The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-20
TURNEDoUTBYVAN WICK.
NEW MEN IN PLACE OF EAST RIVER
BRIDGE OOM MIsSIoNERS.

TIE Ola Commission Renewed BY the Mayer,
who. In DoinE 80, says SHARP Things About
Reform Lawyrru-How snien, N. wales
was Lured from His Chair BY Mr.. Boyle.
Acting under the power OF removal provision
OF tho charter, Mayor Van wyck yesterday dis
missed the six Commissioners Of the now East
River Bridge appointed by Mayor Strong OF New
York ana Mayor Schieren OF Brooklyn, and
filled their places with mon selected by himself.
Tho men removed from office are Andrew ID.
Baird. Presidents; James A. Sporty and Henry
Batterman of Brooklyn. and Richard Deeves, #. |
b. Thurber and Salem II. Wales OF Manhattan.
Their successors arc Lewis Nixon, Smith
Lane, James w. Boyle Of Manhattan, and julian
D. Fairchild. John w. Weber and Thomas $.
Moore OF Brooklyn. !
The now Commissioners went to the Mayors J.
Office early yesterday morning and took tho
oath Of office. After they had done this Mayor !
Van Wyck made public n report on the business
Of the old Commissioners, which had boon scnt
to him on Tuesday by Commissioner OF Ac-
counts Hortle and Owen. The report Gov.
cred the accounts OF the Commissioners
from their appointment in June, 1895, to
Dec. 81. 1897. and Mayor Van wyck said that
in 1t he found abundant justification for the
removal Of the old commission. The report
showed that the Commissioner had paid to
William G. Choate and Henry G. NJ. Ingraham
S45, 800 for legal services. and to Frank ID.
Pavey SIS, 263 for similar services. Mayor Van
wyck held tho accountants report before him
and commented on it and the removed Commits.
sioners in these words:
~ have been informed by engineers and
bridge builders that II the commission had per.
formed its duties in tho way they should have
done this bridge would DO nearing completion
now. At the rate OF progress which they were
making it would take ten years to complete the
structure. The bridge should have boon fin
ished within n year or two at the outside. In
looking over this report more thoroughly, l find
that certain eminent reform lawyers have been
in receipt of large foes from the city for acting
as counsel to the commission. These lawyers
are William G. Choate ana Henry c. NJ. Ingra-
lam. In all. they have received about $45, 900.
Mr.. Choate was one of the commissioners In the
proceedings for the widening of Elm street.
The Commissioners have just received an award
of $50, 900 each as extra compensation for scr
vices in that matter. In both proceedings Mr..
Choate will receive about $57, 900 from the city.
~ wish to say that IL tho new Commissioners
whom I have named allow any such exorbitant
fees for legal services they will be removed
from Office in an instant"
The Mayor paused for a moment. Then he
said:
ut certainly has paid some men to be reform.
ers."
The report of the Commissioners of Accounts
shows that the Bridge Commissioners have
entered into contracts aggregating $2,074, 5S1.
or the 81. O74. $50 AUTHORIZED by New York and
| Brooklyn. the commission had a balance on hand
of 500, 1856 on Dec. 81. their expenses during
1897 having been 800 .367. The balance OF tho
money was spent in 1895 and 1896, and much of
1t went for sites for the bridge towers. Thee Com
missioners OF Accounts reported that bills, were
not kept in duplicate, and that engineers sup
count. They several changes in
tho bookkeeping of the commission.
AS soon as the new commissioners received
the COMMISSIONS office in the Emigrant Indus.
trial Savings Bank building on amh street
dent, Mr.. Boyle vice: President, Mr.. Lane secre-
tary. and Mr.. Fairchild Treasurer. They ad-
journed until l o'clock. when n stated meeting
Vicc-Presidcnt Boyle told Mayor Van Wyck
scessors. who at that time didn't know they had
been removed, had intended to award q SOP,
new Commissioner went to their Office again.
n Mr.; nI9ylec 6 6sins 1Te sSa, saism y II. A Wnias Of f tRe
% Sr I Boyle H and Nj. Laid Vailed toward him.
of the MPi c %ptss. ioaoT CoHns 81 t", ofice." said Mr..
Mr.: Wales rose and stepped Onward to shake
Boyle sat down in it. He raped sharply on the
"fn The absence of the President Of the East
River Bridge Commissioners. Mr.. Nixon. l now
take formal possession OF this Office. we are In
Mr.. Wales assured Mr.. Boyle that he would
not make any attempt TO regain the chair.
Mr.. Baird came IN a few moments later. ana
was followed by other members of the old
board. Tho notices Of their removal were
served on them by Mayors Messenger Hather-
and left the room. Mr.. Sperry said that he
knew all the Brooklyn men on the new com
mission. and. that they were excellent men for
the place. None of the old commissioners qucs-
toned Mayor Van Wyck's power to remove
them. They SAID they had expected to be re-
moved, but that they were somewhat surprised
Mt the method in which they were notified.
had not intended to let II 800, 600 contract this
month.
In spite of the absence or any resistance on
tho part of the old Commissioners, IL was said
last evening that their removal might be re-
viewed in the courts.
The new Commissioners held n short meeting
and adjourned until this afternoon.
Mr.. Nixon, President of the new board, Is n
wcll-known ship builder, and is an cN.engineer
and constructor in the unitcd States Navy. he
ran for Alderman in the Twcnty-hfth district
last fall. Mr.. Boyle is the Tainmnny Hall leader
in the Seventh Assembly district. and was said
to be out OF favor with the organization Leaders
Is the President of the Kings County Trust Com.
pany. Mr.. Moore ia n lawyer. lie ran for Judge
of the Supreme Court in 1895. Mr.. Weber Is IL
brewer. The Commissioners receive $4,000 n
year.
intended to remove the commissioners or the
Shore Driveway. which is now being built along
the Narrows from Thirty.ninth street, Brook
lyn, to Fort Hamilton.
DINNER ON THE CONTINUOUS PLAN.