New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-30
THE STREET COMMISSIONERS OFFICE

The enormous amount Of money annually placed
under the control of the Street Commissioner but for
which is almost impossible practically to hold him
to account makes it necessary that no one should
ever be reelected to fill 50 high anl responsible al
Office whose honesty is not unimpeachable. The oihce
is Of great power; its patronage is extensive; it
controls large approprilonsi and any but an upright
man may in many ways enrich himself and his friends
at the expense Of the pul lie The duties Of tho
Department are so various; it has so many bureaus
q bureau for everything is ramfcaons extend
through so many Official matters-that even if ono
could spare the patience and time requisite for tho
undertaking. it would befound no easy task to erretout
the very many "obs" that fatten dishonest contract.
ors-the rich placers that lie hid in the abyrnhs fths
Street Department. The discretionary power allowed
the Street Commissioners is great that when,
afr long and patient search you unearth the figures
which prove conclusively that he has been paying
some special favorites for WORK ten times as much as
il is worth you are met with the assertion that il waa
an error Of judgment bis part, not Of disposition.
The alleged Of judgment OF orr City officials
have become so frequent and they involve the loss Of
so much money to the City, tia. our people find it
impossible to distinguish between the errors Of iadg'
meut and the errors o, intention.
We hazard nothing in saving that capable and
honest Street Commissonar with ten efficient
clerks, at moderate salaries, could discharge all
the duties that now require the services Of onl
Street Commissioner, ono Deputy Street COM
missioner, and some 60 clerks all at enOr-
mously large salaries. The extra number are simply
supported al the public expense The Controller. in
making up his estimates Of the amount Of money needed
TO carry on the City Government, sends a communi-
cation to the head o: each Department asking for III
formation in relation to the probable expenses thereof
for the year. Among other poilts, lie requests the
name of the incumbent of the Office or cerkship" for
which the head asks a certain amount for salary. Ii
is remarkable that Street Commissioner Cornell gives
only the title or official designation Of the officer
clerk, with the amount requisite for salary Why
this! Is it true that tie Aldermen and Councilmer
who held positions in this Department before theh
election, are holding the same Offices still and draw
ing the large pay thereof either directly or indirectly
Though "dummiesl" Is it true that there are many
persons upon the payroll of the Street Department
who have never set foot in the City Of New-York'
Street Commissioner Cornell was not satisfied with
his position as Street Commissioner alone. Our local
politicians possess in a wonderful degree the quality
of ubiquty They hold several positions openly but
from how many poor clerks in addition they wiring
the major part of their salaries, nobody knows. Cor:
nell thought he could spare time enough from his OIL
cia duties as Street Commissioner (0r which position
he receives the nice 1t le salary of $500 peryear)
to attend 20 the duties Of a Senator at Albany.
report speaks truly he slent avery large amount OF
money to secure this election Where did he get this
money to spend, Cornell might answer "Frow
oil speculatons" This may be so; but be
and the Others like him do all their boring
around the City Hal-the same kind Of oil specula
TONS" perhaps, that the rogues in the Common
Council are now making in the Fitth-aye. court
yards. One thing is certain, and that is that las
Winter Cornell could not have been performing hU
duties both as Street Commissioner and as Senator
He was in Albany most of his time, and, Of eourse,
neglected his duties here; but the Controllers quarterly
reports show he never ne elected to draw bis monhy
salary of S625. 1t is known hat be made use oil MS
position as Senator to shield himself as Street CON-
missioner He still occupies both POSITIONS ana MI
VIM NJ Tweed, also, is Deputy Street Commissioner,
at salary of 81, 800 AMI Supervisor, at salary OIL
$4,000.
1t is well known that, for long series OF years
there have been great frauds in dredging our span'
in repairs and supplies for public buildings; anu '"o
same materials furnished to the Police Courts na'o
often been paid for not only once, but twice. al"
even three times. These matters all need u % III.
yestigated. The evils long existing in the Street
Department and daily growing worse ana wos''
have now become so great that 1t IS time tha'
change was made and that the duties of this ana o.ne'
Departments were transferred to Board Oh fu'no
Works Coy Fenton has shown disposition 10 uo III
mart in Kidding our Cityof the many harpes VINO arc
leasting upon it. We assure him tha' ',e ~, FL,
nor,ion Of This community would hail with Joy J."
ro,ooral oe sncb IN officer as Charles u. Cornell,