New-York tribune., 1903-06-17
STARTS DOCK INQUIRY.
BEGINS JOHN DOE PROCEEDINGS TO CATCH
"GRAFTERS" OF OLD BOARD.
lurphg and Meyer Subpoenaed to Explain Why They Care
Leases to Tammany FaUortes al Lo0 Figures.

Wal-st. noticed large force of carpenters
working all night Saturday and Sunday To erect
a dumping board on the side % the pier a
dock inspector reported to the comrnis-
sioner Mr.. Hawkes.. that the dumping board
was being built. He ordered the work stopped
at once. but il had been pushed with exceptional
celerity. and nearly ready for use
PAID $1,000 A YEAR. TOOK IN $1,000 A
MONTH.
Commissioner Hawkes. told Brown & F1eZing
they must give up the pier. Tney refused 70
get off. saying they had expended $4,000 in
building the dumping board and ramp. and they
obtained from Justice Giegerich order re-
strainins the Dock Commissioner for one month
from interfering with them. similar order
was subsequently obtained from Justice O'Gor-
man. but appeal to the Appellate Division
gave the city victory. and the Iessees were
ousted. Then the city brought suit for damages
for Illegal occupancy Of the pier. L. Latin Ke-
logg defended the contractors. On Friday OF
last week. before Justice Amend and jury. the
city recovered verdict Of 5000 for seven and
half months occupancy Of pier which the
Murphy-Cram-Meye board had leased for only
$1,000 year The books OF Brown & Fleming
were produced in court, and the cash entries
showed that the company had taken In In less
than eight months about $9.4OO. Corporation
Counsel Rives IN commenting on the decision
| said:
| 1 understand that this firm. Brown & Fleming,
! were under particular favor with the Tafnrnany
board and received extended privileges. They
] were much in favor that it was suggested
| that Mr.. Croker was a. silent partner OF this
am not sure
| Now. the question to mind mind IS: When they
received the permit for $1,000 year from the
Tammany board, and the jury award 5000 as
| a reasonable price for two-thirds OF year, how
much should the Tamrnany board charge them
for year? 1t Is strange, isn't II?
| When a. C. Chenoweth was seen yesterday he
| said: "I will not talk about the old Dock Board
| If I should be called to testify in court then
| certainly would tell of my experiences as con-
tractor with the board. Until that time comes
will have TO be excused from saying anything
| COULD NOT REACH COMMISSIONERS
| John A Bouker of No "a State-st, one OF the
| oldest water front contractors in the business,
when seen last night by a Tribune reporter. said'
| Il told Mr.. Jerome when I him on Friday
| that ever since went into business I had made
it a rule not to trust politicians when they came
around and said they could do certain things
/ for me- If the old Dock Board was corrupt
/ don't know 1t. I was not looking for any
| thing crooked when had business dealings with
i them. recall that once when wanted a pier
7 found it impossible 10 reach the commissioners
/ and was told to go and see Mr.. O'SuIlivan. 1
/ did not 90. Until the advent Of Messrs- Mur-
/ ply, Cram and Meyer, It the custom OF the
Il
=, they came In there was no more Of that Some
of the leases they gave out just before they went
out Of Office were on very low terms
| Were you deprived of the use OF a dumping
| board at Seventy-sixth-st%
/ yes" said Mr. Bouker ''but that was not AT
! the instance OF Murphy. Cram and Meyer. The
West Side Association protested to the Park
| Department against the continuance Of 2 dump
| ing board there, and was ordered of
rs it not a fact that John J. Murphy and Mr.
| Gaffney got from the old board dumping ooaro
| privilege in the same Iocality?'
| YES" said Mr.. Bouker, that is true, and
| don't know how they got IT. They got a dump
] at seveuty-ninth-st and. so far know, the
| West Side Association has not complained OF IL
! Mr.. Bouker was so disgusted with the West
Side Association and the attitude Of the DOCK
Board that ne did not try TO get another upper
| West Side pier
| a well known contractor, VINO, LOT OBVIOUS
reasons. did not wish TO have his name appear.
in answer to a Tribune reporters inquiry with
reference to the value OF dumping board privi-
Ieges. said:
The public has no idea what these privileges ara
their value II KEPT e oc qoTn b0ar % S | r 2si
+ as Ieg S SoId mine Think OF the thousands OF
cubic yards of earth excavated daily in Manhattan
\ from not only such UNDERTAKINGS as th' g, under-
f6U3dattoDs for houses and skyscra0e~~ nd add to
+Sia Ths material arising from deIuOlttlans, and
take this of the island. so that i all has to go
tbis f6G5 means 3ns Il few arms have the monoPoy ot
| which was about what was charged US Up TO 1917
/ Remember that the owner OF dump has no ex-
Contractor: the owner simply takes the s. cents .
ward for allowing the contractor TO drive his truck
| into the scow below the owner then turns around
and makes a second pront BY selling the Sow 4oad
/ to people who need hliing sucn as tae GnlSsd ls
/ States Government IS putting IN around GOVerlorS
/ Island If there is demand for nling ne toWs
/ the scow to and dumps its contents All the
capital required IN JniS business 70 InAe
Is political pull strong enough to secure the place
and frighten eff competitors. money enough TO buy
few scows, hire tug ana DUllC q 0uI3p ping oodIS
/ and its approach about 2O feet IN length and
Y nSSticed some time ago that President Cram
sarxace with the carts going up. This is funny.
none Of the carts so OF the pier put on the ramp
| North River: you VIII find enc OF the gold mines 7
/ am talking about. This was given by the Old DOCK
/ plenty of builders would have Deem glad 10 get
/ it at $4,000 - ~. -, =.
/ To- ask for q dump told TO make apph-
cation in writing ou not 20 iS1o.l & any pee, - snn
the next thing that htppeile1 WIS tutt Sols i5eIf
Der OF the trust got the privilege We had asked Tor
/ way down below what We We're WilHnS 20 give, We
couldn't understand why we shoultift uleHtion any
| r-fce Wasn't tndt fONV% They say they had
/ never been offered any more than what they
/ thougb before they knew what they worth
/ and the who got II. away up N Harlem paid
/ 4 FTenine-s & Sd dump taua,-st. the best place
/ In the city They never pct up another one at
auction after that: they were parced out 90 favor
/ ties That auction was eye opener.
JEROME TO PROBE AQUEDUCT BOARD.