885, the following: ~
For placing machinery In LOCKS ~ rs 30 o. % anu W
Erie Canal, July 81, 1888
A. NJ Ross & Co.. Iion, $500
William b wemple's Sons Fultonvle $4,000
The Tribune printed this extract from the report OF
the superintendent of Public Works, and then Con
troer Wemple produced another defence, which didn't
xactlv iiben even with his statement that the firm of
william p Wemple g. Sons did not have any contract
with the State and were not in any way interested in
the contracts for such work" This second defence read
as follows:
The charges published this late date in the cam
paion that have been interested in the canal contracts
foy State work. directly indirectly during my term as
o,troer or that have violated any law In respect to
any such contracts work. wholly false The only
possible basis such charge is the fact that the con-
tract for acng machinery in six locks Of the Erie canal
was awarded by the Superintendent OF Pubic WORKS 70
the firm of William B. Wempes Sons, as the lowest
bidder. benefits Of this contract had no part
whatever. directly OF indirectly.
Previous 10 my election in 1887 as Controller the
firm had furnished materials for State work In 1888 the
firm also put bid for furnishing machinery In certain
locks The bids for this work were as follows: A NJ
Ross Co. s. $780, William B. wemple's Sons, $4,000.
The Superintendent OF Public Works was compelled by
Statute to accept the lowest bid
In conformity both the letter and spirit OF the law
give up all interest would have had In that contract
as the following document filed at the time Will show:
Il hereby asgn and release to Nicholas Wemple and
William Wempe all my interest and cdm which have
or may have had in and proposal and contract for
work material for the furnishing Of machinery for the
locks the Erie Canal entered into with the Superntend'
ent Of Public by them and and dated about
the 18th day August 1888 and have received nothing
upon or by thereof and have had substantial in
terest proceeds thereof consent that
they and execute the upon their
own responsibility and their expense and for their
personal benefit, without making any consideration
therefor
"In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Goth day of September, 1888.
EDWARD WEMPLE.
"In presence OF GEORGE II. BIRCHALL."
do not how any honest could have done more
This is the only possible basis for the charges and the
have stated them. VIII satisfy any fair mind
The firm OF Wenple's Sons has furnished machinery
TO many purchasers others, TO the Hilton Bridge
Company. The Hilton Bridge Company has built some
bridges for tie state but the state has had part what
ever in the transactions between the firm Of William Il.
Wempe's Sons and the Hilton Bridge Company, and the
firm Of William B. wempes Sons has had part what
in the transactions between the Hilton Bridge
pany and the State. The Hilton Company per.
sonaliy paid Wemples Sons for what they bought