New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-24
OFFICIAL AXE FALLS
Serenfy-niRe Condemnation
Heads Roll on the Ground.

FROM The office of Corporation Counsel
watson yesterday there came an announce
hieht mat concerns intimately 2 number of
olose adherents of William J. Corners
CHAIRMAN of the Democratic State Commit
Tee and which that gentleman himself
would probably say was ''piling it on if
not kicking a dead dog"
seventy nine men Were separated from
the payroll of the city who mad previously
served New York TO the extent OF bills
running from a total of $40 to s200GO. They
were all appraisers and clerks engaged on
condemnation proceedings In connection
with the CatskiIl water supply project, and
IN MS letter 10 the Mayor reporting his ac
ton Mr. Watson said that more dismissals
would follow:
All but fifty-eght of the appraisers and
clerks We're let out yesterday, and of those
remaining eight who are now testifying
on proceedings will go soon. it was under
stood. Even that will not end the cruel
carnage. and the final outcome will be to
reduce the staff of experts to a practical
basis
1t appears from the investigation made
by the Corporation Counsel on suggestion
from the Mayor in his letter of last week
that there have been three kinds of ap-
poIntees to these appraisins jobs. Polti-
cal, social or friendly and practical is the
way they have been classified, and all those
who come under the first two specifications
are trembling in their officla! boots since
the broadside OF yesterday
Mayor Gaynor informed Mr.. Watson last
week that he thought there great OPP
portunity for saving the city money in re-
gard to these places and the Corporation
Counsel evidently lost no time in getting
things moving.
Among the names in the long LIST are
cutie a few who have been known
Corners men, some Of whom to-day
helping the state chairman III his effort
TO stay in control. Prominent among these
are Stephen Ryan. OF Norwich and John
T. Maher, of Buffalo. the former one of
CCnners's closest political friends and the
latter his private secretary.
Maher, it is understood, has been draw
ing comfortable 800 month for ser
vices as clerk" All except three of tho
r,en dismissed yesterday were appraisers,
the three being clerks, and among these
clerks, who received a steady salary ir3
stead of the fees by which the apprais
ers were paid. Uaher was said to have
been receiving the largest salary.
Another OF the Corners men who was |
struck by the lightning was George B. Dol |
sen, Of Syracuse, who is personal counsel |
TO the Democratic state chairman. George |
B. Nalkenburgh. of Catskill. is another OF |
the Corners mep now with the state chair |
man at Albany. whose name was on the |
Est. Former Mayor NJ. J. Dillon of New |
Rochelle and Jacob A Newstead. Republi-
can leader of the 4th Assembly District in
New York. were others who We're removed.
The experts on water power, of whom
there are FIVE are among the highest paid
ppraisers in the employ of the board. and
three of them received $50 a day and
oenses for their work. Two of these $50
day men were let out-Peter E. Nostrand
and Walter S Morton. Nostrand has re-
,eived or has bills pending for $4,000, and
Norton for $50 500.
The so day appraisers were known as
'expectants" Many of them had received
'nly one days work but the one days eN-
'erience gave them the fever, and they
we're ION the job hopefully waiting for
heir next assignments.
The Corporation Counsel wrote TO Mayor
:aynor that he was looking into the mat
er of what is to be considered a days
-ork' by the appraisers and clerks who
emain in service. 1t is said that hereto
ore one hour has been considered day
many instances, and Mr.. Watson pur-
oses to make day at least as long
$ the day of a Supreme Court justice.
J. Noble Hayes, president of the new
queduct Commission, was caller at the
Iayor's office yesterday. and the Mayor
aid that Mr. Hayes was preparing bill
D be presented in the Legislature which |
ould legally end the commission and dele
ate TO the Water Department of the city
II the duties heretofore performed by the
commission