New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04

HOW scANNELL AND EIcKHoFF WORKED
TO COVER Up EVIL DoING-A SHOCK
ING STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Mayor Gilroy yesterday made public the CORE
spondence which resulted in the resignation Of
Fire Commissioner Henry Winthrop Gray. from
which It appears that John j. Scannell. who
escaped punishment for murder some years ago
by feigning insanity has been able TO drive out
Of the Fire Board Commissioner who proved
himself conscientious public servant and
whose only fault in the eyes Of Tammany Hall
was an honorable desire to protect the city from
the vultures who hover around the municipal
dspartrnents Of New-YOrk. In November last
Mr. Gray undertook to show that the department
was paying exorbitant prices for It's supplies
and succeeded in proving at meeting OF the
board that the Superintendent Of Supplies
Charles A. Soteldo. was paying more for various
articles than they could be purchased for In
open market. President John j. Scannell and
Commissioner Anthony Eickhoff. Mr. Grays col
leagues. were extremely angry at him for start
ing such line Of inquiry. and hurried to close
up the matter by passing resolutions whitewash-
ing the official implicated. To prevent Gray
from becoming too inqusitive regarding pur-
chases they removed him from the craftsmanship
of the Committee Supplies. and ordered the
clerks TO withhold information from him as to
quantities and the cost Of merchandise bought
for the Departments use.
THE PERNIc1oUs METHODS EXPLAINED
On January Commissioner Gray wrote to the
Mayor setting forth in detail the methods pursued
by the department; how coal. blue vitriol cast
ings oil and other supplies were bought at higher
prices than they were worth or could be had
from other dealers in the same lines; how guam
titles Of coal used and paid for without
being weighed; how horses worth only $3.50 each
cost the department $500; how promotions Of
foremen and assistant foremen were Improperly
made; how meetings Of the board Of which he
had no notice were held. and important business
rushed through, and kept from his knowledge
and how the ctys interests generally were neg
lected and its money was squandered upon favor
ties OF Scannell
Mavor Gilroy sent Commissioner Gray's letter
70 President Scannell for investigation and re-
port Messrs. Scannell and EickhOn replied on
January Is. denying all the charges, and telling
the Mayor that Commissioner Gray had his own
personal ends in view and not the ctys well
fare in making the charges. Mr.. Gray was
furnished with copy Of this report OF Scannen
and EicAhoff, and becoming convinced that the
Mayor had no intention Of standing by him IN
the fight he was making for honest administra-
ton ne resigned his Office. In his letter OF
resignation, which was dated January 81, he re-
ierateG 10 the Mayor all his former charges,
first reminding Mr.. Gilroy that at an interview,
with him. after the first letter Mr. Gray had
sent regarding the reckless Acknowledgement or
the department. he had expressed a desire to
resign forthwith. but that the Mayor had asked
him TO remain in office until the charges could
be Investigated.
sOTELDO's NEGLECT OF DUTY.
He boldly charged that Superintendent Charles
A. Soteldo. of the supplies bureau. was unfaith-
full to his duty. saying:
l ready to prove each statement made by me
as 70 the price articles purchased by him for the
department. and wish 10 state expressly that am
satisfied that what he has done shows that either
ne IL receiving commission on me supplies pur.
chased by him, or is allowing some other person 70
receive such commission. / only asked that
he should be removed and competent APP
pointed In his place. / had candidate for the
position. have / ever asked for the appointment
OF any person in the department since have been
a commissioner.
hoff that they offered by resolution adopted 10
let Mr.. Gray do the purchasing himself the lat
ter says:
The resolution requesting me to act as the pur-
chasing agent OF the department was clearly In
tended to place me In false position. As long as
soteldo. whom I had charged with gross irregular-
ties. was retained at the head Of the department
and was the one who would receive AL the sup,
that would purchase would be reported by him as
slonefs Was faree e' and the method adopted was
such as TO prevent my proving the facts ,hat had
i is conceded that The charge against sotedo was
taken up and dismissed at meeting at which
was not present and OF which had no notice.
Mr.. GRAY MAKES HIS POSITION CLEAR.
These are other extracts from Mr. Grays let
ter to the Mayor:
incurred the enmity of the chief Of the depart
ment by calling attention to the fact that the man
who acted as his driver was a foreman In the de-
gnently being raised BY the conmssioners to be
full foreman without having performed as am
Informed, one days duty as a fireman
In closing this communication wish 70 rcPea.
that the position in which placed 10 not OF my