The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-26


transactions, housh seemingly initiating against the in
tere-ts OF the contractor avang mse OF them rather
than agains me property interest, are wrong not NE
ga, as involving partially which viii always o. pre-
other favors ns settle nnent which will be sure 70
count sgsnst he properly holders plain enough 10
comprehend from the evidence Of the CAGES cited
These various kinds Of irregular, Illegal and fraudulent
opersuons which have been developed in the making,
the Street and other Departments, clearly indicate that
some further checks aud guards, by ordinance or otner
wse should be provided 10 protect the treasury and the
individual property from further loss IN nture i'm
provements and, in the opinion of the undersigned,
many Of the Of made In consequence
OF the misrepresen taon and frand practced upon he
Comptroller present fair grounds recovery from the
parties OF the amounts so wroDgfuly obtained from me
treasury ana property owners.
Of the checks needed undersigned will here give
programme Of the proceedings in reference TO street i'm
provemepts from the original ordinance directing tho
obe made the final payment by the Comptroller.
The first step after the passage Of the ordinance pre-
made snd Tie amount exceed $3.50 contract must be
made and proposals for doing The work sheud be adver
sed for ana the bids handed TO the Street artment
by the day designated, and that day opened by the
Street Commissioner in the presence OF the Comptroller
calculation ia then made from the prices of each bid
based upon the preliminary estimate OF work TO be done
the bidder whose prices show the lowest aggregate
coat Is entitled TO the award The award made s then
con by the Street Commissioner TO the Common
Council recommending its confirmation to the party desg
mated the lowest bidder After confirmation by the
Common Council and Mayor contract should be made in
Street Commissioner and the said lowest bidder, and
recorded in the department. and duplicate OF filed
% e M p he anaonaS ns % work b ssou ns
report the Street Department from time TO time the
in which the work is performed and the surveyor
appointed the work, also from time TO time render
account Of work dope upon which, all things be
rect the contractor becomes entitled draw from the
treasury 10 per cent Of the of
done the per cent being payable 10 him on
fJl completion OF the contract On completion OF the
work and final return of surveyor, the Street Commits
o;op aturN 6cota ~ tho
ard specifications Of the contract recorded and rans
m the two 10 The assessors who from those vouchers
make out list of the property assessed and the amount
TO be collected from each property owner to cover the
total OF cost under the contract together with
expenses attendant thereon for surveyors, inspectors,
assessors and collectors fees and for advertising
This list of the sasessors, together with the aores said
final return of survey and certificate OF Street Oommis
soner then transmitted TO the Common Council for
irmaton; after which the papers should be, and
have been always, anterior to the time Of the
undersigned as Street Commissioner, returned to
the Street Department for examination and tran
script into ledger of tho assessors statement of
cost by of which account kept particularly
with each piece Of work under contract Finally the said
list together with accompanying Vouchers
transmitted the collectors Of for the coec
ton Of the sums assessed
BY comparison OF the proceedings detailed in the
several cases cted with the programme here set FORTH il
will be apparent where and how the Irregularities and
frauds committed, and the means of checking the like
p future will more readily suggest themselves. With this
view the undersigned would respectfully recommend TO
your honorable body that amendments of tho ordinances
respecting the and other Departments made
provide to greater degree thai security which Is due TO
the treasury and property owners In matters involving so
great expenditure Of money street improvements.
First-As check upon the wrong committed by pri
Inspection OF bids before the regular opening thereof
the undersigned would recommend that dupca Of each
bid sh uld be filed with the Mayor, and that he, in
necon with the Comptroller be present at the opening Of
the bids.
Second-As check upon any alteration Of contract
and upon the issue Of any fraudulent certificate 70 It's
terms and specifications well 70 provioe the best
possible Of enabling the Common Council and the
Mayor ascertain the correctness OF the lists
presented 20 them for conr nation he would recommend
that duplicate copies Of every contract be fled with the
Clerk of the Common Council and the Mayor as now is
done with the Comptroller.
aTbirdro prevent any excess Of assessments based
the returns OF surveyors and u secure greater cor
in the calculations Of the ss, he
would mend rst that the surveyors be required
survey and only such work shall be included
in the contract, which will also prove considerable
saving 20 the property owners in the way o; fees and
secon1y ,haTthe assessois ee requIe1 70 nshsmn sno
DeParnent for examination and comparison with con
tract before snch list shall be tran mted to your honor
Fourth TO further reduce the cost OF street improve
ents TO property owners he would recommend tha, the
present system Of INSPECTION he entirely done away with
Of inspection added the street Department
10 consist Of not Gye inspectors who shall
every requisite ability IN judge Of the character Of
all kinds II work embraced IN improvements The
expense Of such bureau, at liberal salary TO such
peteDt inspectors would not mount 10 tthe Of the
expense incurred by the appointment of all sorts OF
incompetent persons that duty. bureau organized
would also have good effect by influencing the progress
OF The work and thereby preventing the large excess Of
time usually consumed by contractors in the perform
arce OF their work
All of which is respectfully submitted.
u. q. OONOvE1l, Street Commissioner.
The communication partly read and laid the
table.
Alderman ADAMS asked if there was any communication
from the Comptroller.
The PRECEDENT az sworcd In the negative
Alderman ADAMS saii be hal offered resolution somo
time ago requiring information respecting ferry running
from the Battery, without the authority OF the Common
Council; but don't IN be forthcoming from that
model tf financial departments the ComprOier's office
Alderman Adams hoped II would be here at the next
meeting he would take some other Of pro.
curing 1t.
communication received from the Counsel Of the
Corporation IN 10 resolution on the organzai
OF the Finance Department under the new charter IN which
he states that he has examined the subject and had not
discovered any repuEnancy the adopted
by the Board and the charter The inquiry being very
raj in its terms Involved critical sxaminaton Of al the
provisions Of both Of these Instruments To make such
examination would require time and attention than he
has been able 70 give H. He suggests that the Board
specify such portions they want information
The report Of the Committee Ordinances favor or
the passage Of ordinance providing for an issue OF stock
for rebuilding Of Tom pkns square Was adopted.
wAsHIvCToNs BIRTHDAY
resolution from the Board Of Counclmen atng
1000 Cor the celebration Of Wsshngtons Birthday was
lait over.
The Committee on Finance reported IN favor Of granting
to the State womans Hospital the block Of ground bound
ed by Forty Fftieth streets and Lexington and
Fourth avenues, site for their building lad over.
The same committee reported In favor of donating 81 900
In aid OF the funds OF the American Female Guardian So
ciety and Home Of the frcndiess laid over
ovERIiAU1SG DErtRrvsSIs-IooxISG OrT FOR
FRAUDS
The following was offered by Alderman Owrvs:-
Resolved, That the Committee Joint Accounts be- and
hereby Instructed 10 take the investigation into the
affairs of the Finance department where was left by the
late Common Council and prosecute the 10 compile
ton.
Resolved, Ths, they be further instructed 10 cause 10
be written up the books where needed In all the depart
mants.
That the trust accounts be thoroughly exapnei that
the department Of be and corrected all
matters relative 10 the books and papers.
That the accounts OF all collectors be audited and ex
amined
That where deficiencies found or fraud
OF any kind developed account be kept and the
same be presented 10 the Common Council
Resolved, That the commhtec be empowered 10
poy competent accountants 10 perform this work, that