The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-14
STREET CLEANING BY CONTRACT

Wepublish the following only to show how mu-
nicipal affairs are managed in New York. If all
this is true the Times states it, they certain
ly in need of ''Reform" in the metropolis
The act of the Common Council, confirming the
award of the contract for cleaning the streets of
the city for five years, at S279 600 year, to Mr..
A. j. Hackley, seems to have been cOnsummated
with a reckless disregard of the interest of the
city, and boldness in violating the plain spirit of
the laws in relation to contracts that would as
tonish taxpayers, had they not long since ceased
to take any effective interest in the management
of city affairs.
1t appears that there were, in ALL thirty one bids
for the contract, twenty-three of which were lower
than that of Mr.. Hack|ey The lowest of the twenty
three was the bid of Mr.. VIM. Ii. Williams, which
was $685. 900. MIR. Williams sureties were Mr.. L.
B. Wesley and Mr.. II. d. Capp. In making their
report, the committee found no fault with any of
the bids, did they give any reason for throwing
out the twenty-three that were lover than the one
they recommended, other than that they deemed it
best to pay literally, in order to be sure of having
the work we'll done. They do not attempt to show
any ground for belief that MIR. Hackley will be any
more likely to do more than the contract binds him
to do, for the amount paid, than the other bidders
would have done for the amounts of their bids
The specifications upon which all the bids We're
made were the same, and it will hardly be claimed
that it is expected that any contractor in this city
will do than he is forced to do, in order to
cure payment for his work
In any view of the it does not appear that
w
performed the work according to his contract as
faithfully as Mr.. Hackley, and if so, the difference
in the amounts asked sufficient to have induced
an honest Common Council to have complied with
the spirit of the laws and given the contract
to him. Four hundred and twenty thousand dol.
lars (tbe difference in five years. is an item
we'll worthy Of consideration, even by the city of
New York, and the people have a right to know
| why so much money is to be given away. That
| it would be better to pay the highest price pro-
| posed, and have the work well done than to pay
| the lowest, and have it done it has been done
| heretofore, under contract, no one will dispute
but in this case no such alternative seems TO have
| been presented. We are assured that on Saturday
last Mr. Williams, in order to place his responsible
| ity to do the work beyond cavil, served
a notice upon the Mayor and Comptroller
! to the effect that he would give any additional
amount of security that might be required, and he
also served a similar notice upon the Common
| Council before final action had been taken. But
no notice taken of it, and it had no effect upon
the result, although Mr.. Williams is an oil con-
tractor, and has performed large amount of work
| satisfactorily.
In times past, when the Common Council had
! Jobs of this kind to dispose of in such as
would remunerate members individually, it was
! customary to frame some shadow of an excuse for
violating the ordinances, but now they do not deem
| even the shadow of an excuse necessary when the
| amount of peculation is only about S420 ,000.-
| There is however, bare possibility that some o.
the money may be saved to the city. The Mayor,
&C., enjoned yesterday by the Superior
Court from perfecting the contract and something
| may vet be done.