The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-25
THE BUMSrED "RING."
Startling Disclosures by Contractor Not in
the "Ring."
Letter from the Comptroller-No But Ring"
Man Can Get Big Contract-How Bum
sted Plays the Game of Blufr-A
Few Very Pertinent Questions.


HERALD created great CONSERVATION among the
members OF the "Rlng." The Bumsted government
has been to all inJents and purposes secret society,"
and the members thereof were startled when they
found that the figures which they had car efuly
concealed from the taxpayers had found their way
to the public through the columns OF the HERALD.
The subject was earnestly discussed in every
quarter OF the city. The great body Of
the taxpayers had no idea that they had o
troublesome future In store for them, and that their
property was to be pledged for the payment OF
millions Of dollars through the operations OF the
"Ring." Mr.. Albeit charged at public meeting a
week 60 that the debt Of the city had been in
creased within five months to ON amount exceeding
$2,50000o, and this charge has not yet been
answered. Mr.. Albeit put this proposition:-'Let
these men give US the debt as 1t was on tile third
day Of last April and as 1t Is now" and the people
are waiting impatently for reply. The act Of 1877
requires that all accounts against the city
SHOULD BE SWORN TO
and the items specified, but 1t was shown In
the HERALD that this law has been habItually
violated. In the following letter the Comptroller
pretends 80 dispose Of the charges:-
JERSEY CITY, Sept. %, 1877.
notiee IN the new Yoah HrRAIp of thi. morning tho
report of interview with Hon. Leon Abbott in which
ny j, r. Sss
Comptroller Was ether Unwilling or unable poSace ans
thu, he % AeDe could not obtain access The Comp
see er 20 my or Nor he:
Piled a. my oloe Every Transaction in once Is
The and no V has been
E. K. CARAVAN Comptroller.
But the foregoing denial OF point which Is rather
immaterlal does not involve the accuracy or mac
curacy OF the figures already given. The following
statement Is perhaps the most pithy expose OF the
"Ring" rule which has yet appeared
Mr.. CLARKE's sTArEMENr-How THE OLD THING
MIR. George Clarke 1sV oS Meadow street. Hoboken.
makes the following statement: About the middle
OF July last sent IN proposal to the Board OF
the Improvement OF Erie street, from Pavonla
avenue to North Fifth street. Jersey City. me con.
bid wa lower than his by about $1,000. / mad an
interview with Mr.. Bumsied about the matter. ana
convinced him that had drawn up the proposal IN
the ordinary way he replied that the requirement he
'.rECULIARGT1Es OF OUR CHARTER
complained that the dismissal OF the proposal on
such preIext was mere technicality TO throw me
overheard although my contract would have saved
the city about $4,000 He replied that he had been
informed was engaged on Q public work several
demanded the date, place and character OF the work.
but he could not tell. on further inquiry was In
formed that the time was thirteen or seventeen
years ago. At the latter date was only five years
OF age. became satisfied that the object was to
shut me out under some pretcxt certain con
tractor who bid against me offered q friend Of mine
at that time $500 If would withdraw my proposal,
COULD MAKE 1T RIGHT WITH THE COMMISSIONERS.
The name Of this man Will give when the whole
csmes ,n up 1r v can BY
was sent by me to the Board OF Public Works IN one
Of the specifications where wrote 4 OF cent the
figures o. were surrepttiOusly placed before the u.
About the middle OF August sent another proposal
for the grading OF Erie street from North Fifth to
North Seventh streets. was the lowest bidder yet
the contract was awarded to the highest bidder.
On the same Day sent in proposal Tor the i'm:
was the lowest bidder, yet my bid was
rejected on the ground that II was IN.
the improvement OF Newark avenue from the foot OF
the hill to the Five Corners. Soon after the bids
them, was informed by one OF The clerks that nv
proposal would not be accepted. Iinquired.who |
one OF the Commissioners OF Public Works told me |
that
THE JOB WAS HURRIED THROUGH
In his Absence so that would not have chance to
succeed. had an interview with Mr.. G!ett. Presi-
dent OF the Board, on che subject He said my pro-
good. NY bondsmen were Timothy Foley and John |
Curtin, OF Hoboken, and every man in Hudson |
are responsible for even FIVE times ' the a amount 1
o. me required bonds. believe that
mind to adopt certain course there is no IS such
thing as convincing him to the contrary He told me,
further, tnat me property owners along the line Of
Ine avenue ulu not want me TO have the contract
perry owners he told me 1t was
VERY IMPAIRMENT QUESTION.
learned afterwards that this contract was awarded
% Joseph Gilmore, although my bid was about |
VII, 500 lower than HIS / offered to build the re.
aiming wall under this contract for 81 q yard;
)tber proposals were offered for 50 So while GIL.
nore,s bid was 50. or more than four times mine,
yet Gilmore's was accepted. l could not obtain
Information IN the ONCE or the Board Of Public
Works as TO whom this job was awarded;
THE CLERKS WE'RE ALWAYS NUN;
ne object OF their silence was 10 prevent me from
Getting writ Of mandamus. As soon as learned
applied Tor writ OF mandamus, but / found out
hat
MAYOR o'NErLL HAD SIGNED THE CONTRACT.
MS was q bar against me. and concluded must
1--WE up the fight. ! asked Bumsted why this
contract was not awarded 10 me and he re-
oieJ. because tlc commissioners did not |