New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-11-13
PUBLIC MEE'TZ1NGS
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.


ton for an opinion Of the Council to the Corporation a.
TO what are the rights of Fremen viii under sentence
OF L" suspension. Adopted
The UdShingt0n Stdtne.-A report wSs conca.red
in appropriaiing e. 900 for suitable railing around
the equestrian statue of Washington at Cnsonsqusre
Pepor! on tie Corruption an Department 81 RePa'rs
and SnpDlies AID TUcKER presented voloninoas
report Of the Committee on Repairs and Supplies rels
tive to the charges against the Department OF Repars
and Supplies the Bureau of Repairs TO Public Build
ngs in particular An investigation was msGe after
TIE communication from the Controller was ccelvec
sbowiD up the corrupt practices IN the bureau oil
Super intendent of Rel aus and Supplies. The Com
mittee say, examination of the parties empioyed
in the Department rs to the manner of conducting
business and the fitness OF The u,en engaged, they
found il in most deporable condition, and they
venture to state that petty tradesman doing ouss
"ness of $1,000 year would be ashamed 10 nave
discovered much less TO admit openly such reckless
"mode Of transactng business. In the early part OF
tie nyest cation the Committee experienced much
embarrassment from q non-attendanee O, VII
"nesses and the difficulty in serving notices OF meet
ngs, owing to the uncertain residences 81 many VI
";he persons employed in said Departme Mt aud re-
usal TO answer Of the questions higny tssehlhi
'to proper knowledge of the facts.
The Committee quotes the law governing the De-
rartment of Repairs aud Supplies, and says: By
perusal of said ordinance il will be at once that
n the making of all alterations and repairs 10 public
buildings the ComI.-----'fr is directed 10 nave an
"estmate made of the probable cost OF doing the
"vork and, II the amount should exceed wv, Ia
transmit the same to the Common Council for their
action. Now what has been the course OF the CON-
missioner" Let his own words answer He says:
1.-The charter Of 1853 has been my guide, which says
that all work over $3.50 shall be done oy contracts
but all under that sum consider have the right to
"order done. The plumbing, painting, Timing roof,
&c have considered as separate JOBS, and, where
the expense came within $3.50, the amount the char
"ter rcquires have felt justified in certifying the
"bs."
The Committee holds that the section OF the charter
on which the Commissioner claims his authority does
~ ,iab itraaf aaio
10 report them TO the Common Council for their aeton
The Common Council as the Committee understand II,
have the right TO pass an ordnance compelling the
Commissioner TO transmit to them for act)n, the esti-
mated cost of all repairs and materials requiring the
exr enditure of cent of the public money The
charter of lS49 calls the Department Executive De-
partment" but the legislative power Is IN the 20 nmon
Council Ii is the prerogative OF the Common Council
TO direct and the duty Of the Department To execus
the will OF the legislative authority. After referring
fully to the powers and duties OF the Department the
Committee says:
"B,t why recite additional proofs James Irving
the Superintendent Of Repairs to Public Buildings
swer TO inerrogatory of the Committee 10 whether
he had read the city ordinances pertaining to his duties
said: don't think have What else then can be
expected from city officials ntrusted with hundres Of
thousands of dollars of public work. who do not think
it of suffice mt consequence to even read the require
ments of the law affecting their Departments, than
gross msmanagemen and reckless expenditures of the
public money! In another place Mr.. Irving says
The work was done cheaper than under Mr.. Purdy
formerly Superintendent, and was satisfied
again as has been shown the Charter requires tina.
the Superintendent shall careful estimate 10 BE-
made Of all work to be done and ascertain the cost of
doing the same Nearly all the parties examined testify
hat they were directed by the Commissioner and Sup.
rintendent to examine the buildings &C., requiring
spsr and the cost did not exceed $3.50 to go on and
Can more loose system Of doing business be desrcd
There is another peculiar fact connected with this
Department, that nearly all the persons selected 10 do
the CORPORATION work. the yarona ;oaI
branches under the Commissioner are not and have
never been practical mechanics in the line of business
in which they are engaged. Take for instance. Mr.,
Long, who does the glazing; he is a fellow. butcher
with the superintendent. Take MIR. james Reed, the
carpenter !) he stated thar he was not carpenter by
trade, but previous to being appointed by the Commis.
clean wells, &c, was clerk in doctors office preyi
ously. Mr.. McCarty, the plumber is not q practical
plumber, but thought it would be better business
Donovan, the timer for the Department, when the
question was asked him. Suppose you we're requested
i" by the Commissioner to estimate the cos. of taking
on an old roof and putting ON one, could you
" do TT be answered, 81 don't krov; be had al
ways been told TO 90 and do the work, provided be
kept within $3.50
The Commissioner of Repairs and Supplies admitted
on his examination that he did not know at the tine he
selected these men whether they practical me
chancs engaged in the particular business to which
they were assigned, not. Mr.. Donovan removed
the old roof Of Engine house No. -, and sold it for
Sio' Inc Sndumdn or thlB COmnlit,ec asked MIN II
ne gave credit for it, and he answered mo, Sir" bat
intend to-" In answer to the question, Ia it not
customary o give credit on bills - he answered No,
Sir-not with the Corporation" Tho Committee fear
that this has been too often the in work done for
the Corporation. The bills OF work thus done by these
ego Jobs are found to be IS per cent higher than lib
er charges Of regular mechanics and dealers outside
the Corporation.
The Committee found that the bills rcniere, by Don.
ovan, were enormous, averaging from 81 20 200 per
cent above what the work could have been done or
For instance be charged 800 81 to fix the roof of the
Twenty second Ward Station House. when rcsponsible
mechanics estimated the work at s28 81. Also for
sundres at the Franklin MARI ct he charged sl6 81
when the estimate s6f &C. Rooflc der, &C., of En-
CINE House No ~ ss4z 30; estimate SIS a. Roof
go 30. Engine House No. -, 1858 so estimate
clos 70. Roof, leader, &C., Eighth Ward
Station House slA S. estimate az y.
estimate slel 60. Roof and leaders, city repairs,
$50 90; Ultimate 800 50. McDougal Bell-Tower,
SOS So estimate Sa Il. Roof of Engine house No.
IL, go; estimate s25: DO. of No. I6, $50 90; est
The above is only portion of the bills furnished by
this party and the bils for painting carpeting &C.,
are similar, as already shown in the Controller
niunicaiion.
current rates Of work the Committee remark are what
swell the tax-ist-not the actual expenditures but the
normous percentage receiv ed by political parts in
the rendering OF bills The Committee would n)t
me hs remark 10 uis department IN question, out
believe that it prevails extensively in the adninstrs
ton Of public affairs.
The pump maker connected with the above depsrt-
meLt ia has not been satisfied with Lass than
$50 per cent profit. He presents bin OF SO for
imaginary repairs 10 a pump located at Macombs:
Dam. The came pump was examined by practical
men and found not TO have been repaired or require
repairs. Yet the bill bas the official indonement OF
the Commissioner aud Superintendent A. beng cor
rect. The inference is that many certified bills have
been psd without the city having received any benen
therefor.