New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-07
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE ATTACK ON COILS.
ONE CHARGE MADE BY THE coMMIS-
sIONERS OF ACCOUNTS.
COLONEL GARDINER GIVES OUT REPORT AC-
cusINo THE Ex-coMMIssIoNER OF MAKING
AN IMPRo PER CONTRACT AND FIX
ING" THE REouIsITIoSs
THEREFOR - GENERAL
COLLIS,S REPLY

'oLLiSs kEPbf
District-Attorney Gardiner had a conference
with the Mayor yesterday relative spec
reports Of the Commissioners Of Accounts on
the Department Of Public Works under Maye-
Strong's administration.
At 3 o'clock last evening Colonel Gardiner
said that he had made an cxamir a:ion OF the
papers submitted by the Commissioners OF -
counts. and had found the appended document.
which he determined to make public The Dis
trict-Attorney stated that the facts set forth in
this document disclosed criminal action. The
District-Attorney quoted from the email Cole
sections to bear out his statement. and said that
the matter would be placed in the hands Of the
Grand Jury at
This is the first document that have been
able to examine" said Colonel Gardiner. "others
will follow as fast can examine them.
shall act also In each case as soon as the papers
can be prepared
The paper charges that Commissioner Coils
personally ordered. without requisition or orders
the work Of repairing and laying the asphalt
at the intersection OF Boulevard. Tenth-ave
and Seventy -frst-st. without public letting or
inviting bids for which he had afterward. II ID
alleged signed fixed acquisitions.
GENERAL COLLIs's REPLY
When seen by Tribune reporter last night at
the Union League Club General Coils said that
he had read the statement OF the Commissioners
OF Accounts. II have known" he added smil-
ing mountains to labor and bring forth mice
like this before now. suppose there is whole
litter Of mice 10 follow before Colonel Roosevelt
is elected Governor As for the Seventy first
ST. and Tenth-ave. transaction, did the work
there to crafty two hundred and fifty thousand
people who ride bicycles, and investigation will
prove how scrupulousy careful have always
been to avoid even technical violation OF the
law"
"If my memory me- got over $1,000
worth Of work done for $3.50, and I have ex-
pected that the Barber Asphalt Company would
sue me for the balance. l have only to add
that II am TO continue to be Commissioner OF
Public Works until after the campaign is over
I think ought to be allowed a salary OF $4,000
a year"
THE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
Following is the document given out by Colo
mel Gardiner
New-York. September 30. 1898
Hon. Robert A. Van wyck' Mayor New-York
Dear Sir In June. 1895, Commissioner Charles
II. r. Coils personally ordered. without requi-
sition or orders. the work OF repairing and lay.
ing asphalt between and outside the tracks at
the intersection Of the Boulevard, Tenth-ave.
and Seventy9irst-st. without public letting or
without inviting bids. and for which work the
Barber Asphalt Company rendered bill dateA
June 90 1896. follows:
$50 10 square yard, OF asphalt surface a, $3.50 %
"" "s
Total sS-'-0- Va
Nothing further was done In this matter by
the Commissi ssioner Of Public Works TIL 1877,
when about November 8 ne requested his chief
clerk 20 cause TO be made out requistion for
Tha Henry nfmao
ordered the clerk to the Water Purveyor John
McManus to make cut the requistions, who
made out the following. viz:
June l. $50 square Yards ssso 60 60
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 81 255 ~
When these acquisitions were handed Commits
sioner Coils TO sign he returned them through
his chief clerk Dmse who In turn informed
Mr. McManus that the Commissioner would not
sign the one for over 81 600, and ordered him TO
change IL by splitting IL into two acquisitions.
When the chief clerk was asked II the dates
should be the same in the acquisitions into
whicn they were to be split up, Mr.: Dimse In
structed him 10 date one June and the others
June l. which resulted In Mr. McManus making
out the following acquisitions:
These were signed by Edward p North as
Water Purveyor. although he had long ceased to
be such.
This was again unsatisfactory 10 Commits
soner Colts. and he instructed Charles W. Bar
ney. the then Water Puryeyor, 10 have Mr. Me-
which he did as follows:
June 2Oo square yards at IS 50; ......,.. Ido 70
Total So 2o1 so
June a; q 81 Z. .aaaT, yard: yards at s sss 81
June 200 square yards at SO SO.......,,.,.. 31l ~
June G. 90 square yards at 50 so............ 1854 ~
Total %
Each OF these last four acquisitions are. as will
be noticed, at the rate of ~ 80 aithough tne
companys bill and each other set OF acquisitions
made out contained the item Of 4sO square yards
at 81 a square yard
Again. il will be noticed that these four requi-
sitions exclusive OF the one for $500 already
signed by Commissioner Coils, amount 10 ~.
ALI -, and including the $3.50 already signed
for. amount to S3377 -. exceeding the COM
pany's bill by 81. III 20.
The last-mentioaed four acquisitions. instead
OF being signed by Edward p North as water
Purveyor who held the position In 1870, wnen
the work was done. were signed on DecenDer
80 the last day but one OF the Strong admlnistra-
ton. by Charles w Barney as Water Purveyor,
who did not hold that position in 1896 the time
in question. ,..
IN the copy press book of the Department IN
December. 1891 at the time they were made:
while all OF these requlsitions were dated as Vi
We therefore present that these facts disclose
that II was apparent TO Commissioner Colhs
from June % 1895, the date OF the asphalt COM
pany's bill. that he had transgressed the Jaw. III
making a contract for over Sl,OS without pre-
yious advertising and receipt OF bid. and he ac-
cordingly hesltated to act. but after the early
part of November. 1897. he no doubt concluded
that his incumbency in office would soon term'.
nste and he then either invited or compelled
the aid and assistance Of his subordinates-Ed-
ward r. North, consulting engineer CharIes W.
Rarney Water Purveyor. and Henry Dimse,
chief clerk-together with those who aid the
auditing OF bills that he might speedily and be-
fore the coming end Of the year bring about the
audit and payment OF TINS iliegai ana improper
bill. ,,, A.,
This course. advised. was within the
condemnation OF Sections 100 and l66 OK the
Penal Code. Respectfully.
JOHN c. HERTLE.
EDWARD OWEN.
Commissioners OF Accounta