New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-18
PROFITS In CITY WORK.
SHOWN IN AHE1RN CASE.
Jobs Giren to Political FavOr1tes
Wnhout Public Letting.

z Edward Pecherer. an EXPERT accountant. testt-
fed yesterday at the Ahearn investigation that
Inc city records showed that ex-Councliihah
Patrick J. Ryder. Tammary leader - me olu
b District-who. by the way, is ser ousiF III AT
Iresent-did plumbing amounting - fn'nsahus
of dollars withou: official orders and 2'esehIeu
bills 10 the city afterward, having no difhcuItE
In getting them through the Borough PRESIDENT
Office. Mr. Ahearn remained silent all day on
The charges made by ey-Commissioner Dalton
From data on hand Becherer showed that the
rprork of repairinC the Rivington Street Public
Baths represented six bills rendered from Feb
ruary l 10 August %. 1906 amounting 20
S227l o.. The witness said that this work was
not an emergency order and in his opinion 1t
WAS a violation of the charter provision, which
stipulates that contract work calling for an ex-
pendture of more than 81 900 shall not be done
except by public letting.
lie testified TO having made examination
Of the vouchers paid to both Joseph OBren and
TO the firm OF OBren & Ryder. The total paid
70 the firm and to O'Brien for the year 1904 was
S27,654 q: for the year 1908 $50 775 II: for the
year 1906. S52569 16. making total for the
three years of S110999 10 paid to O'Brien &
Ryder by the city for plumbing work
Becherer said that Oilrien & Ryder received
plumbing orders in 1854, 1905 and 1905 for the
buildings in City Hall Park which amounted 10
SIo.lSS 3D. The same firm received sixty-nine
orders for plumbing public comfort stations,
amounting 10 SS.S56.06 They received ninety
inne orders for public baths, amounting to
S3O.e6I, and for floating baths twenty-six orders,
amounting to S1.61266. The Municipal Court
buildings received sixty-four orders for repairs.
amounting to S6,023 H. and the Criminal Courts
Building and jails had 1871 plumbing orders. ex-
ecuted for S23. so % He said that there We're
several other smaller orders filled by the firm.
Some thirty-odd small orders. he said.
ecuted on buildings not city property. but &C.
cupied by city Offices. the orders amounting 70
S3.946 50. There We're a total Of 932 orders ex-
, ecuted without public letting.
OBrien & Ryder. according TO Becherer.
ceived eleven blanket orders in 1904 for the City
Hall group, amounting 20 S5,214 80; outside City
Hall Park, twelve orders. amounting TO Sc. 561 %
For 1905 there were inside the park. twelve
orders. Sc 03; outside the park, twelve orders
for IS, 454 %. For 1906. inside the park. eleven
orders, 1906 3D. outside the park eleven orders
SIS ,233 80. In only two instances in all orders
executed were less than full days wages charged
He said also that in instance did he find any
allowance for old material removed, but full
charges made for ali materials.
The accountant produced voucher calling for
the payment of 1915 a. where the permit issued
by the Bureau of Highways cost SIS and the city
vas charged $50 in the bill for the permit.
Becherer said that this double charge for per-
nit was approved by Borough President Ahearn,
William Dalton and William H. Walker. He
said the oYercharge detected In the Control
iers office and corrected.