The evening world., 1894-04-06
ESsE he Z CITY.
Dock Board Charter Juggled
So as TO Permit Gross
Extravaganza.
REFORM BILL NOW OPPOSED.
Tammany Knows a Good Thing
and Protects Its Favorites
and Itself
TWO QUEER INTERPRETATIONS.
Made a Bad Law Out of a Good
One and Made a Great Depart
ment a Place for Iobbery.
TWO QUEER INTERPRETATIONS.

1t Is to some persons a mystery why
public officials like the Dock Commis-
%sioners, who are supposed to represent,
and guard the public interests, should be
opposed to such an honest measure as
the Lawson bill to compel the Doc!: De
partnlent to let ali work for more thar
$3.50 by contract.
The bill puts a check on possible fraud
and collision to rob the city, and, If
passed. as has been shown through
The Evening World" by persons quail
fled TO speak, will save the taxpayers
millions of dollars.
THE Evening Worlds authorities
have sho-Sn, ard their statements are
rarefuted, that the Dock Department
would save the people from 80 to 40 per
cent. by inviting competition and award
!nG the contracts for the work to be
done under their direction to the low
&c bidders. The Dock Department
90. nls $1,000, 900 every year and proposes
(" build new piers at an estimated cost
C $4,000, 600 to $50, 900, 600. BY applying
u simple rule of arithmetic, it will be
seen that If the Lawson bill becomes Il
law the millions of the peoples mony
which now go to favorite contractors
and to swell private bank accounts, will
be saved to the city.
All important dock work was original
]" done by contract under the provisions
of the Consolidation act. In 1887, how
ever, the schemers had the charter so
amended as to make possible TIE present
system of favoritism and extravaganza.
The little joker which was insert
ed will be found In the bin
printed below. 1t is made up of
the words in brackets, and which
the Legislature is now asked to strike
out. In other words, the Lawson bill, if
enacted into a law, will restore the Law
as 1t was prior to 1891, and under which
the contract system existed. The Law
son bill reads
An act TO amend section IA of chapter ilo %
ne Laws OF 1852, entitled FAN act to consolidate
laws affecting public interests of the city of New
York as amended by chapter 5G7 Of the Laws oi
1917 relating to the department Of Docks:
The people OF tho State of New York. represent
ed In the Senate an! Assembly, do enact as
follows:
Section IA. Construction of Wharf Structures,
&C, In executing the Plan or plans mentioned In
fcction 72, the Department Of Docks shGl! pro-
coed, according to said plan or plans, 10 lay out,
establish and construct wharves, piers, bulkheGds,
basins. docks or slips in the territory or district
embraced In such plan or plans, md in 'ard upon
or about the property owned by the Mayor. Alder
men and ComInonalty OF the tity Of New York,
without Interfering with the property or rights
~ any other persons except in 50 FAR as may be
necessary to insure the safety and stability Of
tne wharves, piers, bu!kheadS, basins, Or slips
30 to be constructed, And said Department may
commence and carry on such construction in see
tions OF said TERRITORY or district. from time to
time, SO as not to seriously ncommoIe the com
merce Of said city.
The ypnrL 81 .,tl 49, .m,k