New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-15
QUEENS ENGINEER GOES
|. c. [. Smith Dismissed After
Hearing on Charges.
GRAFT HUNTERS AT WORK
Water Department Books Taken
to Grand Jury That Is Turn
ing the Probe.

Some development Of vital interest 70 TAX
payers is promised every day now IN inc
fight to uncover the sewers Of graft undeT-
lying the government OF the Borough OF
Queens Yesterday saw the dismissal o.
Leonard G. L. Smith. engineer in charge OF
the Water Department OF that borough. py
Henry S. Thompson. Commissioner OF Wa
ter Supply, Gas and Electricity. The re-
moval followed a hearing on charges before
Deputy Commissioner Edward ". Bemis'
who is the head Of the department in
Queens.
The dismissed engineer was accused OF
having released the firm OF Peace Brothers,
contractors, OF Flushing, from a contract
into which it entered on October %, 1870.
for work az tho Baysde pumping sta
ton. Smith. it was alleged. also released
Henry r. Worthington from contract
dated September q, 1870, for supplying
pumps for the same station. Another charge
against him was that he issued open orders
without warrant TO Sweeney & Gray, Of
Long Island City, for supplies for his Office
The books Of the Water Department IN
Queens were dumped into an automobile III
the afternoon and conveyed 10 the court
house for examination by the grand jury.
That body began yesterday to examine wit
charges involving the bcroush's sewer and
buildings departments.
William F. RoseHe, formerly an inspector
in the Department Of Sewers. was the first
witness called. Half a dozen builders also
testified. but the most important Witnesses
we're Raymond FosdicE. Commissioner of
Accounts. who is conducting an exhaustive
Investigation covering the last ten years OK
Queens government. and Dr.. w. q.
Matthews. q builder. OF EImhurst who was
one of the three T. lav detailed charges
before Governor Hughes in Albany in
petition for the appointment of special
deputy attorney general to prosecute them
Robert {. Livingston, Of Hollis, is fore
man OF the grand jury. District Attorney
Frederick =. Dewitt. who is accused Of
gross neglect Of duty in the charges before
the Governor. is conducting the iuvestiga-
ton. which is being held in the grand jury
room in the new courthouse, a building it,
self deeply involved in the scandals. An
other peculiar feature OF the proceedings -
that one of the men who have made charges
against the Buildings Department is
member of the jury. He is George y. Boyer.
a retired builder, of Rideewood.
Ever since the Kissena Park scandal Of
two years ago when Joseph Bermel. then
president OF the borough. resigned his Of
flee, and, with removal charges pending
against him before the Governor. sailed
for Europe. Queens has been hoping for
better things. Lawrence Grcsser. then
Commissioner of Public Works was elect
ed by the local aldermen 70 III out Ber-
mers -unexpired term. and great things
were expected from Honest Larry" rs
one of his supporters dubbed him. Last
fall Gresser was elected Borough President
on an indepenl lent ticket. and the public
still looked forward 10 Honest Larry as
IFS deiverer.
But now the committee Of taxpayers
which seeks the appointment Of a special
deputy attorney general absolutely uncon-
nected with Queens politics 10 prosecute