The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-21
KATHARINE SMITH DOCK LEASE
CLEANER cor THE BiTHS THE
CITY HtILT At tJJTH STREET.
Phil DOnOiue. President Of the .ADawanda
Club, Enjoys the Privilege al Present
and Gets u Gheap-ylrs Smith Sub
pPnaed 10 Tell About u To-day.

Katharine Smith, an attendant in the
recreation pier service Of the Department
of Docks, will b, summoned before Assis-
tant District Attorney Clarke to-day to tell
what she knows about the erection and
leasing of the bath house privileges al the
foot OF West l55th street. The matter is
Of interest in the investigation Of the actions
Of the Van Wyck dock board.
The bath privilege at l55th street was
for many years leased by Peter Hunt who
paid the city $3.50 a year for it. The Strong
Dock Board, at Mr.. Hunts request, trans
ferred the lease to the name OF Hunt 3
daughter, Mrs. Anna Shocks. On April
20, 1893, the Van Wyck board, without
explanation, revoked the Shocks permit.
On the same day the privilege was granted
to Katharine Smith at $3.50 year. Mrs.
Smith was at that time a cleaner en-
ployed on the recreation pier at 155th street
at S4S month,
Mr.. Hunt, who was still doing business
under the Shocks privilege, resisted the
efforts Of Mrs. Smith to make him get out.
The Dock Commissioners hitched tugs
to some of his property, pulled it out into
the river and turned il adrift For this
work they put in bill to Mrs. Shocks for
500. Mrs. Shocks sued the city for dam
ages Both claims are now held up
As soon as Hunt was out, the Dock Board
began driving piles, laying string pieces
and constructing platforms and paUlions
at the city's expense, with city laborers
and materials and the Use of the city pile
driver No a.
For this work bills were rendered to
Mrs Katharine Smith, lessee and pier
cleaner, for 3725 for laying stringers and
sheath ing, and for $777 for driving piles.
Commissioner Hawkes. has been told
that IA matter Of fact the bath houses
were erected altogether at the expense OF
the Dock Department and that $4,000
worth of labor and materials went into them.
Employees Of the Dock Department who
were there under the Murphy regime are
responsipie for this story
The proprietor Of the baths below. which
are not so elaborate as the Smith bath
houses, is Mrs William Fl. Burke wife of
the former secretary Of the Dock Board.
Her husband testified the other day that the
Burke baths cost $l5,O0'.
What Assista Dist riot Attorney Clarke
wants to know Of Mrs Smith is where she
got the money out Of her salary az pier
cleaner to pay bills of 1880 and then how
much work was done by the city that was
not paid for at all.
The improvements had no sooner been
made than Mrs Smith tran sferred her
privilege to Philip Donohue. president
of Dock Commissioner Murphy's Anawanda
Club and the Dock Board gave Mr.. Dono-
hue lease Of the place for ten years at
1880 n wear. with the privilege OF renewal
II was at this pier that rooms were fitted
I'D as bedrooms and parlors which were
called "The Commissioners Rooms and
which we're occupied by Mr.. Murphy and
Mr.. Donohue on hot summer nights during
the Van Wyck administration During
TINT time also liquor was sold there and, il
ia alleged. without a license. The bar is
still in the place, but only soft drinks pass
over il now The baths are still run by
Donohue
Mr.. Clarke has asked Commissioner
Hawkes. TO get some inspectors TO work
10 find out how much work and material
Mrs. Smiths hard earned $500 paid for.
Mrs. Smith is at present living quite COM
fortably at ll2 Fast l20th street.
IL was said yesterdn Y NJ her home that rhe
had recently resigned from the oity's ON
pov. Before she quit, however she had
been promoted from n cleaner lat 345
month"; to attendant lat $50 n MONTH.
Mr. Hawkes. had transferred her from
l5sth street 10 the Twelfth street recrea-
tiOn pier.