New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-16
OLE WHARTES AND PIERS.
HOW THE TAx-rAYERs ARE ROBBED

HOW THE TAX-PAYERS ARE ROBBED.
Peter Cooper. in behalf Of the Citizens Asso-
ciaton New-York, has addressed letter TO Geo. W.
Mclean street Commissioner, asking explanation OF the
facts stated below After stating that Mr. Mclean has
charge OF the building and repairing OF wharves and
piers, Mr.. Cooper says
The laws and ordinances declare that You. Street
Commissioners shall have general charge and direction OF
all the aforesaid matters also that you SHAH contrOl au
direct all Expenditures 10 bc made In respect Of tho same
and that payments shall be made therefor except upon
your requstOn. It appears from tho records OF yohr
department that from tie ls day Of July 1861 10 the lS
day Of July 1863 there has been drawn rom ihe 'y
Treasury. your IcGuson nnd certificate the sun o."
$7,Sti Il for the alleged purpose OF lNlns ior
certain Of the piers or TINS sum t0j SO was alleged to
be for lumber used repairing tho panEng or sheathing
of the piers sjls . for ana lVhch ron spiAts anu
bolts fascn down such planng aud the balance or
SCI y95 for worlmen's labor ~ laying te sad phnk
ing II thus appears to lay 81 worth ~ piankng re-
guirc, 81 worth Of skilled labor II would CON
sidcratou of the work 10 be done u repairing per- tnat
no necessity Tor such ,lspI"p3ill"H ,His ~
is furnished 10y the lumber dealers In paks OF the ".dth
and thickness required for the shcatng OF the WnarVes
and the only labor needed Is To- take up te roIeh phh
lnC and trim the 20 take It's place Tho pa OF
the workmcn T. s. 20 10 s. per day. and 80 II appears ta
four men WORKING Wh"'o any hte netuc, W ,dy -
worth Of plauking The Association has caused 10 be IN
ycstgatcd all circumstance connected with this
enormous expenditure of money Tor Aursfa WoLHnen,
and nuds the following peculiar iacts connected WIN w
In July, 1861 % men appear on inc pay roS ia AugE
lsb', II lneli ~ St hip'L l9o, ~ m ~ ~
men; in November 1897 2l3 mem 10 Decembrr 1901 lS
men, IN January 1853 % men, ~ February 1855 - men, IN
March, 1868 - APRIL 1868. s. mons IN May, 1919
in June 1868, Ti men, II thus appears hht from
placed on the payroll steadily Increased; and rom
the latter began decrease IL Is 10 be noted IN
connection with this that In all tho public works al your
department the number OF men placed on the payiols
and drawing money from the city treasury ~ largely
swollen the months Of October November, and Drcem
Der approach Ia the months ~ November and Decru-
Der mo elections are held m this city. aud the curious
coincidence approach OF that period and tho aug
mcutaiion Of The pay rolls occurs year "t"' year Your
order 20 avoid h, trial on charges similar 10 the last one
and you were appointed iu bis place But the same re-
nTrkihe facis ana hsureS np on .ui 10y , -
were found h on thus subject Of ir increase u hnor
rrs hired los department. and pid o." InL'I "n just
before and during the Noyemb ana y eeDet 'i'cil"s
There bc no explanation OF tHs rituh-t'' on VIC
grouud that the increase Of abulcr- was necessary 10
make Increased repairs on ne "hdF'c' h,'n'e J., ~
OF men we're employ ed tie r,a n.. ao'..t rue
records Of your department HAuN u Following shbuht
facts. In July 1867 Won employed e men, aud they lad
tAugdsU you hired u men, VINO lA.l c', IMAM I" l''
The month after ts,ptemuep you hlird lol men
who laid 1909 feet Of lumber Tie next mouth
October) you hired - mcn who laid ltle over GOO
feet OF lumber and November 10 appears yen hurd 2l3
men, who laid only $1,000 feet 81 pIhNlng who ~ th'
month of July before 81 men had ldd 10000 ieet These
figures tell their own Hc and comment upon them u
necessary ~ the labor n these mouths kept
pace with the number ~ the payro- aud not with tho
ers 1877; Ia August you paid fihGi; In Scplemhcr
t7,3i& IN October S797s, aud Ia November. sl@O6 In
January fell s29g8 ~ far tho records Of your office
alone sufficient 20 excite tie graNeSt concern among
our citizens, whose every year paid in such
sums for such objects. But The Association has caused
and sprcO 20 he made uf tine various WhHrFcs
and piers alleged 10 have been repaired hy the army ~
workiuen, and win the materials mentioned above. II
has boon stated that II piers are alleged 10 have been 20
s. 49, A. and ST. East RIVER also pier foot of Twenty
siAtl-.t, East River, aud dumpugbOl OF Futhste
East River; Piers No 10, aud 90 North ldyer aud buik
head of Chrstophcrst and dumping boards foot OF
Vesey and I.aght-sts., North River.
Tue following table shows tho amount Of lumber used
on the pierre rs shown 10y this Inspection, and tho
- mid for lt