Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-08-10
CHARGE AGAINST
COMMISSIONERS
Up TO MAYOR
City Executive Investigates
Sale of Auto by Recrea-
ton Body.

The purchase and sale Of automo-
mobiles used by the Recreation Com
mission is the subject of investiga-
ton by Mayor Thomas l.. Raymond.
The investigation by the mayor was
inaugurated on a complaint made by
Frank McTague. a foI sr playground
leader. according to a statement of
F., Erie Moody, secretary to the
mayor
In his complaint to the mayor. Nc.
Tague yesterday afternoon, in the
presence of City Counsel Spaulding
Frazer and Secretary Moody, stated
that the affairs of the commission
should be investigated for the COM
missioners sold rllnahout for $50
and then bought another runabout of
the second hand variety for s4o0
McTague today denied that he made
the charges
In addition TO the automobile trans
action, ii was stated at the meeting
Yesterday that Commissioner Nicho-
las LaNecchia had financial inter
est in local garage at which the
playground cars were stored.
Some time ago the Playground
Commission. as ii was known at that
time. ordered the cars transferred tn
the garage on Clinton avenue In
which Commissioner LaNecchia is
said to have an. interast from 2
garage in Hill street, 200 feet from
! the City Hall.
Brings In Layecchiss Brother.
! Another statement that n brother
Of Commissioner LaNecchia. Cammile
! La. Vecchia. is q driver Of one of the
cars used by the Recreation Commits
sion and is receiving $3.50 per dav in
lieu of 80 as described in the adver-
tsement published at the time the
examinations were taken is another
phase Of the situation receiving the
considerat on of the mayor.
1t is claimed that Cammile La
Vecchia and Thomas Cook became
owners of a garage i'm Clinton avenue
and received the financial backing Of
Commissioner La Vecchia. who is
local LAWYER. II Is charged that the
city's cars used by the Recreation
Commission were stored at that place
at the instance of Commissioner La
Vecchia. The garage conducted for
several months led to the courts when
Commissioner LaVeccha charged
Cook with taking money from the
garage account. This case was
thrown out of court and the partner
ship dissolved.
That the city's money was misused
by the commissioners is the basis Of
the charge of McTague. He claims
that the 1911 runabout sold for $50
should have brought more, and that
the runabout. 1919 model Overland,
was not worth the s4o0 paid for It.
Commissioners Leyecchln's story.
Commissioner LaVecchia was an
early visitor at the City Hall today.
He came to see the mayor, but as the
chief executive had not arrived the
talk was postponed.
The whole thing is the work of a
turncoat and sorehead" said Mr.. La
Necchie today. ~ was interested in
the Clinton garage and the cars Of
the City Recreation Commission were
stored there. This was because those
who used them could have them
quickly. as they resided within two
blocks from where our garage was
situated.
at Is true that we did sell the Ford
runabout for $50. That was all il was
worth. and the Overland car we pur-
chased for s400 was worth every
penny paid for it,
Everything | know Of the various
deals complained OF will be given to
the mayor. We are not afraid of in
vestigation. but, on the other hand,
a this time really want IL"
Commissioner Charles A. Mccall
spent an hour in the mayors office
yesterday afternoon and acknowl-
edged today that the affairs and
workings of the commission were
gone over with the mayor and Mr.
Mccall.