The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-19
WINS TACKLES DR.. WOODBURY.
DIDN'T GET MUCH CHANGE OUT OF
HEAD STREET CLEANER.
Found Ont That He knows His Business ana
Can Give Details without Book-Com'
missioner No Above to BE Repre-
sentcd by COupscl Alderman Fills Gap

Tie investigation Of the Street Cleaning
Dana rtment, Of which DR.. John MEG. Wood
bury is the head WAS begun yesterday in
the CITY Hall before a special committee
of the Aldermen, with William NJ. wins
who "also ran for Mayor last fall as the
chief inouisitor. Major Woodbury. was
on the stand most Of the day, He demon
strated that he was thoroughly familiar
with the details Of the management OF the
department and that he did not rely on MS
subordinates for them.
When asked for a description Of the sys-
tenn under which the streets we're cleaned
DR.. Woodbury. began TO answer from the
general report of the workings Of the depart
ment which recently appeared in the Guy
Record. Apparently this wal not what
Mr., Wins wanted and he requested the
witness to lay the report aside and testify
from memory. Or. Woodbury. tossed the
document on the table and rolled OF from
memory a comprehensive outline of the
system.
Toward the end Of the session Mr.. wins
took up the purchase and rental OF horses
for the Use of the department. II was
then developed that John J, O'Connor. Jr,
son of the head stableman in stable A, had
received over $1,000 in the past four years
for horse hire, II vas also brought out
that several Of the warrants issued to him
for his bills had been Endorsed over to
DR.. John e. Wallace. assistant super1ntend-
ent Of the Street Cleaning Department
DIR. Woodbury. testified that he had IN
vestipated the matter as soon as 1t was
called to his attention by one OF his sub
ordinates. The matter was looked into
by himself and other officials Of the depart
ment sitting in conference with a repre-
sentative Of the Corporation Counsel's
| office Both O'Connor and Wallace were
present and both stated that the warrants
were turned over to Wallace because
| O'Connor owed Wallace something like
! 81 600 for money loaned. The Assistant
CORPORATION Counsel who was present at
| the inquiry. DR.. Woodbury. said, reported
| that in his opinion no charges would lie
! AGAINST Wallace and that there was not
suflcient ground to prefer a complaint
against him.
Mr.. Wins also introduced a big batch
! NJ warrants issued for horse hire to various
horse iobbers, including young O'Connor,
which we're Endorsed over to fiss, Doerr d
| Carroll. the horse dealers in Twenty-fourth
street, The oDleCI OF lnh hONo "oe IN
disclosed.
Former Assistant District AttorneyWilliam
Rand, DR.. and James W Gerard Of the firm
of Bowers d Sands were on hand TO represent
DR.. Woodbury., but the committee would
not recognize them as counsel, upon the
objection OF Mr.. WINS.
1T is not the practice in Investigations OF
this kind to allow witnesses to be represented
by counsel" said the chief inquisitor. But
If any question as to the honesty or probity
of the commission arises, / for one would
he very glad to have Mr.. Rand protect
his client"
Il cannot understand such an act OF dis
courtesy toward U.s." retorted Mr.. Rand
Il nave the greatest respect for Mr.. WINS
but we believe that the investigation will
be nothing but a farce unless the accused
is represented by counsel and allowed to
call Witnesses"
But the Commissioner is not accused
Of anything, said Mr., Ivins, He lie merely
a witne SIS
THAT is a distinction without a differ
n @ " said Mr.. Rand, There is no question
that can arise here affecting the probity
of Commissioner Woodbury. except through
perjury. When you deny hin the night