New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-01

We printed yesterday communication from the
Controller making some revelations touching the
robbery of the people through the Street Depart
ment. Not long since we had an exhibit OF the
modus opeIandi in getting hundred thousand dol
lars for work never done, through the dsinterested
award of referees. Within a few days the Board
of Councilmen have voted to give out large paw.
ing contract for SO 90 per yard, when the lowest
responsible bidder tried hard to get it at 81 80;
the difference amounting to six or seven thousand
dollars. How and why the lowest bidder 4" ar
ranged to withdraw after urgently seeking the
work, was not explained; but it is strongly sus-
pected that the leaders Of the majority knew mere
than they dared to tell. At any rate the city was
robbed Of the six or seven thousand dollars, and if
the men who carried it through, in spite of the
almost direct charge Of knavery, were not well
paid, they have not had their deserts.
In the case presented by the Controller we find
the old story-a huge swindle on a contract not
given to the lowest bidder, but TO some favorte of
the power that made the award. One Mr.. Oscar
Taylor received contract in the Spring of 1856.
He was not the lowest bidder; but the law was
hazardous system of advances upon work in
progress, be has drawn $15 $40 from the Treasury,
all upon the certificates of one Francis p. Vidal, a
City Surveyor. These calls for advances became
rather suspicously frequent, and the Controller
finally shut down the gate, and sent couple of
competent and experienced men Daniel Even and
j. S. Serrel) to survey the work and report the
facts. Their report developed scsndaIous fraud
ca the part Of the principal persons interested in
the job. The work to he dope was regulating and
grading Fiftyffth street nom the Third to
the Fifth avenue. The specifications give
Taylor pay for 62,40O cubic yards of
earth filling; the truth shows only 4,4S0
yard, wanted the fraud being only some 30 per
cent. OF rock excavation the agreement pays for
$500 cubic yards yet only 1913 were needed; also
30 per cent. The amount due for the work actu-
ally required did not exceed Sl4 OO9 20. Taylor
has already been paid Sl5.45O "a, aud there
yet remains 23,2l5 cubic yards of earth
filling and 2, 0S6 cubic yards of rock to be cut.
When it is recoected that the Street Depart
ment expends two millions per annum, mostly in
jobs like this, and that by the arbitrary exercise of
bis sole judgment, the Conn ssioDer can give con-
tracts to his avOrites at prices more remuneratve
than California gold mines, the people will not be
at loss to understand why Mayor Wood is ready
to plunge us into civil war to grasp the tempting
prize. He has already forced. at least into tenn
porary possession Of that Department, man
whose main business for years has been taking and
jobbng contracts for street works; and it was the
L., H., 81 Il. l.
WAS directly interested in contracts then pending
to the extent Of $40, 900. How be could accom-.
modate this business with the Charter, which
makes it misdemeanor for city officers to be in
terested in contracts, we do not know; probably
as easily as Alderman McSpedon did, who ras
Corporation Printer up to the time Of taking Office,
when the firm of McSpedon d Baker was easily
dissolved and the Alderman had no further interest
therein.
To the monstrOus rOttenness of this Street De-
partment has been added the equal robbery Of the
Repairs and Supplies 1t is estimated that a
clever Street Commissioner can make 800, 900 a
year for himself, beside paying half the election
expenses of his party. What further amount of
theft and perjury will be required to arouse the
taxpayers to the protection of their pockets |
How many more millions will they pay to enrich |
kDsves and DULLES, before they rise in their might
and ~ eep away the foul brood forever? How long
shall the leading city of America be pointed out as
den of brigands byword for all that is dishonest
and filthy Of the $1,000, 900 drawn this year
from the toll Of honest men, full one-quarter is
stolen by knaves, and another quarter goes for
useless AMI wasreful jobs to pay for votes to elect
ard dishonest men. How long shall |
these thing. continue