New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-19
NOT SALE ESCAPES ChOkEh.
PRESIDENT RYAN, OF THE AQUEDUCI
BOARD. SENDS ALL HIS THERE

ID,
John J. Ryan Is sworn
Mr. Moss-You are President OF the Aqueduct
Commission. you? A.-Yes, sir 49, "a .
O-And the Aqueduct Commission have had to
of End AN auction sale announced for April 20.
April q and April g. 1899 to occur at Cro'oh ans,
o."Do You remember that auction? Ayes =
O-Who was your auctioneer? A,-Peter r.
o. notice in the terms of sale the purchasers ser.
shonld nav he auctloneers fees. they paid
by the city? A.-They were paid out OF the returns
from the sale Ia.
Q.-And to that extent they come out of the city.
don't they? A.-No sir. .
Q.-They depete the amount OF the sales A
Off they were not paid out of the returns Of
c cis Would get so much more? Asome provision
would have to be made for the auctioneer ...
the auctioneer the city has to- does it not? Al
think that has been the rule y, this sale isn't #?
A-That has been the case in relation to all sales
9And this sale? Ahs and. and ther sales Sir
o-You have already told US about the other
OFF the compensation OF the auctioneer
not taken out OF the proceeds OF sale the city
would have so much more money wouldn't 1t? A.
1t does appear that way.
Q-Yes that is clear enough? Ayes.
CHARGES NOT WATCHED CLOSELY.
Q-what contract did you have with Peter F.
Meyer Co. about their charges? A.-Wel, now.
cannot figure It out about those charges. What
ever the charges are. II is matter that has been
customary with the Aqueduct Commissioners, and
nothing has been changed from the custom that
has been followed by the Commissioners for years
OIL am asking you what the arrangement was!
tionecr got 10 per cent; that is my best memory
Q.-How did you come to select Peter r. Meyer
Co the A A. hHsd had fsen TG
sioners before was Commissioner -, ,..
Q.-And you continued them-is that the only
A
Q.-What was the other reason? A-Another
high standing that is another reason and they do
equally good work. If not better
Odd not the fact that Mr.. Croker was the
the auction sales there? Al told you before that
Mr.. Meyer was employed by the Aqueduct Com
Q-But am talking about you Didn't that
have something 10 do with your selecting him? A
That might have something TO do with Il; but |
followed along in the course laid out. And would
like you to understand IT, that is all ..,.,. 81,
do The fact that the leader OF your organization
was partner in the concern would not cause you
TO throw the concern out. would ~ Ar the
was not one Of standing sr ana
would influence my mind. But II 1t was an equally
good one with others. l think they would get the
benefit OF the doubt from me.
Q-That is just the dea and am glad you ex-
press It so clearly and so plainly. Were there other
auction sales under your Department besides that
one? A.-There have been. yes sir.
Q-Since you have been Commissioner? Ayes,
Q-And all of those auction sales have gone to
Peter F. Meyer Co? Ayes. sir.
ON round numbers how much compensation
did you pay Peter +. Meyer & Co for this sale Of
April 90 q and %? Al don't know. We have
yet had returns from that sale. The records will
show.
GOOD OLD CUSTOM-FOR CROKER.
Mr. Hofman--What has been the custom OF the
Department with relation TO auctions on behalf Of
the city? A.-Whatever has been followed in
spect to Peter F. Meyer & Co. has always been the
custom. / am not quite clear as 10 the figures
Q-How about the fee, who paid the fee? A
The custom that now prevails has been the custom
always with the Aqueduct Commissioners with the
auctioneer's fees, that the auctioneers fees are
paid out Of the aggregate amount.
Q.-That the sale realized? Ayes, sir
Mr. O'Sulltvan-l Just want to ask a question
the same line. The usages in relation to the
ton sales are such obtained during Mr.. Srong's
administration and previous administrations? A
Yes. sir. precisely.
Q.-You have not changed In that particular? A.
Not any | might state something to make
II little more clear. The percentages might APP
pear to be large. IL may be taken into considera-
ton that the auctioneer has to 90 up into West
where these sales are, he has quite number OF
miles to go, and he may have to remain over night
and there Is considerable expense in respect to
those sales and that might account partially for
what might appear to be large percentages.
The Chairman-Do you not pay the expenses? A.
No sir that comes out Of the fees
Q-Ten per cent? Al think that is the amount
/ am not quite clear about that
Q-The expenses of advertising, do you pay
those? Al not quite clear about that / want
are five or six other Commissioners
Mr. Moss-Mr. Campbell.