The New York herald., 1865-02-22
CITY AFF AIR S.
THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION.
The City Inspectors Depart
ment Reviewed.
A Return to the Charter Of
1880 Asked For.
The Remedy Not to be Found at
Albany.
Hotel Keepers and Army oMeers -
scavengers.
ALDERMAN KELLY ON THE STAND.
the EVIDENCE AGAINST B00lE.
.>.ca~>c~~cc~e~~c~o,@
!. .-y-ssG ilttS.c<ra
INTERESTING DEvEL oPMENTs,
&c., &C., 90.
The Remedy Not 20 be Found at
Albany.
Hotel Keepers and Army omeers -
Scavengers.
ALDERMAN KELLY ON THE STAND.
TINE EVIDENCE AGAINST soolf.
INTERES TING DEvEL OPMENTS,
:" &c., &C., &c.

hour and took up the affairs OF the City inspectors De-
partment The room was well filed with spectators who
seemed 70 take deep interest the Affairs under inve
tgation.
Sylvanus Gedney was the nrst witness examined. he
testified that he resided in the city Of New York. and
builder by occupaton resided In the city for forty
i've years. connected 1S49 1850 and 1851 with the
department Of Commissioner Of Streets and Lamps
under the old municipal law; Colonel Chlds then
Commissioner, and under him held the once Of Com
missioner Of Streets Colonel Childs is dead 1860
the amount appropriated for cleaning the streets was
$1o0 oo0 and the work was done by the day; Of this
amount $685. os expended for the purpose for
which IL appropriately the amount received by the
$33 362 a. from the corporation yard 81 202 o4makng
total OF $4 666 6S reducing the net cost Of cleaning
the streets Of the city TO the sun Of $12a ss2 10;
time was-the head OF the department Colonel Chids;
one deputy, commissioner; clerk, assistant
clerk inspector Of manure six inspectors for the
dumping grounds, sweepers, laborers, &C. there were
about hundred and seventy miles Of streets to
clean at that tme the average number Of loads Of dirt
removed In those years four hundred and nine
thousand i've hundred and forty six there spe-
cal ward district inspectors under the old vegime;
to that business who clothed with the authority of
street inspector; he reported to witness (who was de-
puty) day. and all violations Of the city ordinances
were duly reported and punished there were ward
street inspectors in those days. think there were no
health wardens either there might occasionally have
been two inspectors on dumping ground instead
Of one, but would not be certain; the amount
paid to inspectors for the year 1850 was 046 the
average number Of sweepers in 1851 three hundred
each month; the amount appropriated in 1851 for this
purpose $4,000 the manure collected in the city
that year brought $6466 and the actual expense OF
street cleaning was In the nsshborhood Of $l2 tho
duty Of the policemen who were appointed TO act In
specors 10 chat the streets not obsructed
and TO report any violation Of the city ordinance in that
regard during the cholera OF isle every and
that could be employed was hired which increased
the expense for that year more than weud have been
the case 4 the city had been in q healthy
cent more now to clean the streets than 1t
did then, not counting the difference in the
manure should have increased in the same ratio-say
twenty-five per cent the First ward, being then the
principal business ward Of tho city cost more 70 clean
clean Ia good superintendent aclerk and assistant, an
inspector for each ward and q sufficient number Of
BY the Chairman-What do you mean by good super
intendent' Several witnesses have stated that such an
ocer was necessary How do you propose 70 get good
10 be nauguratedS A. The remedy can be found by
going back TO the old charter OF 1885, have only the
the superintendent and hold him 70 strict ascounta-
bty for the faithful performance Of his duty then
party could be held responsible tho whole city and
county government II stands, should be abol-
ished.
The counsel for the City Inspector who was present,
~ in fact the investigation seemed be entirely re-
ation 70 the affairs Of that department. asked the wit
ness II he might not also abolish the city of New York;
Judge Whiting who relieved Mr. McKeon, and who
appeared In behalf OF the Citizens Association, said it
mattered but little whether New York abolished
not Had Il existed the time Of Sod0m and GomoTah,
Il would have been abolished.
