New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-13
TIE NEW sTREET-CLEANINC
eANTRAGT

The action of tine Common Council in hurrying
through the new STRENGTHENING contract con-
trasts strangely with the tardy manner in which
they quietly stranoled its predecessor The con-
tract which they last year rejected was Tor
1920, 900 year, we believe, the contractor
furnishing approved Sureties that he would faith
fully perform the work for FIVE years. After
long DELAY, new call was issued by the City
Inspector for proposals, which were opened about
the close of the year. The lowest bidder was
Mr.. William H. Williams, who named response
BILE bondsmen, who stood ready to secure tho
city against loss BY any failure on his part. Tho
bids were transmitted to the Common Council
by the City Inspector and Controller, and re-
ferred, in the Board of Councmen, TO the Com
mittee on Cleaning Streets. On Monday evening
the report Of the Committee came up. IL dia
not advocate the award of the cOntrSct 70 any
particular bidder, but merely reclted that some
very high bids and some absurdy low ones had
been made.
Mr. Hogan offered g resolution that the con.
tract be awarded to Mr. Andrew j. IIackey, at
his bid of S279, 600 year for five years Various
amendments were proposed, but it was evident that
the scheme had been fully arranged, and the
resolution was approved by strict party vote, as
follows:
AryIRxArIyE-Councilmen Barney, Bikford Hogan Shan
Jones Miller Ryan, Gross Reppe Haz9ton ort0n Long
NsGaTIvs-COancimen Hall Smith, Lent Keech Cleveland,
owe Stevenson CUrnen Brandon Pnckney and Trotter-
Republican,
1t was Immediately carried into the Board of
Aldermen, with other papers from the Council
men, and coyertly put upon its passage. The
title was hurriedly read, and Mr. Cornell moved
concurrence, and called for the previous ques-
ton. Alderman Dayton made an Intellectual at
tempt TO refer it to Committee Of Three but
he was choked down, and the iniquity was ac-
compIished by the following vote:
AynIRsarrvR-Aldermen Smith. Barry Bagley. Tuomey,
Rn..n Coraei Booe Plat fsrey and the Presdent-lO
EEGATyx-Adermen Chip, Dayton, frss Allen aud Fro
ment-5
Our reporter endeavored to copy the resolu-
ton, but it was snatched out of his hands by
clerk, an Alderman remafkng that it must be
signed forthwith. 1t is understood that Dir.
Booe rushed it down to the Mayors Office,
where it was signed in a trice. His Excelency
the Mayor having thus served his constituents,
stepped into his carriage and drove of to dinner.
Thus was perpetrated a swindle before which the
Japanese enormity sinks into insigni6canee.
1t is currently reported that this job was con.
cocted on Sunday afternoon by " the Ring" and
that leading hotel proprietor held $4,000 as a
consideration for the cOnsummatiOn of the con-
tract That the true character Of the affair may
be understood, we need only to state that on
Saturday last Mr.. Williams notified the Control
Ter and the Mayor that in addition to Messrs.
f. b. Wesley and Hawley ID. Clapp, whom hs
offered with his bid to the City Inspector a.
sureties, he was ready to give additional security
to any amount required. A similar communica-
ton was received from him by the Boards OF
Aldermen and Councmen on Monday evening,
prior to their action upon the contract But the
plot had been matured and the consideration no
doubt secured for the approval of the Hackiey
bid, and it was put through This contracs
gives Mr.. Hackley the modest sum OF Sl20OVo
more than was asked by Mr. Williams for hls
five years work. Whether it will stand remains
10 be seem MIR. Williams, who is himself re-
sponsble, and backed up by ample means, has
obtained from the Superior Court an iDJunctioo
upon the Mayor and Common Council enjoinlng
them from completing the contract, and requiring
them 10 show cause on the 10Th inst. why the IN
junction should not be made perpetual There Is
LITTLE reason TO doubt that if transaction con-
ceved in fraud, and consummated in iniqulty'
ouObt 70 DO annulled, this bold attempt to plum
der the Taxpayers of nearly half million Oh
dollars will be defeated.