The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-06


to time published accounts of the numerous
swindling transactions that have been brought to
light in the Office of the Street Commissioner
during the past three or four years. The facili-
ties for overcharging in the Street Department
were magnificent, and it does not appear that the
hungry politicians who hang about the City Hall
allowed them to go unimprOved. For many
months the Office was besieged by two sets of
cormorants, hangers on to the antagonistic claim
ants for the superintendent of the department
The books were in disorder, and chaos reigned
supreme. Numberless suits were brought against
the city, and allowed by the law officer of the
Corporation to go by default. In this way many
persons were paid for work that had never been
performed; others were Overpaid, and in only
isolated cases was the city treated as an ordinary
employer, asking that certain job should be
done at fair price. These things were patent
to all, and could not escape the attention Of Mr..
Cooper When he assumed the Office of Street
Commissioner
In obedience to a resolution adopted in
July Of last year, directing the Street Com
missioner I" to cause an examination to be
made with regard to the various claims sent in
against the city for work done or supplies fur
nshed during the contested administration of
Messrs. Conover and Devin," Mr.. Cooper ap-
pointed Mr.. John B. Cozzens, an experienced ae-
cOuntant, to make such examination. Mr.. Coz
zens proceeded to his work, meeting with difficult
ties at every step, but gained sufficient amount
nm IN hot in otvono
the work done, or supplies furnished the city,
was charged thirty or forty per cent more than
the same work could be done and the same ar
ticles purchased on account of private persons.
The report of Mr.. COzzens has been transmitted
(Dec. 13, 1859 to the Common Council and we
lie in general to its startling revelations. In bills
rendered to the amount of $40,945 40, there are
overcharges to the amount of $11, 29O 80. In
one case. person sues the city for work not
done and goods not delivered; in another, bill
for iron Safes amounting on its face to 81 500 TO-
for work done in the City Hall Park, when the
labor has never been performed another for
chairs in the Street Commissioners office. when
they have never been furnished masons bill of
SlI,944 n is cut down to $8.412 So. Nearly all
the small bills are overcharged fifty per cent and
well known politician has been furnishing sup
plies to the engine houses to the amount of
$1,000, at an advance of thirty per cent over the
retail prices. A person who furnished
stone and gravel for the roads has re-
covered by Judgment Ss45 SO, when he
was only entitled to 1924. The city paid to
him S4O7 for work that was never performed
Mr.. Cozzens refuses to allow 81 564 10 bills, many
OF which have already been paid under judg-
ment. Two persons bring in bills for labor which
have already been paid. One contractor has cut
down street two and half feet, in order to OBJ
tain earth to fiji in on some other place, 80 that
the city will have to pay for raising the grade of
the street cut down. This person has drawn
81 500 so from the Comptroller, when he was
entitled to only 1891. Other bills to the amount
of 81, 200, are for work which has never been
done. There are further bills to the amount of
S24,937 for work done on the roads, Of which
Mr.. Cozzens believes from inquiries and inspec-
ton, not more than half haa been done The