The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-04
OUR CITY OFFICIAL S.
Investigation Of Our City AZ
fairs by the Governor.
-~>>~~~>~~~~>N~<~~~~~~~
How the Street Cleaning Con-
tract Was Made.
Testimony Of the Mayors Private
Secretary.
The Secret Meetings Of the Commission
Their Acts, Debates,
&c. &c. &C.

ers, city officials and others had assembled around the
door Of the long before the time appointed for the
investigation OF the conduct Of the city officials was TO
commence. The police. however, by the exercise of
force preserved order The doors OF the Cover
Room opened at twelve O'Clock, and were in
stantly filled by the crowd
Governor Fenton took his seat at table in the room,
and announced that the time for commencing the trial
had arrived
John McKeon, on behafof the Citizens Association,
offered paper 10 the Governor, scharging the Comp
troer with taxing the employees of his office $4,000 to
pay the expenses of the investigation
The Governor read the paper, and decided that he
could receive il special charge, because the trial
was In reference to the street cleaning contract.
The city officials present were the City Inspector,
Comptroller Brennan and several Aldermen. The State
officials present were besides the Governor, Colonel
Hastings the Governors secretary and few lesser
lights.
motion to move to the chamber Of the Board Of
Councilmen a convenient place, was adopted by
the Governor and adjournment to that room was &C
cordingly taken.
James r Brady, counsel for the Comptroller said that
it right that Mr. Gregory the complainant, should
be present. that he might be cross-cxamned, and it
should be asceraned whether or he is tool for the
deception of the Governor used by political party
also argued that tho Attorney General Of the State
should be present. there never case OF npeacn-
ment at which he was not present.
Nelson j. Waterbury, who appeared for the complain
ant stated that 1t for his client TO be
present. the charges were lawfully made and as ms
client did not know anything OF his own knowledge IL
would end of law to have him present
Judge Allen who appeared for the Corporation Counsel
argued In tho strain, did the counsel for the
Comptroller to the that the of the officials
should be present II provision OF the common
at trial He also argued that the Attorney General
should be present TO prosecute instead OF those Who
may have III will and personal malice to crafty.
The counsel for the City Inspector followed in the
strain the counsel who preceded him. and USED
much the same arguments.
Judge Emo,t who appeared for the prosecution
said there rule OF law requiring the accuser to be
present, in court. He reminded tho gentlemen
who had spoken for the public officials that II Is not Mr.
Gregory that trial. but Messrs Boole, Brennan ana
Mr. Brady REPLIED in an elaborate argument to the ar
| guncnss OF Judge Emott The only point Of his ad-
dress however that the accusers Of the city officials
| had the press az their back.
and that n IL found necessary 10 have the Attor
| ney General Mr. Gregory present they could be
brought forward The decision created sensation
TESTIMONY or Mr.. AULD.
J. b. AUDI the Mayors secretary, the first wit
ness examined He being duly sworn by thu Governor
and examined by Mr. Waterbury testified that no is the
Mayors clerk and TINT he also acted as clerk 10 the
| Street Cleaning Conmsslon at their hrst meeting
| held at the Mayors office on the 9th Of May last;
| lied by appointing u Mayor as chairman and the
Recorder secretary he not present, however, Mt
j
sth Of May, AT the same place; there was considerable
| discuss then TO how they should proceed, and
| II agreed 10 advertise for len days 10
various papers. inviting contractors TO put in pro-
roals; the form OF the advertisement WINS dictated
by tie Corporation Counsel and was instructed To pat
ID the papers designated by tie Comptroller
| ttho witness produced copy Of the advertise
| mentJ he testified then that the advertisement was
ame nied So tina. the Commission reserved right Of
rejecting bids that they did think for the public
interest, there meeting ON the 18th; IA specta
lions were amended 80 thai the contractors should pay
! ~ M pta fbr ain ON "A
| mos ON Of tho Comptroller; the amendments were
adopted the 18th Of Maythe next meeting after that
the l2 nothing else done nj tue meeting o tho
18th slay than that already stated there Was full
board present both meetings. forms, spccihcai ons,
proposals OF the bonds 10 be given by the contract
adopted TIC 10th o. May; the amo ~ Of the
| bonds was liked no SIS 600; the numb Of surc;ics
not to exceed ave. i've hhndr copies 81 the papers
wore order printed the neXt citing took place on the
I'D OF slay there ull board the Counsel to the
Corporation moved 10 return the estimates received and
readyerf.se Tho this action taken be-
cause IL Wa. thought specifications could not be
RED out woIld lc subject 10 the arh
! trary action Of the Commission; the city Inspector
tho aht TOO Iauch power doyolycd upon linn and OK.
