New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-07
ROBBING THE CITY TREASURY.

In the fourth quarterly report CT Mr.. Street
Commissioner Smith, transmitted to the Common
Council last week, we have a precious expose OF
the manner in which the City Treasury is plundered
with mpunity by some Of those who have charge
of its affairs. During the incumbency of Mr..
Edward Cooper in the Street Department, prom
| inent Eighteenth Ward Tammany politician, named
John Nesbit was appointed Superintendent of
| Roads, with salary of $4,000 year. and the use
Of horse and wagon at the expense Of the city.
| There are some people who would esteem such q
situation, involving very little hard work, good
thing and be content with the legitimate profits ap-
| pertaining thereto. Not go Dir. Nesbit. Dazzled
by the splendid success of some of the officers in
the Street and other Departments Of the City Gov
eminent, who in times past, had gone into office
without penny, and come out with a plethOric
baDk-accOunt, fast horses rural seat on the Hud-
con, and other evidences of successful genius,
he thought he, too, would "make his pile" For
time he succeeded in his efforts, and if his plans
had not been rudey blasted before their full fru
tiOn, there is no doubt that he would have realized
bis fonde,t hopes. But when Mr.. Commissioner
Smith entered the Street Department, he set to
work to become master of the situation in order
that be might be enabled to discharge his duties
with credit to himself and fidelity to the publie.
With that end in view he instituted system Of
checks and balances which enabled him to know
just what was being done in each subordinate
branch of the department. Mr.. Nesbit who found
that compliance with the new regulations would
materially impair his profits, and render MIN Liable
to detection, took the liberty of disregardng the
rules. He thus drew upon himself the suspicion
Of his superior officer, who at once set on foot
searching investigation, which resulted in develop
ing the evidence of his dishonesty. He was cited
to appear before the Mayor, and there, in his pres
ence and that of the late Street Commissioner
Cooper the mans knayery was SO clearly proved
that he was glad to shirk away, and send in his
resignation.
II seems that Nesbit engaged with certain per.
soIs to bring limestone chips to the city at rs cents
per tun, for mending the uptown roads. In reply
to an official inquiry, he reported that this material
was brought in certain vessels from Stony Point,
Kingston, Rondout and Verplsnck's Point, on the
Hudson River Upon investigation it was found
that the whole of the chips were brought from
Tompkins Cove, and not from either of the other
places named, there being no such material there.
requisition upon him for the vouchers upon which
be had paid for l7,O74 tuns Of material was evaded,
and no vouchers could be obtained. 1t was ascer-
tanned that the Tompkins Cove Lime Company,
which had furnished the whole of the material used
on the roads by Mr.. Nesbit, certified to only 1887
gross tuns, or 9,226 2-5 tuns net which was 7,s45
tnns less than Dir. Nesbt had drawn for. The
latter then excused himself by saying that the
vessels carried great many tuns more than their
registered tunnage; but it was proved that il they
had been loaded as heavily as he pretended, they
must have sunk at the wharves. An effort was
made to determine how much they carried when