New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-25
THE WHARVES AND PIERS.
ANSWER OF GEORGE W. MILAN, sIl'EEr IN Nv
MISSIONER 10 THE CHARGES siDNhp -, w.
MIR. PETER COOPER. PCEP0HIlNG ~ OV'-
PROM A CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
.rEErT CoNsnssIoNERS OFFICE
MN YORK, sept Il, los.

A
STREET CoysnssIoNERS OFFICE
Nsw YORK, Sept H. zoos
To The Citizens Of Nero York: o,,
This communication IN reply 10 lhe CII'H -o9
AGAINST the DEPARTMENT Of which am the head "hoh
-, "a trlustriously circulated through The press
betre nv reply coud be prepared is addressed directly
- ,to ci,,yeps OF NewYork, and not 70 the indiVdua'
81, concerted tho charges for reasons which tbiNH
viii ne sufficiently obvious 10 all who VIII read Wh'
have TO say ,,
How false these charges are, and the motives for theH
circulation N this time, win be fully made known lIy
are all given 10 the public over the Signature o, tL
Cooper venerable citizen VINO icAGS hi9 nv.are as
Endorsement ard circulation without DeinS "baro,cger
However credulous Mr. Cooper may ne no hUwS t.S.
.hc pTcteso that these charges s.D ti {5,
lion OF any number " citizens or NAV my niiiop
ncnt or authentic oeIoi,' oVs as matter OF sim
citizens Is nniie 5lc sD HAY before charges are
given To tie world through the press asainst any puoG
oinc[E OF P6 ON beariay information he should be
furnished with an opportunity To answer eseoiay NI.c
reuaration Mr Cooper was notified on the stu OF sop
iember, inst, that ! had given bis communication
respectful consideration that would cause ms auts
tions 10 Doe thoroughly investigated, ana mat @o tI
communicate the result without delay WIN an !iav;,t
cable diligence haze not been able 10 complete 'ue III
yestgatiuns earlier. 81. .,,o
confess did expect from the Manager a o. t ts
business OF Charges against Den0craIo ouiclas o
common fairness OF hearing before the a. pTe SDaI5
were spread before the pubic ana the UNFAIR anu ln
effect desired had been pIOuuct' IoVor f,r ths
tho venerable and ingenious MI Peter cooper Ior WIS
injustice and nnfairncss IL Is CconeT as he does the
mythical associion OF which he is at once the active
NJ aoc,tinn az our cltizns could be organized in this
ry for The purpose of assisting IN the reform OF Pu1c
spreading charges before the public, without waiting TO
know what could be said in reply, ana giving tne ae
ed party however humble, an opportunity w DO near"
hs ruTb is the socaed Citizens Association has be-
come absorbed. and the appropriated by one mdl-
vidual who aIaecs the whole concern with me ASSIST
ance Of brace OF Young attorney > anu MY ~ @ ~ r
.f Vaftr
mum. aud much more as he can OBTAIN Dy Ialso 6uu
sensational communications OF t9e character o ' h
rsi,s i5e, is We'll known as that OF an utterly
inscriptions and dishonest man. Bankrupt In fortune
I'm character and in resources he now past the MERIDIAN
~ lie has taken up reform" business. it Is not
remarkable that the characteristics which marked
his career other pursuits have been exhlDtea IN TINS
new field of enterprise In such hands reform" IS very
much like what DR. Johnson described patriotism TO be-
IL well known that this manager Is now III the pay
Of the Republican party TO trump up charges and to
iniure the character Democratic officials. until after
the election in the hope that the Republican party may
he shielded from the eXtrayagances and eorrupOns OF
their officials throughout the country, who are taking
millions the pockets OF the toiling taxpayers and
the Democratic party made TO suneI III pu1Le esthaoh
Hence this onslaught the Of the election; hence
the publication of charges er pate and hence the news
paper articles connected from the same sources con-
neuDg the charges true, and proving the general
depravity OF the Democratic party 1t is well known
10 sustain his model "efUrmer" ard 10 keep alive his
system OF eeconcerng until after the November cleo
zion. That "A who has character himself should
reckless Of the character of Others IL not remarkable
question emanacd from any association of citizens, as he
claims and cerfes from any number OF taxpayers
called together and udOrSng or acting on them IN any
form OF that they were adopted by even taxpayer
besides himself The name Of Citizens Association" Is
would not aud could have If the real Of their
,utEOr spread before the public Mr. Cooper would
not ndorse the commercial paper OF this manager for
five dollars, does not hesitate TO sign his name in the
bes Of le e MOST ous truth Of Wc
he has OF knowing except from the character
from selling him bin OF goods Of the smallest amount
Now am fully that the charges are true, II Is
OF little consequence who may be the aecuser or what
may be his character, and that public officer cannot
shield himself behind counter accusations 10 justify his
deficiencies Inc Investigations nave tneItIOie
made and which think the public Will say were made
cerees given 10 the public Mr. COOpers signature,
utterly false in every important particular as TO
erstey fabricated for partisan effect shall take up the
charges in their order, and give the answers.