pressed wish 10 be relieved o. some OF II; another
point that 10 would he too oncrous ON the con
tractors the dirt from large hotels and iacto
es and that would be well to compel them to remove
their own accumulatons i thought the spccihca-
tons not perfect aud that they could be improved
10 amend The specifications that they would be more
plan and less subject To the arbitrary action OF the Com
tho whole business Of amending the spoccations was
| referred 20 the counsel to the Corporation
i q. Tan You REMEMBER any changes that were pro
potcd by which the city would be benefited by tho
amendments making the contract less oncrous 10 th,
| contractors a. Only in this way: that by making
them css onrous on the contractors by making tn spe
cilcations more definite the city would he benefited
| one Of the bids might have been receive
before the I'D 81 May, but think the larger
number received that day; they were received
by the Mayor and by him placed Ia locked box III,
box opened by the Mayor al the meeting OF Tho
Commission and resolution adopted that the bids be
| returned without being opened, and that the counsc
state the Tor this action; these new change
| were made IN - meeting Of the commission IN lh'
Mayor inner Office; he did not remember who was pres
| cnt NJ the secret meeting, but he thought Mr.. X
Whiting was there; after tho secret meeting the bidders
| invited 10 come INTO the Mayors middle
| Office; he thinks all tho Commission were
| present; II was an Informal meeting iha,
took place thcre the bids we're six seven he could
not name who the bidders were the bids returned
| he thinks ono by Mr. Hcmboid; the Counsel e
the Corporation stated that tho specifications could no.
be carried cut in Justice 10 the contractors ana That ths
specifications not perfect as they should be- tina
about the Substance OF the statement; there was
new advertisement ordered; the advertisements called
for suggestions In regard the specifications for III,
contract the Commission met again on the 18th, Will
full board all Of the suggestions received ~ TINS meet
ing referred 70 the Counsel TO the Corporation
these suggestions from outside citizens received
by the Mayor, and q list q amendments suggested
and offered by the Comptroller; az the meeting
| Of the 25h four Of the Commissioners ad
dressed note ID tho Mayor asking that tho specnca
tions I've amended 50 that the Commission would
tractor whose bid they would consider most Z,
The interest Of the city there tho witness rca'
the note signed by all the members OF the Commits
sion except tue Mayor; the letters received by th'
Mayor making suggestions sent ~ the Corporation
Counsel; from Mr. whiting. ono fron
j. j. Wood and from tho editor Of the 1rft
san there tho witness read the suggestions made bS
Messrs whiting and Wood and the editor o. The
drtdal Mr. Dcvelin prciaced his remarks on the sug
pesons made At tho meeting of The 25th by reading
an article from the EreRiag foS Vho article
was produced and Identified by the witnessl
at tho meeting OF the 25h OF May the Counsel 90 VI,
Corporation was ordered TO make specifications; Al
tho meeting Of the goth Of May these specifications were
finally adopted copies OF the specifications and est
mates adopted at this meeting offered aud marked
by the wncssl nothing further was done ON the 2vth
there was another meeting the Sd Of June at tha
meeting the bids taken from the box aud the Ma
jor in doing So announced that the Commission reserved
the right OF making any alterations IN the specifications
they thought necessary; there were seven BIDS uht
bids were here prpdcced by tie witness aud offered