The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-18

THE STREET COMMISSIONER FIGnr--It will be
eeen by our columns this morning that the
Mayor has sent all the papers in Devlin's case
to the Grand Jury for an indictment.
The fight for the spoils of the Street Commits
sioner's Office will be desperate one-natu-
rally 70, because it is more productive Of pick
ipgs than any Office in the State. It Is far more
important to the incumbent than that of the
Mayor or any other official; for the Street Com.
missioner's Department embraces a variety of
others, and controls a great deal OF money.
There is the bureau of the Collector of Assess
ments, the bureau Of Lamps and Gas, the ba-
reau Of Repairs and Supplies. Of the Superinten-
dent Of Wbarves. Superintendent Of Roads, and
Superintendent Ct Street improvements all
these subordinate offices have been placed under
the authority OF the Street Commissioner by
the charter Of 1867. The Street Commissioner,
in fact, has now the disbursement Of over three
millions and halt year-balf the entire ex-
penditure Of the city. So that the post is worth
fighting for.
IL IL 10 the Street Department that nearly all
the rogueries Of the last five or six years have
may be safely set down as the rate at which the
city II plundered, and the greatest portion Of
this amount finds sn outlet through the different
bureaus Of the Street Department But the
Street Commissioner does not stand alone re.
sponsib'e. The Comptroller has the issuing of
the bonds and warrants upon which all the
monty il paid, and the frauds which have
been growing with such frightful rapidity for
some years past could only be perpetrated either
with the connivance or through the ignorance
and csrvlessness of the Comptroller.
The loose fashion in witch the financial
affairs Of the city have been conducted in Mr..
Flagg's time seems TO have thrown the doors of
bic department open to a get Of fellows who
know but too well how 10 avail themselves OF
The neglect
The revelations, such as they were, Of the
late Investigations show this to be the fact. and
suggest at once that Mr.. Flagg is incapaoitated
for his Office and in common justice to the over
taxed city should retire. With regard to the
Developments made by Conover, Of Devlin's
alleged completely with the frauds in street
opening and grading, they have only exhibited
aspecimen brick In the building the founda-
ton whereof we shall never reach us long as
the present system Of municipal government is
in operation. Five thousand dollars here and
ten thousand there are nothing out of the pile
Of plundcred wealth accumulated by various
modes through The medium of the Street De-
partment
We may expect TO witness one Of the most
desperate combats for the spois Of Office ever
Known about the Street COMMISSIONER depart
ment II Ii golden gucrdon for which
cavalier may well splinter lance. Plutus aud
Mercury, The god of gold and the god Of theft,
are the seities presiding over the battle field.
THE CENTRAL PARK.-Every days growth Of
the city decpens the necessity for an extensive
park through which our people may breathe the
pure air Of heaven unpolluted, and in whose
beautiful glades they may find relaxation from
their arduous labors In the sitting atmosphere of
the crowded metropolis The Central Park
promises this relief 10 our citizens when IL IL
fhshed How soon that will be depends upon
the activity Of the parties entrusted with its
management; but at the present rate OF work.
ing we fear II Is destined to be q long way of.
At first there was great deal Of excitement and
busle about IT, The Commissioners were appa
rcBtly very active. Wnen q vacancy occurred