New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-13
STREETCLEANING.
LETTER FROM JUDGE WHITING.


syror 70 resolutions of inquiry adopted at previous
meeting OF the Commissioners:
NEw-YoRK. Feb 7, 1867.
70 ne have the honor to acknowledge the re-
GENT of COMES of the resolutions passed Ny majority Ol
your Board at ameeting held on the Slst oil January
Having nothing to conceal do not stop to discuss your
right 10 question upon the subjects embraced m teu
Of these resolutions, but VIII proceed without hosta'on
70 q, the first resolution, which is as follows:
@ e le tSss to report to tbs whether
emed BY him At the request 81 any U S Of the Who
has secured their appointment whether such appointments ena
% or Otherwise has been brought bear him relation The
employment Of his employees at any time tehlhs 70 eoA' ~ Wv
prosecution OF mis- work
answer. that Immediately upon entering upon the
business of the contract found the force 70 CONSIST Vi
inspectOrs foremen ash and dirt collectors ana sweepes
be INSPECTORS and foTemen appointed by my pre-
decessOrs in the performance OF er uues % a d
informed employed the cartmen ana sWeepers anu maui
such changes as the work from time to time
directed the fOremen TO be called t0getner anu ~
formed them OF the change OF ownership OF the cOhtac
and that the work would proceed as en OIBahZeu lhO
no question would be asked as 60 their poi
tics or religions that they would ne eohtlhue on Io
work 40 LONG as they performed their duty; tat IL was
expected that overy man would be SOBER anu We
DISCHARGE that their earnings would be wholly their own
without question claim for contriDuton from any
TSev were directed SO 20 inform the whole force under
them, and to state tlat no IenOna, mU consjdered
them necessary. Some officers were aDOlsDeu US DeS
/
officers. This led to designations when weIe
me. made removals eNCeI Tor causes Wleh
sufficient made appointments upon the request Ol
any OF the Commissioners nave Deeh i' IN
fitness and character OF the applicants ana deso 80
co5S,derafion have retained In place such found
with the contract at the time aSsuledlJs uucs ab0
whom no complaints were made. have remONet 10 eur
Move IN make room for another Applications for sub0r
dinate employment have been handed over 10 my c,h
with the directions TO engage such only as were cG
tent and worthy 1t has not unfrequenty happened tt
personal applications have been accompanied W etcl
of recommendation from prominent oillclals anu oVc
sionaly commissioner but am not aware tnaI N.Y.
given to such letters preference over numerous o'N'
leters from private citizens ON like subjects a.,
I have no knowledge that have been elnbarrasse9a
by any of my employees IN any appointment nave iu
tion OF INV work. has any influence ponucal OF ot
crwisc to my knowledge beer brought 70 pear uoi nv
in relation TO the employment Of any Oh my cinPuy
which at any time has tended TO embaTaSs me III tbo OK
ecuon of my work ...,., o, 60 ros,orc
persons 20 place upon the application OF hgh OI'hs
connected with the City Government who supposed nau
acted under a mistake. glad to say that IN no III
stance did my reafons fail to be most satisfactory lt
may not be improper for me to say lIat ID assis
work resolved from the commencement not 10 be lu-
cnced by political considerations or partisan
ard to adherng to this determination may attribute ~
no small degree the hostility which has Oi late been Ill
rcctcd against this Department.
To the second resolution which Is rs i9oW M, Communication
That said contractor be fed TO inform Wv,
whether any peson other than himself has interest tie eoa
answer John L. Brown has an interest to the extent 1i
oncfh. two Of my personal friends nave an niI Ether
the extent OF three cths In tho contract ana no otHci
person to my knowledge has any pecuaty lnsie3t ~
That no ely 3icin q any PCI'n Deparent has any
interest whatever ~ The contract ,,,.
