The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-25
OUR PIERS AND WHARVES.

OUR PIERS AND WHARVES.
Answcs Of George w. Mclean Street Com.
missioner, TO the Charges Signed by Mr..
Peter Cooper, Chair man OF the Citizenss
Association. ~
"a f0icn 10 gi STREET COMMISSIONERS OFFICE,l
rl.,ra rif,,. NEW YORK. Sept Il, 1868.
- rHs CITIZENS OF NEW YORK.
This communication, In reply to the charges
against the department of which am the head,
which have beenso industriously circulated through
the press before my reply could be prepared is ad
creased directly to the citizens OF New York, and not
- the individuals who concocted the charges, ioi
seasons which think will be sufficiently obvious to
al who win read what have to say.
3 How false these charges are and the motives fol
sheir circulation at this time viii be fully made
known. They are all given to the public over the
signature Of Mr.. Cooper, venerable citizen VINO
lends his name to their endorsement and circulation
without being aware, as i hope and beleVe OF theu
1RSe and malicious character.
However credulous Mr.. Cooper may be, ne knows
that the pretence that these charges received the
consideration of any number OF citizens, or that they
are the Judgment or authentic determination OF any
sassociationn of citizens Is untrue. He also knows
q matter OF simple honesty and fair dealing that
before charges are given to the world through the
press against any public officer or private citizen,
anectpg his character and standing, based on hear.
say information he should be furnished with op-
portunity to answer, especially when the accuser is
informed that the answer Is In course of preparation.
Hr. Cooper was notified ON the sth Of September,
INST, that had given his communication respectful
consideration, that would his allegations to
be thoroughly investigated, and that would CON-
municate the result without delay. With all practi-
cable diligence have not been able to complete the
Investigations earlier.
1 confess did not expect from the manager OF
this business OF "charges" against democratic OIL
oaas the common fairness OF hearing before the er
p0re charges were spread before the public, and the
Unfar and partisan effect desired had been pro-
duced But do not blame the venerable and in
GenuOus Mr.. Peter Cooper for this injustice and
tstrness. 1t is the result of the ''manager"
who manages Mr.. Cooper as he does the mythical
association OF which he is at once the active men,
bers, honorary members and executive committee
No association Of citizens could be organized in
shis city for the purpose Of assisting in the reform
Of public abuses which would be guilty OF the gross
wrong OF thus spreading charges before the public
without waiting to know what could be said in re-
ply and giving the accused party however humble
N opportunity to be heard In his defence.
The truth is the so-called Citizens Association
has become absorbed and the name appropriated
by one individual, who manages the whole concern
with the assistance OF brace OF young attorneys,
ana who makes the business Of refOrmer pay him
at the rate rate Of $4,000 per annum, and much
more as he can obtain by false and sensational
communications Of the character OF that under
consideration. This individual In question has
Aved IN this city Tor many years, where his char
Rcter among business men Is well known as that
OF an utterly INSCRIPTIONS and dishonest man.
Bankrupt IN fortune In character and in resources
w. nm
~reiOrm" as a business. IL Is not remarkable that
the same characteristics which marked his career
IN other pursuits have been exhibited In this new
0eld oil enterprise. III sucn hands "reiOrmo Is very
TO he.
1t well known that this "manager" Is now in the
nay OF the republican party, to trump up charges and
70 njure the character OF democratic officials, until
after the election, IN the hope that the republican
party may be shielded from the extfavagances and
cOrrupOns Of their officials throughout the country,
who taking millions from the pockets Of the toll
ting taxpayers, and the democratic party made to
euner in public estimation. Hence this onslaught
the eve OF the election; hence the publication Of
charges eJ pdrte and hence the newspaper articles
concOcted from the same sources, commenting on
the charges as true and proving the general de-
that the money OF the republican party is largely
used to sustain this model ''refOrmer' and to Keep
Awe his system OF electioneering until after the
November election. That a man who has no charac-
ter himself should be reckless OF the character OF
others is not remarkable.
question enanaed from any association OF citizens,
q he claims and certiies, or from any number OF
taxpayers called together and endorsing or acting on
them In any form, that they adopted by even
enc taxpayer besides himself. The name OF "Citi-
Iens Association is adopted to give force and effect
70 charges which they would not and could not
have the real name OF their author was spread be-
fore the public. Mr.. Cooper would not endorse the
commercial paper Of this nanagern for five dollars,
yet does not hesitate to sign his In the largest
anu most AOurishing style to paper containing j.
bells Of the most hagitious character-tne truth OF
which he has no means of knowing, except from the
character OF his nformant-a character which would
prevent him from selling him bill OF goods OF the
Now am fully aware that If the charges are true
Il Is OF little consequence who may be the accuser
or what may be his character anu that public OH
Ger cannot shield himself behind counter-accusa-
tons to justify his own deficiencies. The investlga-
Sions have therefore made, and which think the
public will say were made In the most reliable man.
her show that these parte charges, given to the
public over Mr.. Cooper's signature. are SO utterly
false In every important particular as TO lead to no
other Conclusion than that they were deliberately
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 Citizens Association, under the circumstances
have stated TO give false impression and fraudn-
lent endorsement to the public, is wrong which
should be exposed, that the public may no longer be
deceived by such campaign documents.
s,oss are never by any accident, addressed 20 or
against republican oniceholders, or so-caed "demo
cratic officials under republican influence" They
motive. OF the whole TWENTY-FIVE millions expended
under the levy OF 1867 only about onehrd OF the
Of The city depsrtments including the Croton Hsue
duct Department, which IL practically republican
department. The balance, after deductng the State
TAX, interest on the city debt aud such
Mems, Is expended by commissioners created
and practically controlled by republicans, such az
tie Police Department, Fire Department, Board
or Health, Commission to pave Broadway, and all
TIE other republican inventions TO control the pa
yEonage and spend the money Of our taxpayers.
Yet the eforts Of this manager" Of ofcial reform
ere wholly directed to whitewash the republican
commissions while attempting TO defame democratic
oficials.
should not be understood a. Intending 10 object,
IN any sense or In any way to any criticisms by any
body Of citizens, or OF any single citizen, on the
action OF my department or OF any Of Its bureaus or
Odhcers. shall always feel grateful for any efforts
Uf the kind which will enable to correct abuses
md more eYectually the public interests. But
trust that II Will not be considered out Of place for
me TO OBJECT TO and expose such attempts az that
under consideration to unjusty attack my actions
or those Of my subordinates for mere partisan pur
p0seA