To the witness-You would then 20 back TO the system
in vogue under the charter Of 1S30Y A. Yes sir; We
would bc much better Of II We did there numerous
ways of doing the street cleaning better than II Is
done you might create any number Of departments
and appoint az many commissioners as you please, but
that would only afford wider field for peculation
GVncu nA hu fnvf hn
DO not know what the population of the city was In
1850 and 1851 tenement houses have increased very
much In the upper part of the city since then but the
lower part has remained almost the same do not think
there much difference TO the amount OF dirt to be
removed whether twelve families live In house in
twelve houses; where number OF families live in
house the amount OF dirt that would accumulate would
be greater than where they occupied separate houses
the principal increase tenement houses in the upper
part Of the city, the Eleventh and Seventeenth wards
in particular; before the witness went into ofhce
and after he retired TO private life he had
were placed inscriptions like the followng:-"Sacred
TO the Memory OF the Street Inspector" there
was nothing Of that kind ever appeared while
the witness held Office; the cartmen employed under wit
ness were paid by the load the dock carmcn had
tracts the cost OF cleaning the wharves 81 272 in
1861 the street cartmcn pa from fifteen twenty
five cents load and they made very good wages the
sweepers got dollar day and but inspectors
received more than that amount for days work;
there street inspectors before the present police
system was nauguratcd their duties 10 superntend
the sweepers laborers and carmen and see that they
performed their duties, witness thought
might be able to find, within the limits Of the city men
honest enough to enrust this business to- and II such
men could be got the work could be done for much
smaller sum than that paid.
Counsel for the City InspectorDo you not think that
the people capable OF judging OF the fitness OF such
men as you refer to- s the Governor any other
A. By way OF an answer would like 10 ask the counsel
another question.
Counsel for the City Inspector-proceed
WitnessDo you think the people are az well able TO
judge 70 who should all the judicial positions a. the
Legislature, the Governor or somebody ese'
Counsel tsmng)-I will answer your question. II the
proper men the people would be the bess judges The
difficulty exists In the primary conventions: politicians
know their friends and win provide for them. tThats
so, from number OF respectable old chaps supposed
10 be members of tho Citizens Assocation.) I under
stand your objection TO the present system that too
many alteraaons have been made in the city charter
Is that SOY Yes we have relied upon the Legislature
70 set matters right for instead OF attending
own business ourselves do not believe In running TO
Albany Tor the adjudication " every little petty griev
that we may have: we could and should do that
ourseves my opinion In that charter has been too
much tinkered with since 1890 and there IL where I'll
our trouble es the night soil and oaI of the city was
removed BY the City Inspector when witness super
intondent but not by hs department. the street clean
ing should be placed under responsible head the
should be css than in 1851.
Counsel for the City Inspec,or-we have shown that
the paved streets now are two hundred and sixty eight
miles Ia extent; 10 your time they were one hundred
and seyentymore than one third increase he not the
cost of cleaning increased In the same ratios A. That
depends upon where the streets are e had nothing TO
clean In the Twelfth ward in my time; that was con-
sdcrcd one Of the city suburbs; there but cleo
ton then. and the city efcen elected general
election dav.
Olcer william Clark vrsth next Witness He testified
that be- was policeman 10 the Ninetsenth grscnct;
knew Pat Carroll resides In the Nineteenth ward heard
that he (Casro was health warden; he kept q liquor
store corner Of Forty second street and Third avenue he
also kept liquor stand bar Jones Wood during the
summer season. don't know Of his performing any duties
AZ health warden.
Cross cramIned-e q Do you know tina, he did not per
form any d4tyf A. tknow that he did not perform
bis duty; he might be most faithful public o6iccr for
all know TO the contrary
Cornelius Mahcncy, sworn--Am q policeman In tho
Nineteenth precinct know two Patrick Carrops in the
Nineteenth ward had heard that the one named by the
last witness health warden saw HIM twice attend
ing 20 his duties as health warden SIXTY rst street.
q bad place; tho police had also 70 vist tho same
place
Captain Hart Of tho Nineteenth precinct police wa'
the nert vitDass Hs tcslimony Was corrovoraive VI