New-York tribune., 1906-07-29
WATER BOARD TIED UP
Demand of Mayor Coyne of Yonkers
for Investigation Blocked.

Mayor Coyne OF Yonkers, aroused by the OBJ
structive tactics of two water commissioners
in regard to an investigation of the trenching
scandal In that city. said yesterday that if nee
essary he would remove, the commissioners re-
sponsble, on the ground OF dereliction in the
performance of their duty President Davitt of
the Board of Water Commissioners said that
the evidence so far presented inclined him 20 the
belief that either graft or gross incompetency
existed in the department.
Yonizers residents are thoroughly aroused by
the conditions in the Water Department which
We're described in last Sundays Tribune and
the better element Of the community is solidly
behind Mayor Coyne in his determination TO
have things cleaned up. no matter who may be
hit by the investigation. Owing TO attempts TO
throttle investigation into the violation Of Water
Board contracts. the week has passed without
any official action looking to a complete deter
mination OF the facts concerning the failure to
dig trenches for water mains at a proper depth
below the street surface.
Early in the week Mayor Coyne and Commits
sioner Cooper OF the Street Cleaning Depart
ment continued their private investigation, dis
covering conditions TO be even worse than was
at first supposed. AS a result OF this the Mayor
sent the following letter to the water commis-
sioners:
/ have made examinations in several of the
streets OF rhe city to determine at what depth
ments were taken from the top of the pipe to
the surface OF the street. In no instance did we
nnd the work done or pipes laid according to the
specifications OF your board and the contract for
doing said work
Here the Mayor enumerates the streets in
which examinations were made and gives de-
tails OF the depth at which the pipes were laid
These depths vary from / foot inches to feet
II inches His letter continues:
Your specifications call for four feet six inches
or covering on all pipes, and the city has paid
contractors for excavating material and rock to
the depth as called for on this basis
am informed that in many Of the streets Of
the CITY the same conditions prevail. and ask
your honorable board to place the responsibility
on the proper person or persons who have failed
in the performance of their duty, and also that
you take immediate action TO investigate thor
oughly and report TO the Common Council all
streets and places in the city where mains
laid at less depth than that called for by your
specifications and the contracts, TO the end that
the cltys interests may be protected and proper
proceedings taken.
This communication was taken up by the COM
missioners on Thursday evening Only four
commissioners were present. President Dewitt.
and Commissioners Barr, Miller and Geberaux.
Commissioner Doty was out of the city Com
missioner Miller. who at the first hint of the
scandal was insstent in his demands for thor
ough investigation. surprised every one by de-
manding that the proceedings should be taken in
executive session. He was supported by Com
missioner Barr, but the opposition Of the other
commissioners prevented it.
documents prepared by the clerk of the Water
Board showing the streets in which mains were
placed since 1899 were laid before the board.
with statement Of the total money exnsnded
Dy the board in payment for piping and trench
ing during the last nine years. This sum is in
excess of $106,000 and accordine to the Nsa1,cr,,
letter. 1t was paid for work of which not more
than half was done
The board examined Edward L. Peene SUPER
intendent of the water works. and William Bald
win. the engineer of the board
Peenes testimony was contradictory on two
or three points. Once he said: Il think the
specifications require that all pipes should be
!ald at depth of at least four feet; and later
ne SAID, My orders to my men are always to
nave three 1eet six inches to three feet eight
inches of earth over all pipes laid" Peene said
thaC IN some cases the grade of streets had
neen changed since the pipes were laid This
testlmony, however, was in large part contra
dicted by the testimony of Edward Matthew's
foreman under Peene.
After the examination of these witnesses Com
missioner Geberaux said that enough had been
proved 20 make a thorough examination by an
unbiased expert imperative, and made a motion
providing for such examination. Commissioners
Miller ana Barr, however, opposed this course.
Commissioners GeberauX and Dewitt said that
the city had been mulcted apparently out Of
$4,000 or more, and that some means of recoy-
motion was put to vote the board was evidently
deadlOcked. Commissioner Dewitt asked what
Commissioner Barr said "Oh, tell him we're
thinking it over. It's too hot to work these
evenings"
The deadlock will be broken one way or the
other the return of Commissioner Doty. Many
think he will side with those who demand an
investigation.