The New York herald., 1871-09-14
The Corruption Charses Against the Build.

| ing Department.
In the midst of the excitement over the war
upon the city fnanciers there has arisen
another petty war, which, like its big BROTHER
did not go far until it got into the courts. We
| refer to the charges made with sweeping
| generality against the Superintendent OF Pub
lie Buildings, Mr.. James M. Macgregor. The
proceedings appear to have opened in
the form of disgraceful row at the Superin-
tendents office, wherein Villa msburg
| builder, Mr. Tostevin, received pommelling at
the hands of Mr.. Macgregor and bis assistants
80 at least alleges Mr.. Tostevin, and his per-
| son appears to bear evidence of, to say the
least, recent struggle. Next comes the case
of Judge Tappan, of the Supreme Court of this
| State, who, through brace of afidavits,
brings one specified and multitude of unde-
fined but serious charges against the Super
| intendent.
| The Tostevin incident may reflect upon Mr..
Macgregor only as showing readiness of
resort to ungentlemanly means Of enforcing
| opinion, and touches few outside of the COM
batants; bu! Judge Tappan's charges are of
nature to cause rigid inquiry into the
| manner in which permits are made
ont at the Superintendent's Office. The
affidavit of Mr.. Sexton, builder, alleges that
Mr.. Robert Murray is the person who, not
to put too fine point on it, levies blackmail on
the builders, by means of excessive charges
for small legal services The modus OperGaadi,
from the evidence, appears to be as follows
| hull n To bp;l6
ing, or alter or deviate from previous speci-
fication, it is necessary to have the affair set
tied through Mr.. Murray, whose legal docu-
ments alone are said to be effectual in procur-
ing the signature of Mr.. Macgregor. To this
obscure Mr.. Murray sum varying from
seventy five to five hundred dollars must, the
complainants aver, be paid before
his magic pen touches the paper.
1t is further averred that this
work performed by any other legal gentleman
would not be worth more than thirty dollars.
The question then arises, Why should the
builders and architects of New York submit
to this alleged extortion on Mr.. Murray's
part, while other legal gentlemen would per-
form the work at the price stated9 Mr..
Sexton answers the question by implying that
no one else would be treated with at the
Superiutendent's Office, and alleges that Mr..
Murray asks for the extra money ''to divide it
around among the judges" On the Tappan
case (the deviation required being twelve
inch party wall above the second story)
Mr.. Macgregor writes q letter to the HERALD,
which we publish in this issue. This letter
is almost entirely confined to the case in point,
and has among its passages the curious an
nouncement that an order had been issued by
to Judge Tappen, which, he says, Il have
done, though protest against it as unwar-
ranted by law" He challenges investigation;
Now, out Of these facts and Implications of
fraud we lay down few points which
demand settlement. They do not arise
specially out of Judge Tappen's case, but are
Of interest to the whole community. If ex-
cessive charges are made and submitted to by
builders is it not because the agent is believed
to be the visible link in chain Of uncom-
atable official corruption? The charges
against the judges we are inclined to scout, and
| VIC uucotiOu VIGIL IcluuiHS, WucTc uOcS tuC
money go? Will the public be sufficiently
simple to believe that obscure Mr.. Murray is
assigned the Office Of making his fortune at
steam engine velocity and that there is no
rogue behind the curtain who shares the
spoils? Where matters are so deftly man.
aged as to have none of the money pass
through the Building Bureau it is difficult
point to settle. Mr.. Murray says that he does
not know Mr.. Macgregor, and the latter gen.
tleman reciprocates the mutual ignorance.
There is a Mr.. Armstrong mentioned, who ap-
pears to know MIR. Murray, and by whom
builders are advised to see the latter gentle
man.
There is something wrong in the whole
matter, but it will need some more light before
positive conviction can be reached. If any
parties have further charges to make let them
come forward and indulge in no vague gener-
alities, but state precisely their personal
experience only. If the charge Of colusion
Building Department the offenders should be
punished by removal, if no other penalty is
attainable.
The rumor Of these practices is not new,
but the very men who complain of the system
, have hitherto declined to take the place of
accusers. The fact is that the public suffers
in the end. The builder is mulcted and he
charges it to the owner; the latter takes it
out in high rent. 1t is due to Mr. Macgregor
and to the public that the whole truth should
be CLEANED, and that if wrong is committed
the guilty may suffer.
DIAMONDS IN DAKoTA.-.It is given out
that splendid rough diamond valued at a