New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-10
PARK MANAGEMENT CENSURED.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF AC-
COUNTS SENT TO MAYOR GRANT.

TIE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF AC-
COUNTS SENT TO MAYOR GRANT.
Commissioners Daily and wahle,. Of the Bureau Of
Accounts yesterday sent their report OF their nvesti
CATION into the Of Central Park to Mayor
Grant. The Investigation began on March 10 and
ended April 10. Sxty-one witnesses were examined
great part OF the inquiry taken up with ex-
aiming the Official conduct Of Samuel Parsons jr
superintendent Of Parks william A. COnklin, director
OF the menagerie; George C. woolson experimenting
gardener Calvert yaux landscape gardener, and Will
lam Van Valkenburg, paymaster and property clerk
Conkun and wOoson resigned before the inquiry closed
The report Is BY no chary Of criticism, the Park
Commissioners being the first victims. The Commits
sloncrs Of Accounts April 10 sent special report
to Park Board and recommended tho dismissal OF
the landscape gardener Mr.. vaux, for incompeency.
but the recommendation has been disregarded. The
Accounts Commissioners say that II this may be taken
example, tho recommendations herein contained
will receive slight consideration from the Park Com
mssioncrs. at whose instance, be It remembered the
Investigation was begun
EX-Dlrector Conkin was charged with gross misman-
agrinent Of the menagere. The report susains the
allegations that he rented ont animals put on exhibi
ton In the Park allowed animals belonging TO HIS wife
to be maintained and cared for in the Park at the
clty's expense allowed the menagcre to be used as
resting station for animals shipped TO this country by
animal dealers and used his official place 30 advance
his wlfc,s trade In animals.
Mr.. Van valkenburg's way OF doing business. the
Commissioners assert "was perhaps the most garing
example Of Ignorance on the part of head OF the
bureau that exists In the city Of New-fork. He Is
utterly ignorant Of the correctness Of the payrolls
and OF the manner Of making them up, and the sus-
picon cannot be avoided that Mr. Van Nalkenburg did
not desire to act rs a check upon Mr. Conkin.' 1--WE
charge Mr.. Van valkenburg7 the report adds. with
mutilaton OF the records OF the office; with these
mutations the letter books are useless. We also
charge that false entries made In the account
books Of his Office The arithmetic of this office is AZ
remarkable as 1t is lamentable. lie should be dis
missed from the service. We charge him with no
dishonesty but he Is grossly careless and incompetent
OF George c. WoOson, the exsupetntendng gar
dcner the report SAYS: "WOOlson did not appear Dc
fore u.s. and held himself above Jurisdiction This
report has been withheld In the hope shat he might
be found and brought before to give testimony
. WOolsOn defraulied the city regularly
The main criticism which the Commissioners make
mon superintendent Parsons is that he conducts his
work upon the laisscz falre principle Of economy
We desire to say that we have been unable to find
ANYTHING from which II would be- fair to charge Mr..
Parsons with direct dishonesty. but We certainly do
nnd circumstances which are not compatible with
fair administration OF his Office. lie is an ablo man.
but we think that much OF his good work VIII be
hampered by the suspicion that must creep up that
In the distribution OF patronage he gives too much
consideration 70 Ids immediate relatives
The report will be referred by the Mayor TO the
Park CDmmissi) ners for their information and
guidance.
superintendent Parsons asked yesterday n he
had ANYTHING to say about the report In answer he
referred 10 the assertion thab he had paid to Parsons
4 sons Company higher prices for plants and trees
thnn we're bid by other firms. 1T Is Impossible 70
phnis purchased were produced. one plant three
beet Meh might be worth considerably more than
another three feet hlsh because Of superior symmetry
In, Illness and vigor advise buying buying the best
stock In all cases, far my Information goes II
have advised the purchase OF pants VI sonc eas,S
az Parsons Il sons Company. az prices aPparently
higher Than offered by some other firm. II has been
lcran>, OF the foregoing reasons. nave wnci lsktu
about them Invariably advised the purchase OF Plants
on their merits Mr.. Parsons declined 10 speak
Mr. Van yakenbnrgh seen NJ the Central PnrK
,r.rnai and no aid 81 do not wish to make any
statement about this matter until l have eAainineo
the charges In dcta'