10 the third resolution. which is as rs follows;
sepcd That sid contractor be que, 70 s5's 'helf, we ,s
Department renders to linn nl proper end law 1 sl " h ' s
answer that on the 9Th day Of December 1905 sent
communication To the President of the metropolitan
Board OF Police Of which The following IL a copy
Sn,; 6ope ishs receive ne cooperation sad i 4 ygrr 1o,' val
c, for street cleaning which not simply 70 comply vita t' nsie
terms Of contract sweep bat Intended Psoe to eca ne
sIr. b5 which efpi 10 would the Bo'ra q eh
rs s'.,,D an TO 70 four es per st vheu The
qurte done but hnk this eno h' ben eea,sL
S.saSes eutr neglect du,J soon Wy er Tco1s te
he is~e nhaint. irclsier commence 70 throw DER Dr. @
sl rubbish street aud give Nc street fgoi aTc i
better ocs ou ter s,he late on s'irray sh, =, % sany
scsc ~ instance where policeman ir,ert' o rr ne
Sr Irr s oct or ihroea ,ato Uhul F' 700
particular h Of violations to Which s, me 20 80 r r. ,S5
fsrce to enforce .ss SeTpos'1s ] .s ,i So rsr
P IssPss,iai' '''''''' J'sr' r. wHT''o
ann not aware what action was had upon this commu
by city railroads Of snow she employs Of those
companies have frequently aiicr have cleaned the
| back upon the cross-warl,s and upon the
mouths OF the culycrs, that have been obliged To
clear them ont again Iattcry The police force Lac come
10 the aid Of my employee have been inp'Icd' cpe
MICS removing the ashes from such streets The SNOW
has been banked mp high each sGc ID the street rs
1
respect the police force have compelled my employees to
give way TO the cars This has been source OF great IN
of ashes and garbage INTO the street and those prevent
ing membranes the streets rc9iy more watchiul
Observance by the police 1t would greatly facilitate this
! department in IFS operations.
In your fourth and ast resolution you are pleased 20
say that in your judgment The contractor for cleaning
the streets has IN most pacns done al ta cou.1 be
done to carry out ms contract considering NE unusual
to do his duty IN keeping the crosswalss clear rs re
Of mi
charge that walks have not been kept IN ccanly
c0nd on was no more than had right TO expect from
impartial decision Of the case. The leading and gov
erung object with since have had the contract was
90 do my whole duty under IT, and H. IN doing. the
sf has not met Inc expectations Of the public The fault
docs not rest with mc. but with the contract
An erroneous impression has gone abroad, ana seems To
have possession oi the public mind that aln not
Only sweep the streets in Summer hut in Winter TO re-
clean the aud ice from the CUTTERS which would De
upward Of 400 miles Of gutter aud TO remove thc snow
with which have just been visited Such work Is not
only not in my contract, but almost an impoasbilty
There Is no place To put The snow; ana II there was ~
would cost more than NOOOW0 70 40 inc WORK, surely
the simple statement Is sufficient 10 snow Us aDsHfdy
on the 18th day of January last addressed 2 commnn
cation TO the President of the Board Of Health, OF which
the following is - cory
J,cSsos ScgITl es i,stnt A,oeo'taa Bea,d or Hlan
Spring Of the necessity Of early ad th onga rrlaDn 81 pro
Greater or less dTee Of 1lcc ny5ic The rf con,reu
sent 81 AL yIeer professional sgSaa S,'' o.
AMI extension II dsefse consists 10 clearly condition 81
suty meurc almost all other measures 81 prevention or 81 cure
OteTyaiOn any
repeated frequently b. br0ught home TO tie mhs OF
the guardians 81 the philc health
impout In n n field, without
sssine sufficiently ample Ia ssuly h
would conpt to address IN relation 70 dc
EASILY remedy ~
frequently been compelled repeat whatever failures occur In
the arise the which provides Tor
sweeping Of the utterly inadequate TO The necessities Of
81 this would ntuon the st WI, Vlh
Win X Nlth. Xh XlNth and AYil Wards which should be
which by the contract be
The importance health Of the Of such
change produce this result f1 your annual report
consequence Of the views tlr expressed with
that NOV invoke yo enable me TO meet The necessities
othe community 70 accomplish this result to
legislative Interpolation remedy The doheenc Of the
tract such irterpOon shall be invoked b. the Board II