The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-23
How Public Money Is Expended aud Pabiic
Work Done-An Investigation.

How Public Money Is Expended and Psbiis
Work Done-An Investigation.
The Committee Of Repairs snd Supplies OF he Board
Aldermen met In Mr. Valentines Office, City Hall, at
r. NJ observation-disclosures VIM Tucker in the chair
The subject before the committee a communication
from the Comptroller upon the various expenditures il
the repairing public buildings, which communication
referred to committee by the Beard OF Aldermen
the 18th Of August last The particular question was
In relation the in which the Superlntenden
Public Buildings got them repaired.
Tho ordinances declare that whenever job is 70
the Superintendent required TO have careful estimate
made which he is TO present to the Com missioner II
the whole cost Is more than two hundred dollars, the
Comm sscrer is required to present the matter to the
Common Council, and obtain their sanction to expend
larger sum than two hundred dollars IL this course
net taken the expenditure Illegal the person
who has given his labor TO the department may be
compelled 20 obtain the ssnction of the Common
Council, ana thus be subjected 10 delay and en-
bargAssmeBt, occasOned BY any fault or his but by
compliance with the ordinance on the part of the
Ger OF The Corr grafton II the repair Of buldine
Ia estimated 10 than hundred dollars then
the Superintendent Of Repairs should himself purchase
the necessary materials, and employ competent and
aitb'r ncchancs TO 90 the work and the ordinance
pressiy says ihai ne should keep the time or the
tmpo. ca, and the work upon which they engaged
sle the expense atenops the same when the work is
cot done by contract
rue eurefinteHctht II appears has been getting
ooEe - manner 6hertn, from, and at cost exceeding
hat allowed by the ordinances.
Tae CON ntee investigate the matter fully AID
report the result to the Board Toey objected al nrst TO
etsng be present at the Investigation yes
terday, but finally ,nsented
The following The testimony taken -
n SHAH Superintendent, being sworn, said be
%sned 10 noW vte'her he was compelled to answer
che qrtttors or NOT
Tie CHAIRMAN ed rot an wer any question he
die OF wish 70.
MT>Fss-I shaI then decline answering any questions
~ hat q
here ard examining
CHMRMAN-Here il a hill OF three or four hundred dol.
lars for repairs engine house. | want TO know
something about IT, his Information must be go from
come one. II the bills all right cannot what
objections you can have TO ans werDg my questions,
WnsEs-i have 20 objections to answering II | knew
there any ity for your asking | viii not
give any testimony T. any man before Know that
CHAIgnAN-Hes the bills for the repairs on several
places Have you examined those places since the work
was done, 10 see II II was right, &cs
WINES have examined some OF them aud had men
80 examine 9th RS tor
cHAIRrAS-Tbe superintendent should examine ali
ouidn2s wnere repairs are needed, and estimate the
cost OF The repairs which, If they exceed $500 oaly
be done by the Common Council,
W1SEss-l thought the CHARTER allowed $3.50 TO be
paid by the Super nteudent for piece of work
warranted job OF for greater amount taan that
CsArRsAs-The Comptroller declares AMI the charter
specifies any JOB exceeding 5000 given out BY tae
Superintendent Unauthorized By the Common Council IL
moi legal Here is the work for Judge Green's place that
cost ~ GOO want 20 know If you made al estimate TO
see what that would costY
wnsEss-n bad thought The work would have cost
more than $3.50 would not have contracted for it.
CHAIRsAs-wel II vas your business to estimate, and
see ths the work cid not cost 81 0C0 The Common
HlegsBy contracted for Nov here are half a dozen
bills OF repair that amount to three and four hundred
collars. II the Superatencent bad done his duty, he
would have gone those places aud estimated the cost
ard It exceeded 500, was the duty OF the Common
wnsKss-wel then have been mistaken; thought
we're allowed TO make repairs, when no oae OF the
items exceeds $3.50 Al the same time.
CHARxAs-Then you might build q new city hall, by
building $3.50 worth OF II at time Here Is HOOK and
LADDER Company, No q, whtre the work done At one
WrTsEs again Objected ssergg questions Snless
there vas some an ,horiiy Tor asking them.
CsABnAN-l GO not care, as Chairman OF this com
mitee whether voc answer the questions Tot,
tell you, will be better for and your colleagues
10 arswr tvery question that IS asked you If YOU re-
fee 10 Ruswer any one we viii very quickly conclude
aboCth
wussss-It appears very much ike persecution bring
CHArssAx-How 10 il persecution
wr,EssThe way have understood the CHARTER Is the
way every department IN the city acts upon It. and
abe way they have always doLe Tor the last six years
and why should be called up IN preference to any one
elseS
CHrRnav-Mr. selab, you have certified tina, these
accounts correct want TO know you have examined
TITS werk and inat ihfy sos
wusE.s-some places have examined; other places
eerlcd upon from taking the testimony OF others
QrEsros- Does tae superintendent do the work gene
rally without coniny 20 you do you direct bin 10 do
a. Answer. generally direct Tim, but no, always.
Q Here i bill Of s2i7. changed for the roof Of
Engine HoUse No. 81 do you know what done TO the
O siee ! charged for the roof OF Engine Room No 90
60 you know Whist done A. do not
q Have you examined the houses where painting
done and IL 70, how II dcpey A. I have visited
some. and generally found a was done well
q. Have you ever examined a building 10 see what
woCld be the cost Of the reparsf A. les sir and IN
5erstocd we could not expend more than $3.50 Tor any
one item Of the repairs
Laws JOHNSON gas otter, sworn-Q Are your prices
In these bills the prices usually charged for such WORK
A. They are the prices usually charge
O. Can Jon state where you have put up such work As
this railing for tbs prce. have been oct Of the bG.
siness FOR soHe time and don't recoreci any place.
charge Cor making the iron gates charged 10 this BILL by
the pound, or any ether Way A. lie did not.
q When you made out this bill did ne make any obiec.
ton 20 tf A. No, cir.
O Dc be ever make any objections TO your bills A.
No sir; sometimes might, perhaps, make mistake In
one, aud Afterwards correct H.
q here are gas pipes charged forty cents foot 10
that The usual price A. Yes sir.
q Did tho Superintendent examine any Of your work
after II was done : A. never knew him 10
q. Dd he know you 10 work on ~ A. have
hesrd ny say De did
yer done any work by contract have been asked
times BY Mr.. Irving now much such Job would cost.
q. suppose you were nov asked bow much i would
coe to take OF roof and Iut another, could you
answer A. don't think coud.
q. Before you old your work you asked how
much would cost A. No sif they told me not 70 do
work exeecarg $3.50 the price got Tor my work s The
same charged Other parties.
q state where you received the samtf A.
or Mr.. Carlard in Chambers street.
=. WATzKs Jr, (painter) was ncxt sworn. Hts test
mony 10 the pantpe was similar 70 the testimony IN
regard 10 ihe work Of the other departments.
The COMMITTEES then adjourned 10 meet on rhursdsy
next G3P. N.
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AT CHIC AGo-CAPsIzISG or
TsE SOUS FERRl BoAT-FRos TN FuTsEN LvEs LoSr.
The ctr thrown INTO The most terrible excitement
this morning by he announcement that the South Ferry