The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-03-10
THE CARNIVAL OF MUD.
The Senate Committee on
Streets i'm Session.
$750,000 Required to Cleanse
the Streets of the City.
Whiting Desires to Cancel
His Contract.
Testimony of Mayor Hoffman, James r.
Whiting, John L. Brown, Sheppard
e. Knapp and Jackson ]. Schultz.

IeSLlmony OF mayor noHnan, James W.
Whiting, John L. Brown, Sheppard
E.Knapp and Jackson ]. Schultz.
In pursuance OF the following resolution the Senate
Committee OF Investigation directed to examine the
contract system and the condition Of the streets and
thoroughfares OF this city under It, assembled yeser
day morning at the Metropolitan HOTEL
Whereas the Legislature OF 1865 appointed a com.
mission to supervise and for the cleaning OF
the streets and avenues OF the city OF New York; and
whereas the present condition OF the streets and
avenues OF said city, together with the universal
complaints Of the citizens thereof furnishes sum.
cien grounds for the belief that the present contract
system relative to the cleaning OF said streets and
avenues is substantially failure and detrimental
and Injurious the business interests OF said city
and the convenience OF the citizens thereof; there
fore,
Affairs be and hereby is directed to Immediately In
vestgate the said contract system, and the condition
Of the said streets and avenues under the same, and
report to the Senate what legislation any, Is neces
say to remedy the evils complained Of and that said
committee have power to send for persons and
papers; provided said investigation shall be con-
Quoted without expense to the State.
The committee Is composed Of Senators Crowley
(presidentl Kennedy, Palmer, Banks, Dreamer ana
J, H. Kemper tsergeant-at-armsl
Senator DREAMER said-The object OF this resolu-
tion offered by myself in the Senate Ia for the pur
pose OF investigating the fact whether or not the
contract made by the commission appointed by the
Legislature In 1865 has been fulfilled II It has
whether 1t was sufficient to keep the streets OF the
city OF New York clean and In proper condition; and
II said contract had been compiled with; and st II
the streets OF the city OF New York did not satisfy
the wish of the citizens to see what further legisla-
tion, II any was necessary In order to remedy the
evil. The resolution Is simply for the purpose OF
having an investigation In relation to this question
which has been SO universally demanded by the citl
Eens Of this city, and which evidently from the con-
dion Of the streets at the present time has justified
them In their protest against the present course OF
the contractor, or those who have charge OF the
Cleaning OF the streets and the avenues OF our CITY,
EXAMINATION OF MAYOR HOFFMAN.
Mayor Hoffman having been sworn, was examined
as follows:-
Q. You are member Of the Street Cleaning Com
mission appointed by the Legislature OF 1885, be-
lever A. Yes, Dir.
Q. How often does the Commission meetP A. The
regular meetings are held twice O month but we
have special meetings occasionally.
q. How often Is the contractor paid A, AS q
general rule, twice month.
Q. Who is the contractor or contractorsi A.
James T. whiting as assignee of the original con-
@ In your opinion has this contract been complied
withr A. me commissioners charged with the
duty OF making contracts and taking charge OF things
Incident thereto have supposed and acted upon that
superstition that the contractors have literally CON-
Piled with their contract or rather substantially
piled with the contract far as circumstances from
time to time would permit
U what method has been adopted by the commits
sion for the purpose Of ascertanng whether the con-
tractor, Mr. Whiting, has complied with his contract
into two districts one district being Under the super
vision OF each inspector, to make examinations and
report to the commissioners from time to time.
Q. III they reported the condition OF the streets was
not such as to warrant you in believing that the
ira was was not compiled with, what was
4. Permit me to add Something s:''0I Until
very recent period. during most OF the
Health 1t was the practice, at the request OF the
Street Cleaning Commission for the captains OF the
various police precincts to receive from their patrol
every day every week reports Of what streets
bad been cleaned by the contractor under the pro-
Visions Of his contract the contractor having been
requested by the Street Cleaning Commission to |
potify the captains OF the different precincts from
time to time at what day he would take |
the day, what particular streets had been cleaned;
these returns thus made to police headquarters
ppon these we acted as well as upon the returns
fnade by our inspectors; the practice OF police re-
having furnished US no returns for some weeks per-
haps months.
10. Since then you have two inspectors only' A.
Since then two inspectors only.
Q. What generally has been this reportf A. The
report generally has been that the contractor has
swept the streets with the exceptions will after
wards mention; that the ashes and garbage have
peen removed, as required by the contract, except
that during that time the contractor has Kept the
sewer mouths open, and to some extent the street
O. who are the inspectorsY A. Messrs. Charles II.
Wayland and Adam Stock
S Q. Are these reports sworn toS A. No.
Q. How often do the inspectors reportf A. The re-
ports presented TO the commission al the regular
temi-monthly meetings; and each report, think
covers q week, there being two reports handed IN
from each inspector al every semi-monthly meeting
Q. And the Commissioners have no way Of ascer
tanning TO whether this contract has been complied
with from time TO timer A. None, except In respect
TO alleged omissions-gcneral complaints from citi-
gems, which are made TO the Mayor.
Q. Are many madeS A. During this winter very
Few complaints have been received for the non
removal OF ashes and garbageless than at any other
time; In regard TO the condition OF the streets no
special complaints have been made, but complaints
have been general through the press
O. That does not argue that the condition OF the
Streets ls not than II has been heretolore
A. do not know that we have ever received any
formal complaint that the contractor had not swept
the streets or kept the snow from them, but
the complaints were mostly in relation TO garbage
and ashes; that does not relate to the ashes and
Into boxes to be removed by the contractors daily as
mentioned in the contract
payment for the last half OF February A. 1t has
been audited.
o. DO you know the amountp A. cannot give
the precise figures; II would be one-twenty fourth
part Of the contract, less ten per cent
month Is FOR any other previous hairy a. Yes. air
Q. Did the inspectors for the month OF February
certify that the work Was performed the streets
piled With A. think It would be better for you TO
have the written reports Of the Inspectors but the
substance OF them was that the ashes and garbage
had been removed, the sewer mouths had been kept
open and think the phraseology was substantially
that the streets were In "a good condition rs the
weather aud peculiar character OF the winter would
permit
o. what ia your opinion with references 10 the con.
dillon OF the streets Of New York, OF which you are
the head Is there, In your opinion any necessity
A. think the streets OF tho city are In very bad
condition, and, as general rule, mink there "
necessity for further legislation.
A. ] am hardly prepared to suggest any plan, az
street cleaning liz distinct from any plan OF the
city government. have been opposed for long time
10 this pccemeal legislation which has been applied
TO the city OF New York; this system is far from
what Il ought 20 be; there ought to be some system
adopted 10 place the thing under some responsible
head either the Mayor or somebody else to whom
the people could look IN case OF failure TO carry out
ANYTHING: II the matter Of cleaning the streets IL 10
he kept distinct from the general organization Of the