New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-24

$500" 'N-~''4
attended by o crowded house.
The sTRrEr-CIEAsrso BusrsEss.-Mr. Ebng h.,
made tie following reply TO tie Mayors letter in re-
gard TO the contracts for cleaning streets:
DEPARTMENT OF STREETS AND LANPs.
New-York, july %, 1855
Hon. Fernando Uood Mayor. Yours Of the 10th
ins' il received and IL reply | would respectfully
state the following reasons for the delay in consum-
mating the contracts for cleaning the with the
lowest bidders:
be Board Of Aldermen end Ocuncilren sometime
since pessed solution requiring the ifeads Of De-
partnenis TO send all contracts the Common Coun-
Gil for confirmation previous TO concluding the same.
And the section ies Of the ordinance directing that
contract for tbe payment Of which appropriation
has not previously been made shall be sigued or exc
cuted until such contract sDd all climates relating
thereto all have been laid before the Common COun-
Gil and az appropriation made therefor.
Tie appropriation Gales for by my predecessor was
for cleaning the streets for the year 1853 based on the
contracts TIE in existence In consequence OF the
neglect of the contractors, portion Of the contracts
were declared void by me- and hen, with your con-
currence proceeded TO clean the streets uuti the
balar G. Of the contracts would expire.
The yast amount Of filth Gshfs, garbage, &c, that
wss e by the contractors in the streets, required
additional force of men and vehicles to remove the
same and of course added greatly To the ense, in
Consequence of which the appropriation Yves reduced
10 low figure not leaving more than enough to carry
the Department through 10 The first of August
in accordance therefore, with what believe to be
the true meaning and intent Of be ordinance i9f, SUB
mitied to the Board Of Councilmen all the estlmres
ano tie nsmos Of the lowest bidders. together with the
amount Of each estimate for confirmation and also
submitted statement of the expenses for the last SIX
month"; asking for an appropriation al the same time
As public officer ] feel anxious 10 promote the
public good az far a. lies in my power and a. the same
tin comply strictly with what believe TO be my duty
Nv advertisement calls for proposals for cleaning the
streets for one wear from tie date Of the execution of
u auflx harufaF
ordng to the ordinance he appro 2nation made
for tie wear named before have the power execute
the same Until the appropriation Is made to cover
the expenditure called for 10 the estimates it would be
involving the Department in difficulties Of serious
nature give out contracts and have money to pay
them with.
These arc my reasons for pursuing the course have
taken. may be mistaken in nv opinions, but am
willing 10 be corrected if wrong MY intentions 10
do right in this ard all other matters appertainng 70
the Department over which preside cen see no
reasons nor have any been offered to me- 70 induce
me TO elier the coure have taken in this matter. II
is now in tie hands of the Common Council aud am
ready fulfil their instr ctions Immediately on the re-
ceipt Of the same.
clean RI possible and remit eXertiOn so long the
balance Of the appropriation for 1855 may last which
will he probably week more; after that time, do
not at present how can proceed without an APP
prOprati0n from the Common Council.
In regard to the communication of Smith, Seckel N
Co. to ou and which have seen in the morning pa
Ters of to-day for the first time would respectfully
state That they have not resented the facts of the
case in true and Just light 10 you for what purpose
they have done So am ut a oss to know.
At the opening of the estimates on the 10Th instant
q large number of them were declared informal by the
CONTROLLER among these the bids of Smith, Secke
& Co.. all of which lacked tue very important requ-
site called for by the ordinance, No. 49s, namely ut
the estimate she'll be verified by the oath in writing
of he party making the estimate that the several
matters stated therein are in all respects true.
The omission of the affidavit | think, was fatal TO
their estimates and rendered them informal but
finally by the advice of the Corporation Counsel and
the Controller allowed them to make the affidavit
within twenty -four houfs, under the rule that errors OF
form may be 80 altered.
Whether this omission of an affidavit was an error
of form or of substance leave to Others to decide
To show that acted fairly in the matter, not only
allowed them twenty four hours, but extended the
time forty eight hours longer, In order to accommo'
date them.
They state that notified them to produce their Sc
curiiies with view of closing said contracts This
is false. never did notify them for any such pur
pose: and they well knew and understood NJ the tlme
that the lerfons who were wiug 90 their security,
provided the contract awarded 20 them were only
REQUIRED TO make affidavit that they were worth the
amount that they were willing TO be bound for ms
Al tie time tept atedy told them, and they 50 UNDER
stood il. ] also informed them repeatedly that they
were only correcting the mistakes they had made IN
Their estimates.
Immediately after they he'd so altered their estimates
and inside them in form, trey, much to my surprise,
demanded of me the instant execution OF the contracts
with them. This hasty and uncsled for acton on
Their part treated with the contempt II deserved, and
informed them should notify them when the contracts
were ready, if they were confirmed by the Common
Council. They then demanded blank copies OF the
cont acts and bonds, for The purpose, suppose, OF
making the contracts themselves.
AS consider myself perfectly able TO conduct the
business of this Department. vi course declined 10 iur
nish the same.
In their card to You and the public they state that
their proposals are il due form Of law. They do not
state thai they when presented, lesving the
rubic TO believe that they required no time for aera-
lion and that they were when presented, correct.
They also state that they were filed IN due time,
when The facts are that they were not filed IN due
form until the third day after they were offered; AMI
have my doubts whether they are even now legally
filed.
There are other parties whose estimses are the low
ost for eight o. the WARDS. No complaints have been
made by them of the action that has been taken by me
in regard TO all the estimates received Ii seems sn-
oular that so much interest should be manifesto en-
trely for tbs company aud that The Others who are
equally entitled to Il cir claims should be overlooked
For my par, shall eudeas or 10 deal equal and exact
justice to all parties.
All CON plants that may be made 70 YOU in regard
TO The streets viii be attended to instantly by sending
10 ills ofce. Mary Of the complaints ere made with
out cause by parties interested il bringing tbs Depart
mout into disr, pute. 1t - ~.
HoIipg that my views may meet Win your aP
ureyal. | remain yours, respectfully,
j. r. EBLING Commisslc neE Of streets and Lamps
SMUGGLING JEwKLRY.-The United States authori-
ties yesterday morning arrested several passengers