New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-11

THE STREET CLEANING INVESTIGATION
If the STRENGTHENING investigation has proved
anything so far, it appears to be that the con-
tractor does not know what his contract re-
ouires him to do does not know how much lie
makes by the job, does not know what is done
by his employees, and does not know how the
presant disgraceful inefliciency of his depart
ment can be reformed that the Mayor, VINO,
as chief executive, is bound to look after the
general welfare of the city, and as a member
of the Street Commission, is under particular
obligations to attend to the condition OF the
streets. does not know whether the contractor
has broken his engagements or not: III word
that none of the officials who are supposed 10
act in this natter as checks upon each other
know whether any duty has been neglected.
whether there is any dirt in the streets, whether
it is anybodys business to cart away filth ana
garbage. or whether the enormous sum winch
the city apprOpriates every year LOT keeping
itself clean is honestly earned or Is practicaiiy
filched from the treasury. We say nothlhg OIL
the removal of snow from the streets. MI
Writings contract does not compel MN 10 cart
it away He is bound, however, TO keep the
streets decently passable, the crosswalks clean,
the cutters and culverts free from lce' All
these things he declares that he has DONE
EVERYBODY except Mayor Hoffman knows that he
has done none of them. A clear crOsswalk has
not been seen in Broadway since the snow fell,
unless it was swept by private persons. Not
the faintest attempt was made to remove the
ice from the cutters and sewer-mOuths until
within the last two or three days. 1t was only
when the Investigating Committee came down
from Albany that the contractor discovered
Broadway to be partially, and other streets
almost wholly, chokedl up with ice and
frozen mud, and made some attempt to
render the principal thoroughfare passable.
The Mayor testifies that when the last monthly
payment was made under the contract the
Street Commission demonstrated with Judge
Whiting for his neglect. They knew he had
not earned his money, but they paid 1t IN tuii'
Wby2 Because, says Mr.. Hoffman, he said he
had done as well as he could and suppose we
had kept back the pay-would the city nave
been any cleaner2 This is marvellous reason
ing. Suppose Mr. Hoffman orders leg OF
mutton for his dinner, and the butcher 1alls 10
bring it. but sends in bill for it all the same.
Would Mr.. Hoffman pay the bill on the plea
that the butcher had tried to send the mutton,
and that keeping back the money would not
satisfy his hungerf
No doubt the Mayor is right in saying that
the contract is insufficient; but 50 long as it IS
allowed to stand we insist that all Its pro-
visions shall be enforced-those that stipulate
for work and not merely those that stipulate
for pay. We insist upon being no longer taxed
to pay for labor which is never done. If the
| Street Commission have not the will or the
power to refuse payment which has not been
earned, then let the Citizens Association call
upon the Courts to interfere. Meanwhile we
trust the Legislative Committee will make their
investigation as complete as possible, and when
they thoroughly understand the miseries of the
present system they may be able to devise q
new and better one.