New-York tribune., 1867-09-07
THE STREET COMMISSIONER BEFORE THE TRIB-
UNAL OF PUBIC OPINION.

MI Peter Cooper, Chairman of the Citizens
Associations Committee of Investigation has addressed
sharp letter TO Mr. George w. Mclean, Street Commits
sioner demanding explanation concerning the waste Of
public moneys in the Street Department After quoting
the City Charters provisions with respect to public
pendtures Mr. Cooper says: "This Association cannot
perceive by what authority orlaw you have supplied the
Corporation with $4,000 worth OF stationery and blank
books with $4,000 worth Of supplies for public Offices
and with 5000 worth of limestone chips and gravel for
roads and avenues without contracting therefor
qured by 80 of the Charter by what authority
you have made contract for repairing and repavng the
streets for sl95OOO without having advertised for pro
posas therefor The Association would be obliged you
would reply TO this note and refer TO the law auhOrz
ing you to thus conduct the business your Office its
opinion at variance with the above section OF the Charter
In this connection the Association would call your par
tcuar attention TO the following facts 1st That In the
second half of the month Of June and the first half Of the
month of July about 1900 worth of limestone chips ap
amounts varying between $500 and $3.50, and that
these amounts We're furnished on successive days.
rms Association would hke you 10 snow why you puf
chase limestone chips I'm tins manner each day purchas
ing without contract S2O instead OF purchasing by
tract the many Thousand dollars worth which you require
in the OF the year I'd That the wood and coal
niShed without contract at the ordinary huctuatng rates
OF the day. while the Board Of Education has contracted
for one year rom MAY is67 Why 40 yon not purchase
the coal and wood required for the use OF the city in the
same wayl Sd The Association would also call your at
tenOn TO the great number of feather busters required
for the of city Offices $3.50 worth having been required
cordHS to the bin Of " C. Rogers Co. for articles fur
lished May 23 1867 department is charged sis per
uoNSu '"ttlSS tVp1 NVp9i"b
ink quart bottles can he had of the same
firm Tor 81 80 per bottle, SIS per dozen
bottles; and that according to the bill OF
the firm for articles furnished May 20 1867, your
Department is charged $50 dozen Of ordinary sponge
cups with ponges and $50 for glass inkstand II seems
that this excessive price for spOngccups, ana
that the paying Of $50 for glass nkStand does not show
a disposition TO husband the public moneys under your
control 4th. The Association would also call your at
TO the vouchers in the matter of dredging the slip
at loot Of One-hundred-and sixthst. Harlem River
from which IT appears that you have spent ON dredging
this slip follows July $2i9; July $3.50; July H.
S2f9 July Is. $3.50 July ls S29 Sin all, Sl27 81. The
Association would respectfully call your attention 10 the
extraordinary coincidence existing between the manner
of doing this work aud the Of furnishing mate
rals for Roads and Avenues, and would ask why this
work, amounting to l2 81 within IS days in aud ahOut
the thing not done by contract required by
law ("