With this result submit that the use OF the name OF
Citizcns Association, under the circumstances have
stated give false impression and fraudulent in
dOrsemeut TO The public Is wrong which should be
exposed the public may no longer be deceived by
such campaign documents
twill be observed too that these communications
never by any accident, addressed to or against Repub
Iican oicehOders sO-caled Democratic officials un
der Republican influence" They have but one uniform
direction and one unchanglng motive: or the whole
twenty-five millions expended under the Tax Levy OF 1861
only about onethrd OF the total amount Is expended by
or under the direction OF the City Departments includ
ing the CrOtOn Aqueduct Department (which is pracu
calv Republican Department.; the balance, after de-
Quoting the State tax, interest ON city debt and such
items Is expended by Commissions created ana praGt
eay controlled by S%eh If a. d ahe P9Se DE
10 pave Broadway, ana all the other hepuDDcan
inventions TO control the patronage ana spend the money
Of our tax payers Yet the efforts OF this manager Of
official reform wholly directed to Whitewash the Re-
publican Commissions, while attempting to deiame Demo
should not be understood as intending TO object, in
any IN any way to any criticisms by any body
department or Of any OF It's officers. shall
always feel grateful for any efforts OF the kind which will
the public Interests. But trust that ii viii not be
sdered OF place for 10 object 10 and expose such
hat
my actions, those ofmy subordnateS Tor mere part
The operations Of this department very extensive
and important, and It impossible, employing hundreds
men, that can direct individually all It's varied sub
ordinate details or that can be sure that
of the mary persons am compelled 10 employ in
the public interests faithful their duty There
are bureaus IN this department. each large enough
and charged with duties varied and extensive enough TO
be department In itself can only nope 70 exercise
general supervision these interests II has been my
effort appoint only those whom considered competent
and faithful, and viii retain who does
up TO the standard OF honesty and capacity;
Citizens Association, composed OF ghminded and
impartial taxpayer eeehhg no partisan interest," ana
having motive but the pubic gOod-which would at
tempt Injustice, and give every accused fair hearing
before he is condemned. could and would effect much
good. would most cordially and gratefully advise and
cooperate wthsuch an Organization Ia promoting the pub
lie Interests Unfortunately such organization does
not exist its name is assumed ana te CARP OF hOnest
reform put by bad men for the corrupt purpose OF
party deception aud abuse.
At the earliest practicable time after the communica-
tiOn signed by Mr. Peter Cooper received by me,
employed the most skllful and reliable agents could
select to give the charges an investigation was sur
prised at their character aud from the cireumstanaty
of the details of the statements alleged TO have been the
result OF actual apprehendng that there might
grounds for the charges against subordnates who
were implicated by them, sent for Gen. Egbert Viee,
one Of the capable and reliable engineers and
directions for rigid investigation Of their truth.
told him 10 proceed without fear or favor and 10 have
the work thoroughly done. IL was charged, through
many details which will examine In their order,
that IN the year commencing July 1861 In repairing
piers there charged for 19969 feet OF lumber while
there fact only be found about $1,000 feet actu
ally used for the various repairs specled In the com
municatOn signed by Mr.. Cooper II Is stated 1t u no
difficult matter, survey and inspection for skilled
and experienced kbuilder TO discover from the ap
pearance aud condition OF the timber the wharves what