New-York tribune., 1897-01-31
VETGHNASTER la GRANGE OUT.
THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS ACCEPT HIS
RESIGNATION-A STATEMENT FROM
HIS BROTHER.

The Fire Commissioners held a meeting IN execu-
tive session yesterday at Fire Headquarters TO
consider the charges against Weghmaster LOUIS a.
La Grange. The session lasted about ffteen MIN
utes when President Sheffield announced tnat MT
La Grange had sent in his resignation, and 1t was
accepted soon as presented. 1t was subsequently
learned that the weighmasters resignation mad
been in the hands Of Commissioner La Grange, his
brother since December "a last
The charges against Mr.. La Grange were made
by the Commissioners OF Accounts. who accused MIN
Of negligence in the weighing OF coal whicn was
/ furnished to the Department by George Winant q
Sons, OF No. 35 Sixth-ave.
Mr. La Grange made statement TO the Commits
soners before they went into executive session. In
which he swore that he had never knowingly given
to Winant any other person a signed certincate
in advance of the delivery for which 1t called.
Mr. La Grange said that Commissioner Terry
insisted that he should specify the days and hours
that particular loads were sent to particular houses
"Out Of so many times and places" said he. II
could not do II. No man could have done IT, and
some of the newspapers have converted this i'm
possibility into an admission by me that the coal
was not weighed under a employe OF the Fire De-
partment AS regards weighing whenever found
coal needed in several houses the same day, all
the way from Old Slip to beyond the Harlem River.
| have asked the purchasing agent TO have some
one sent from the Department to weigh at some
place or places while was engaged at others"
Just before the executive session began Commits
sioner La Grange made the following statement
Being personally responsible for the employment
election after the Mayor had kindly advised that
he was liable to be overtaken by conditions which
would unfit him for the performance of his duties.
| owe TO the members OF this Board and to the
Mayor the fullest acknowledgment of error and ex-
preston Of regret that can be made. thought
knew the conditions and facts of the case better
than The Mayor did dsrsgardea @ot the , friendly
alone to blame, and am very sorry.
For obvious reasons wanted capable, brave,
my brother to be such a I did know and
refused to believe that such qualities could be OBJ
come and did come upon him. The evidence does
not show on his part method or motion for IN
territorial wrongdoing But his neglect OF duty
made it possible for wrong to be done His lapse
from Intelligent responsibility, was short. and the
results were fortunately small. but the consequent
humiliation and regret are infinite. The measure of
Is G Just ond add tne o 1t mu55 b of
the rooms OF the Commissioners of Accounts to re-
port pc IN oS s ssed as a' %
weigh ma sters not related to any Commissioner.
shosa % sh t"e
perhaps to remain silent. and be thankful that the
fer more
But it would not be the fault OF the welghmaster
of any one in this Department If this useful
incident should lead citizen who pays taxes
to inquire how long the Commissioners Of Accounts
have been at the Fire Department. and at what
cost and with what other results other than this
report The Commissioners of Accounts left unre
ported if not undiscovered evidence OF wrong uofe
here under former administrations when their aid
was solicited and expected In a recent trial In view
OF what they did not report then, the report that
they have made carries an irresistible sugges-
ton OF the mountain laboring to bring forth a
mouse "the great ocean. by a tempest tossed,
to watt feather TO drown fly"
But in this taxpayers have one cause for
American cheerfulness under official imposition. IL
Il exists. They may be thankful that the Commits
sioners OF Accounts have through this opportunity
given patient public even so small reason why |
1t should continue TO exist
Ia had finished the Com ]
mssoners went into executive session They re- |
NAMED in conference about an hour. and then |
President Sheffield announced that Weighmaster La
Oranges resignation had been asked for received
and accepted by the Board. Commissioner La |
Grange subsequently stated tnat he had had his |
brothers resignation In his possession since De- |
rember a. General La Grange said that his |
brother was simply negligent In the discharge OF |
mis- duties and that he was eNoneratcd from all |
,harges of colusion by the other Commissioners.