New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-08
CITY ITEMS.

KARBoR-MAsTERs' AyFAIRs.-The New-York State
Senate Committee, the Hon. Messrs. Grant, Murphy,
and Munroe appointed 70 investigate the charges Of
malpractice in Office, preferred aganst certain Har-
borMa.ters of New York held their second session for
the examination Of witnesses yesterday, at the Mer-
chants Hotel, Courtlandt street. On ,he first day but
little testimony Of public interest was ELECTED, and up
10 last evening the following gentlemen had been ex
amined: David c. Draper, of Draper, Devln & Co.,
Front street; +. b. Dane, canal forwarder Sarks w.
Lewis Boston line: o. II. =. Artcher Erie Railroad;
T.. Ashley Western Transportation Company; Henry
:. We.d, assistant 10 Mr.. Van Valkenburg, Harbor-
Master; Archibald Hall Captain of the Port Of New
York; and Everett Clapp, Western Transportation
Company.
Wilout discovering any glaring abuses, the testi-
ouy thls far goes only 10 show bow the business Of
the Harb0I-Nasters in general l. transacted. The
HarbOrMasters commissioned 20 sisliDn vessels ar
irving in the port, at suitab docks and pers over
which they have exclusive CONTROL from which there
i appeal, receiving legi innate income, from the
Custom Houre, OF $1,000 10 81, 600 per annum. The
Senate Inys.tiGaiiog Committee held brief session
last Winter, when some important statements
communicated 10 the Legislature establishing the fact
that bribes of $40 $50, aud $l0O were customarily
levied upon shp-nassrs. Dnrng the present. investi-
cation the leading fact established Is that IN many
the nave ot been NJ naDd NJ ALL
Mr. Weed clerk Of Mr. Van Valkenburg, testified that
the latter had not been around for three months.
number Of shps d0cks, as the public Is aware, are
esed by the city pysie rns these hrms are ille-
gnly permitted, by the iiarbor-Masters, 10 have ex-
clu-ve CONTROL BY which permission some OF the liar
bor-Ma,tep baliiuay exempt themselves from all at
teDt.on TO their business.
THr srR.rrs.-As is customary with us, large
proportion Of the streets Of New-York remain, at the
present time. in "a filthy condition. such as would be
intoenabq but for the rains which fall without let or
hindrance from our Aldcrmanc street contractors BY
ftl in ~ tbe rb
is constantly removed to stand as record Of the street
oonlractors weekly dongs and omissions, it appears
that the amount Of work done, as compaied with the
amount called for in The contract file III the Hall of
Records, does not exceed and has not exceeded the
ratio OF one 10 three Under such state of things,
th, people may have the satisfaction of knowing that
Mr.. uackley is not usual getting their money for
lie work which ne las failed TO perform.
The Controller has wisely withheld all remuneration
from the time when il first became evident that Mr.
Hsckey would not ffl all the conditions Of bis
tract and entorprisDg street contractor has been
doing work bs own account and responsibility with
what private he could get from friendly Al
dermen, for more than month, commencing with the
Both of April. II il reported ha, Mr.. IIackey would
rejoice in finding opportunity sell out bis contract
even At low figure, and also that wealthy contractor
from a distance has been in the city for several days
with view to striking bargain provided the money
making prospect looked in any way fair.
WIDTsISd AID OPENING STREETs.-Sprins being
the usual season r the resumption Of Old and the in
tation Of now streetmprovemeut enterprises, state
mcut of what is going in the Street Department
will not be uninteresng. Since 1859, there has been
than nifty propositions for widening and opening
streets, before the Mayor and Common Council OF
which number fully twothrds have been fayorably re-
ported upon, passed, confirmed and are now either
carried ont or in progress At the present time there
are pending eleven cases, VIZ:
Opebns Sixty 1i1th h0m Eighth to Hudson
River
Widening worth street.
Opening ssyen'y s;h street. ron Eighth to Hudson
River
Openus fy eighth street, Tnh avenue to River
Operps One hundred and hth f'gcci, from Tenth
70 llai-0u River
Opcuus siIty oi.hh street from Eighth .yeaus TO Teu,h
Upsaue siIy-iosrh street from Third fnh
Opening 5yoaty fourth street FROM Eighth Hudson
opening rishys-ond from shih Hudson
River.
Oponus Eighty frs, street. from Third TO Fihh ,ys.
Openus SIXTY fnh street, Third Fi0h .venu.
Some dscu.son on the subject of street improve
ments took place in he Board Of Aldermen ON Thurs
day evening IN which ii MAS argued on the one hand
that owing TO the great expense attending these i'm
proyemclts j; would accord with tho wishes OF tax
payers under prceen circumstances, 10 postpone them
al until after the Nothing further was done than
referring The matter To an appropriate Committee, but
it is believed IN The Street Department that than
twotbirds Of the above proposed Improvements will
remain Tor some years in stain quo.