The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-02

perry belongs to tho Street COMMISSIONER n.,.. :
ment and the only object for which II was orpsn,xaI
appears TO be to increase the patronage In the hand
interruptions politicians The salary Of the chic
ofhcer who is called the Superintendent Of Roads
Is u ,260 year. Thisis certainly small item. CON
sidered by ITSELF Of the whole expenses Of the oity
government, which last year exceeded six millions
but 1t would be absurd to suppose that the Supern
tendent s dependent upon 1t alone-in fact the sala
ry which attached to this like the salaries Of many
/ other officers of the city government, forms the
smallest item In his receipts In all cases where The
work to be done does not exceed two hundred dollars
with the consent Of the head ofthe department
give it out to whatever parties he may select indie
pendent Of the Common Council. II is surprising to
see the number OF bills under this sum which are
PAID every year, and which in the aggregate amount
I a. several thousand dollars. It is said that upon
yAast Us large per centage Is paid by the persons
eout,.exins for the work, and that as general
thing. Ii. are only ecployedupon such terms. How
ever this n M be, IL fact that Of tse incum-
bents Of the ,ocs have, on retiring, found them
selves the poss essors Of sums Of money varying from
ten to twenty tn ouaand dollars over all expenses.
The Superinten dent exercises an exteHsivt polit
cal influence throl gh the patronage he possesses
All the men occupie' in repairing the public roads
are employed by him, Md are almost invariably Of
the same political faith. They are organized in
gangs OF from twenty to t. vonsyfve, each gang be-
ing under the supervision Of foreman. In election
times these arc all expected to vote for their en-
ployer and his particular friendI and II would be
well for them il this were the only condition upon
which they held their situations. We have heard
Of instances however, in which, out Of their dollar
NOR Aov han hov oh, koA
PEELED to pay shilling to the foreman as bonus
the aggregate receipts obtained in this way being AZ
forwards divided with the Superintendent For some
weeks preceding an election the activity displayed
in the repairing Of streets is astonishing. The
slightest defect in road is made pretext for the
employment OF mon upon 1.-THE only qualification
being that they are voters and the only considera
tion, that they will give their votes for the avorte
candidate of their employer. 1t is in this way that
the powers reposed in the incumbent Of the Office
have been abused-or, we should rather say. it
is in this way the purposes for which the Office has
been created are carried out
The Superintendent of Repairs to Public Build
ings is one Of the most important officers connected
with this department 1t is his duty to superintend
the construction and repairing 0f the public build
ings, wells and pumps, and to supply the public |
and Offices Of the Corporation the court rooms,
tie police station houses and the public markets |
with fuel and all other things necessary therefor,
except stationery. The salary is 81 500 year, in
addition TO which $3.50 are allowed for horse aud
wagon. AS large portion Of the expenses Of this
bureau are paid in bills under $780, the Superinten
dent is to great extent independent OF the
action Of the Common Council. The perquistes
Of his Office are said to amount to be-
tween four and five Thousand dollars year. This
money is made principally nm contracts the oon-
tractors, as general thing, agreeing to pay the
official for the privilege Of doiug the work, and
sometimes, also for the privilege of either neglect
ing to do it, to do it in the cheapest and most
imperfect manner. While the contractors and the !
officials continue to agree upon the terms it very
seldom happens that the former are replaced by |
others, and many cases could be mentioned where |
they are retained for years. In the simple item of
painting the public buildings the parties who have
had the work are reported to have realized during
term of three years, between ten and twelve thou
sand dollars Then in addition to this there is the
upholstering and furnishing, upon which Of the
parties who formerly had the contract boasted that
he had made from three to five thousand dollars q
year.
The Superintendent of Pavements attends to the
regulating, digging, filing, paving and repairing OF
streets, for which he receives yearly salary of
81, 500, and $3.50 for horse and wagon. What we
have said of the patronage of the Superintendent
of Roads will apply to this Officer, with the excep-
ton that it is more extensive Such s the activity
that has been exhibited by some Of the incumbents
Of the Office that they have been known to expend
the yearly appropriation in or eight months
Like that OF the Superintendent of Roads, his
tivty is more fully displayed and can consequently
be seen to greater advantage, just about election
time The streets in localities, where paviers
have not been seen for many months, are all at
once alive with them; but sooner is the election
over, than the Superintendent oil Pavements re-
sunes his " mastery inactivity" and the streets
are allowed to relapse into their former dapidated
condition.
The Bureau of Supplies for the Fire Department,
Of which the Chief Engineer is the principal oif-
GER is charged with the duty of constructing and
pairing fire engines hose carts, hooks and ladders
ard oil the other apparatus and machinery. The
salary of the Chief Engineer ia $4,000 year, and
his duties those of superintendent and inspec
tor in addition to which heis required report the
condition CT the department, to keep its accounts
and examine, audit and certify to the Commissioner
of Repairs and Supplies all the work done under
his supervision. There is less opportunity for
making money in this department than Ia any OF
the others under the city government The Chief
Engineer, we may add, is under the control direc
iion and supervision Of the Commissioner OF Repairs
and Supplies, who may approve or disapprove all
| accounts certified by him. and by whom alone all
requistions upon the Comptroller for the payment
thereof can be drawn.
RrMR OF KASsAs DIFFICULTIES RENEWED Tho rumor
comes TO us agsin that the FREQ state and prosavey
men Of Kan,as Territory had been engaged 10 asht
n. Fas.on Is ssid that two Of ths border ruftns
were killed, and that abotc cni-ts we're severely
wounded in affiay ~hish Commenced BY the Mis-.
sourians mskiog attack upon tho ballot boxes rbe
story needs con6rmatop has already stated
that it grossly exaggs sted. We and the following
in the Kics poo Pione,r, extra, of Jan. 49,
| haa lad - H.