New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-05
INVESTIGATION BY ,THE COMMITTEE on
@A' EKAIDS.

TIE Committee on Frauds Of the Board OF Alder
men, having under consideration the 8u0)ect 4 cortah
alleged sbuses u The Street Department held another
meeting Yesterday at the City Hall, when the matter
of fraudulent contracts and assessments connected
with the grading, paving tagging sidewalks, &C., in
Fifly-fcurth street, received special attention.
z Francis T. Vidal was first sworn and examined.
Tie testified as follows / was the Surveyor Of Fifty
fourth street have been City Surveyor for more
than 30 years. have toerably distinct recollection
of the job Of grading that street. | went over the
ground to zee what would be required to be done;
recommended TO Mr. Taylor, then Street Commissioner
to have the filling up and tagging done together;
think that about nine feet Of filling wa5 required; IL
had been filed before; do not visit each job every
dav: il il my duty to gee that the work
is done, that the proper materials are pot
on the work according to the specifications
line what property was to be improved was taken
sick am subiecttO neuralgia and while suffering with
that disease sent for Mr.. Stripe, nelghbor OF mne
who was wcI-knOwn "a draughtsmani told hlm
that wished him to mako up the assessment list tor
me- which he did and was not aware that there was
anything wrong about 1t until was tod so by M
Pinckney, who said there was great error and s1ld
10 him that the collector should pay back the money
Mr.. Stripe is now dead; know that to be 80, for
attended his fuDeral cannot say how was paid for
the Job; generally make out written report rela-
tive 10 every job in this case Mr. Stripe made outthe
rep0rt being sick myself at the time; he made most
terrible mistake in it, cannot say whether he made
ont the report without inspecting the work or not
never made out report myself without examining the
work; lsigIed the paper prepared Dy MI STRIPE De-
fore il was handed in.
AID. ADAMS here gave Mr.. Vidal to understand
that the City and Taxpayers would hold him response
bic for signing that paper.
George T. Rogers, sworn-1w was the Contract Clerk
under Mr. Taylor have recollection of the con-
tact made for tagging the sidewalks in FttyiOurth
street, think there three bids made, and, a.
find on referring to the book, the proposals were
20 cents 63 cents and 10 cents per foot; IT further
appears that the contract was given TO tho highest
bidder; the lowest bidder declined the job IN which
case il is given to the next lowest can say but hte
more about it; my signature Is to the 10 cent bd
recolect seeing notes from OF" or both of the lOwes
bidders declining the job; mad the JOB OF copying
the contracts according to directions; this ls all the
knowledge have of tue matter; have no knowledge
OF contractors acting in concert IN Withdrawing the
lowest bids if had had to pay7j cents foot for the
work 1 should have considered it big price, cannot
assign any reason why security was not given in this
caee. r
Commissioner under Mr.. Taylor; can give no rea-
why security was not required IN the mater of
tagging FiftyfOurth street. tho ordinance says that
the contract shall be given to the lowest bidder and
in case he declines il shall be given 10 the next lowest
thought that - cents per foot was big price to pay
for the work MIR. Flugg is always present at the
opening of the bids, but he is not consulted aerward
as regards 10 whom the contract is given out IN case
the lowest bidder declDes this case there appears
to be only one surety given, which wrong work ma
often been half done before the contract was signed
a. xpayer of this city, should not want the W0Tk
done at as high figure "a 10 cents per foot
AID ADAMS here observed that the Committee were
prepared 10 prove that work had been often done
without the authority of the Common Council.
Terrence Farley sworn-I did not bid to do the
work in Finy-fouth street; bought the contract: it
was assigned to Inc by Mr.. MOuntOy; don't know
whether il is usual thing to buy and sell contracts
or not but think Rad good a right to buya con-
tract as arything else; Mountjoy had not done any
wOik when got the contract from 1im commenced
the job; don't think l gave MOuntioy more than
so 10 So for the contract in places there was
Is feet of filling required it probably averaged feet;
paid from eight TO twelve cents per load for filling;
was notified that had been overpaid for the work
something over 1900; paid it back TO Mr. Pinckuey;
/ cannot see how it is that people have PAID Tor lm
prOvements that have never been madc; saw one OF
The parties who bid for the job, Ne Gallagher who
offered to do il for 20 cents he up to look a. the
street and said that he did not TANK there was 80
much filling required; a. person named Hughes AS
signed a contract to me. -
Mr. White, previously swOrn saidhehe paid 1896 -
in 1856 for grading his lot - feet front by 90 deep,
corner Of Lexington and Fifty.fourth street;
this lot and MIR. IatOurs assessed TO the amount
of $i57, and he could do the who work for $50.
Mr.. LatOur, previously swOrn, said there was no
filling up of consequence requred-Only just little at
the top to lay the Tagging on.
Mr.. Moultop sworn-Said he did not own any prop
eryin Ffy-fourth street, but represented four lots
owned By Jacob Allis, which in 1854 Were assessed
at the rate Of $ll4 upon each lot for grading paving
&C.. Of the whole street, 60 feet wide, and now the
property was again assessed Ssl upon each lot for
Tagging the sidewalk, feet wide, whereas $l2 20
would be full pay for the work.
At this stage of the investigation the Committee
adjourned until Monday next, when the alleged abuses
in connection with the improvements in Fhty-seconi
street will be taken up.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.