New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
RTJMORS NOT VERIFIED.
Alleged INVESTIGATION OF COLLIss
AND WARNINGS DEPARTMENTS.
,o,,,,s,osz,R rERrIE SAYS IT APPEARS TO BE
PURELY rAKE'-THE FORMER COMMITS
s,oxrps NOT WORRIED BY THE REPORT
THE MAYORS CHARGES AGAINST
Ux-poI1cE COMMISSIONER
HAMILTON

oa,, .. the City Hall yesterday would not
-, -onort that Mayor Van Wyck's Commits
,o,ers ~ Accounts had about completed charges
., sensational character dealing with the man.
egamant OF the Department or Public Works and
- T,o,,,,uent Of Street Cleaning under the I'D
,.,-.sa.,on Of Mayor Strong. The report alleged
49,. ,ras,ieations Of the former Department Of
81, Works and Of tho Street Cleaning Depart
~, had been conducted with much secrecy, and
49,. ere commissioners Of Accounts had prepared
,o,eAs that large sums Of money wasted or
Isdsrected IN those departments When the at
,ant,on Of Mayor Van Wyck called 10 the
rsnort he would neither confirm deny g. but
he said: "lf any Commissioner OF Accounts or any
clerk in the employ OF the city should be guilty
o, giving out Information about the workings of
his Office he would render himself liable TO dis
n!ssal and would be instantly dismissed
Then you will not say whether the report that
the Commissioners of Accounts making an in
restisa,ion Of the Public Works and Street Clean
Ing departments is true or not?' the Mayor was
asked.
Il have made 1t rule not 70 talk on such mat
.ers and will adhere TO that rule" he answered
Then the Mayor was apparently struck with an
hea and. turning TO the reporters, he said: why
son't you go TO Mr. Hamilton and ask him about
MS using his position 10 influence the collection
pf a private debt from the Casino people? That
would be a good story. Go and ask Lederer anou'
It. Hamilton did the same thing for which Wits
vas indicted in Brooklyn" With that remark the
Mayor walked away.
II was alleged in newspaper yesterday that
Mr. Hamilton, as a contractor and builder. dld
considerable work on the Casino. and that soon
after ne was appointed Police Commissioner ne
presented to George w. Lederer a bill for Sl0'O.
which paid because the claim vas against
Canary * lederer and not against Nh LedeTeI
personally. This was the transaction the Mayor
Thomas L. Hamilton indignant last evening
when his attention was called 70 the MayOr acc
ration and said he considered II cowardly unInan-
y and unjust You can say for ne he 5 dssy
any TO produce evidence pointing TO any such
lawyer, JOB Hedges, about the matter He can
tel, YOU the facts o,s .,o. .,o ,,, ,v.s r-..
sented to him for collection by the frn OF John L.
Hamilton & Sons before January / He was sun a
Magistrate al that time, and had turned II over 70
Hector Thomas an aitorpsy ass0ca,ed WIN asn
Eaderer he latter had promised to pay the BIZ
q few days The few days had become weeks
:sed TO pay It on the instalment plan. After suit
had been brought. Morris Erlanger had appeared
that the case would be vigorously prosecuted he
had asked 70 have the suit rest Mr. Hedges said
I; Ham nis The, The senior member Of the Arm Mr.
Or esSrss Isssrs@ ssssssslas Sia.i%s .sySs
cSsS dse; S9wao o o. na town & night
and e9d not Zee seen eorse Mcfnn a his part
ner said however that he knew all about the
McLea A. Bernard the attorney S'' and Ts several raj
others Mr.. Mcclellan when asked about the mat
Ter turned TO Mr.. Bernard and said 10 him, You'd
peter tell about this
No replied Mr.. Bernard; you tell about IT. and
ri correct you when you make any errors
mounting 10 a little over, 1900 The work had
zen d on for Canary Lederer Las; March
summons had been served on him. In the latter
T Of A 4n5a M 1 ans aad Of gone e. Inc a %
,ther year. He had been sent the Police Com
Mission and the matter had been referred to Com,
Missioner Hamilton had would
ent to see Commssloner Hamilton. MI Hamilton
n a conversation with Bernard had admitted that
he did not Ike Lederer. and threatened to close the
Casino by not issuing license. Mr.. Bernard had
had another interview with Commissioner Hamilton
On May Q, and then an agreement had been drawn
up that Lederer should pay the BILL with So costs.
rhe understanding had been that in conslderatlon
be issued. Mcclellan further said that Mr.. Lederer
:d not think he was personally responsible for the
John c. Hertle one Of the Commissioners OF
Accounts, said 70 Tribune Teport.er: The Com
departments Of the city government but make
bur reports 20 the Mayor, and no information 10
the results Of our investsations can get 70 the
newspapers except through the Mayor The report
concerning the Department Of Public Works and
ne Department Of Street Cleaning could not have
been based upon any Information coming from
.he Commissioners OF Accounts and appears to be
General G H. T. Coils. the former Commissioner
morning. but his said he concerned
about the report Of an Investigation. Colonel
the afternoon. said an investigation would show
:hat the affairs Of the Department Of Street Clean
vas accounted for when was in office" he said,
"and have no fear Of an inyestigation."
The Commissioners OF, Accounts. yesterday gave
Sessions clean bill stating -hat Mr.. Carroll
collected soCS3 during the last year. and turned
Ill the money over TO the City Chamberlain