The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-19

nation.
Mayor Wood, the Croton Aqucduct Board
and the Board OF Aldermen.
The newspapers are making q great fuss
about the removal by Mayor Wood of the En-
gineer and Assistant Commissioner of the Gro
ton Aqueduct Board. The Board of Aldermen,
TO whom the Mayor sent communication an
nouncing the removal on the 18th inst, have
refused to take action on the subject, on the
ground that the reasons alleged are INSULT cient
Another communication was sent to the
Aldermen last night and that was referred to
committee. What are the facts!
Mayor Wood discovered that the estimates of
the work done on the Reservoir exceeded the
original estimate Of the cost by more than
$4,000; that, In pursuance of the estimate of
Mr.. Craven, in one contract the city lost So
900 by giving it to Fairchild q Co. instead of to
Cummings & Co.; that the Engineer made q
mistake Of $4,000, and was liable, therefore,
to make other mistakes, involving serious
losses to the city. Was it not therefore, the
duty Of the Mayor to remove him, and is not
the cause sufficient!
Again, the materials employed on the work
In Forty ninth street are found to be of inferior
quality to those guaranteed by the contract,
and there are errors In the grade of the work
in Thirty-ninth and Fortieth streets which may
lead to litigation and loss. For these matters
the Engineer is responsible. Are they not suf-
6cient cause for his REMOVAL
the Engineer and Assistant Commissioner de-
serve removal. They have retained in Office
persons proved to have beer guilty of official
delinquency, in converting the public property
to private use. Now, the charter declares that
any officer of the city government, or person
employed in its service, "who shall commit any
fraud upon the city, or convert any of the pub.
lie property to bis own use, or knowingly per-
NIT any other person so to convert it, shall be
deemed guilty of q misdemeanor, and, in addi-
tion to the penalties imposed by law, shall for
felt bis Office and be excluded forever after
from receiving or holding any Office under the
city charter"
That this provision Of the charter was vio-
lated by persons under the immediate control
of the Engineer and Assistant Commissioner.
and that the facts were brought to their know
ledge, there cannot be the shadow Of q doubt.
The penalty imposed by the charter Is dis
missal Is that not sufficient ground for the
action Of the Board of Aldermen What more
would they require.
The facts to which we have adverted are the
best answer to the journals who are raising an
outcry against Mayor Wood, and show that his
course is reasonable and based upon con-
sideratons of public good. He may be
called despot; but that is just the
kind of person that Is required for city 60
vernment like ours. We have always con-
tended that the responsibility ought not to be
divided, and that the power ought to be cen.
tralized in one head, in order to its efficient
and harmonious exercise; and those who are
now opposing Wood were formerly jealous
advocates of the same principle, but con-
veniently raise the claptrap hue and cry about
despotism merely because man they do not
like is in power. Mr.. Woods clearness of
head, 6rmness and decision, with great admins
trative ability and mastery Of details, mark
him out as the right man for the Mayoralty,
and instead Of throwing obstacles In his way.
II Is the duty Of the Board of Aldermen to
second bis efforts for the good government of
the Empire City.