New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-01

history Of Aldermsnc dealings with Street-Cesh1nS
endeavors to probe prevalent abuses to the core Sua
show Why and wherein many efforts Tor reform anu
efficiency in Street Cleaning have resulted IN i''uio
and DISAPPOINTMENT One main cause OF sueh siiures
was found in the defects and vices ofthe specifications
under which Street-Clesning contracts Lad hitherto
been made For instance:
The contracts of November. ISIS, required the con-
tractors to clean all the streets Of their several dis
tri.ts twice per week rken the reGihsr woE8 permit,
but gave them the same amount of pay for the weeks
in which no work could be done as for others. or
course. no man of common sagaciy could expect that
the streets would be cleaned under such specih-
cation since every week in which the contractor
could plead rain or snow, or mud as an excuse Tor
doing nothing. would give him pull at the CITY
Treasury for nothing all; and there would be few
weeks adapted to STRENGTHENING under Such rune.
Even if the Commissioner of Streets were required
10 Judge whether the weather would or would nor
answer the abuse would remain. The temptation to
collision between Commissioner and Contractors 10 en-
rich Lemselyes and ROB the City would be very strong
Tie Aldermen. Committee recommended ana the
Board enacted that all future contracts should stpu
late that in all case of nonceanlDg for aweek because
of adverse weather the contractors should receive bu'
hslf pay-regardng this as fair equivalent Tor the
expense of the removal of ashes and garbage keep
ing of teams &C. which must still be borne by the
contractors Yet this indspensably necessary, this
ndisputably merciiully just requistion' was voted
down in the Board Of COuncmen, and 50 stands to this
day unadopted. Yet without this, or Ito fall equiva-
lent Street Cleaning by contract Will ever remain
farce and delusion. There were originally sundry
other points of disagreement between the two Boards;
Int as thew have been substantially adjusted we need
not now dwell on them. Ultimately, the Aldermen
waived their requistion shove so ~ not to hazard
the contract system with the understanding that,
though not insisted in the specifications, 1t might
nevertheless be incorporated into the contracts Ihe
( Aldermen's concurrence in the programme oil the
Counoilmen was signfed on the 2ith of March last
more than two months ago. Yet up to this hour we
have 10 contracts for Street Cleaning. Why
Abon the LIST of March last, in view of the desper-
ate condition of the streets and the imminent danger
Of pestilence should that condition continue mucn
longer. the Boards united in ordering the City In
spector under the direction of the several Aldermen
snd Councilmen to clean the streets AS sanitary
measure approprsting $4,000 for the purpose the
old contractors having just then been settled wi!h
and paid in full for three months neglect OF duty on
condition that they would let go their grippe TOR the
L
| future.
On or about the Ist of March last Arculariusr for
once did something that was universally approved
! he resigned II he had wanted promotion he might
have constrained citizens to elect him to any other
office if they could only thus coax him cut OF the
Street Department Mr. Genins independent street
| cleaning experiment in Broadway was commenced,
ard proved completely successful. Mayor Wester-
welt. who WIS not elected az Retormer but holds
himself lhrall of the political party which made
him. nominated for Commissioner Mr. George u.
Glazier Il narrow and bitter partisan who thinks the
world was made for the benefit of the Sham Democ-
racy. The Aldermen had practically no choice but
to confirm the nomination.; the objection applying not
TO the individual but the system, which could not be
changed by a dozen successive reflections.
And here il should be stated that while the earnest
Refofmcrs arc minority in the Councils, they have
all the power of the Departments against them tx
cent the Controller we do not know hata single officer
ufuentially connected with the Executive branch OF
our CITY Government from the Mayor down, cherishes
any sympathy with the Reform effort to emancipate
our Municipality from the shackles of partsanshiP,
While the great body of them actively and bitterly
hostile to il. Party has made them; when its inau-
ence is withdrawn paralyzed, they must sink like
I
of them miss opportunity to expose the REFORM
movement to obOquy and disparagement
The new Commissioner advertised for proposals
! for Street Cleaning which received and opened
| on the oath Of April five weeks ago. Yet up to TINS
/ bonr no contracts have been awarded Meantime,
the season of active demand for streetsweepings as
fertilizer is passing rapidly away and there Is dan
Ger TINT those 10 whom the contracts may by-aDi-by
be awarded will say, mo; bid for this job in April;
"but it is now June, and can longer sell the ma
"terial: labor and living have risen; teams are not
"to be had and i decline the contract" What
means this most injurious delay True in several dis
tics bidder las obtained injunction 1--WE expect
every day TO be eDjoned not to ca. breaks against
the award of the contract in those districts to any
.tLer than himself; but this if an impeachment at all,
iro impedment in any other district than those which
he claims
Meantime, the annual appropriation for this service
is 1t the mercy of Commissioner Gazer, and, if our
citizens should miss STRENGTHENING before their
doors, they will undoubtedly find any amount of it in
their tax-bls. IL is a nice thing for hungry aud
seedy politician to have full swing at purse Of
| $4,000. to spend it at his discretion and if Mr.
Glazier should lose anything, fail TO serve his
friends by his present control Of Cleaning, he
! will show himself more honest less adroit than
most men would be in his position. Ii he wants to
be renoIlnated this fall for his present berth for
any other isn't at all likely that be will be set back
any BY eyincing due berality in the payment Of his
sweepers. carriers, ashmen, &C., &c, while he can
hold to the present no-system of STRENGTHENING
! II .ko- CT