New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-26
TAMMANY IN WASHINGTON.

To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.
SIR: The exposure by your correspondents
In this city Of the past dongs and present financial
ition of our Board OF Public Works already producing
good effect and n 1t does not result in reorganiza-
ton of the Board upon a responsible and trust
worthy basis IL will sometimes happens,
money Is more potent THAI outraged public sentiment
The matters treated to airing by your correspondents
have long been tho subject of private discussion here
but until our little Cric boldly yentured in your wake
aud thus achieved importance to which 1t had pre-
yiously been stranger, have had no public Journal
which dared TO attack the District Ring and expose it's
corruptiens 1t fsvorite theory of our newspaper
mon thai no paper live here without either Federal
or District patronage and that daily paper must have
both 10 insure its continued existence which explains
the repentance OF our daies whenever through mad
ycrtance they sentiments at variance with those
held by the Administration the District authorities.
Tho Sunday papers stand by with the Dis
trict Ring and find their account in 40 doing.
The Board of Public Works Ia thanks to CORE
spondents being pretty thoroughly dscnssed and our cit
liens are wondering how the abuses complained Of could
have been so long tolerated. Mr.. Shepherds letter Is
not considered to the charges made against
o tne p Satisfactory thing about it. It is pro,
bounced vague, indefinite, and uncandd. 1t
ocaton with large proportion of irrelevant matter.
am not PREPARED 70 approve the assertion OF plain,
Tweed aud gone him few better" Should be 10th TO
say that the wonderful worldly prosperity Of certain
members Of the Board was anything but legitimate and
deserved but the fact remains that the business OF the
Board has been managed with singular reckessness and
without proper regard Tor the public interests. The
Board is Irresponsible IL has been allowed the largest
discretion in the awarding of contracts and instead OF
Inviting bids for the public work. 1t has established
rates with very liberal margin for prohts at which
has given contracts for public improvements to us
awarded TO impecuniOus adventurous. SO hastily and
rcckessy have contracts been awarded that owing to
inaccuracy the specifications, streets ana Sidewalks
have been improperly graded ana the WORK hau 10 De
Board-that Is, OF the city or tho nation.
30 lucrative have tho contracts been, that not
only have a few favored contractors been enriched,
but the bankers who advanced money to carry on the
work have made large profits. The Treasurer Of the
Board through whose hands pass the millions derived
from and Congressional appropriations does not
deem IL requisite to take vouchers in all for his dis
bursemeuts 1t Is said that he has charged his books
sum OF about 100000 for which he has voucher. TO
the account OF sundres Whether the Board u solvent
or not Is q cOnundrum It's members Keep their own
counsel. They make public what they please OF their
aairs and are apparently responsible to nobody Else
where officers having charge OF the receipts and dis
odios itemized statements Of their transactions. Not
so with our Board. It's very clerks and accountants
know absolutely nothing Of Its financial condition,
though they freely declare their opinion that Is on
work because tho Board can give them no assurance
when. If ever they will be paid few continue at work
because they have on hand implements and material for
grading and paving and therefore have concluded to
take desperate chances. can well believe Mr. Shep-
herds statement that the Board has not Cancelled any
contracts" presume 1t would not hesitate TO make
sihIe Tjs P,p,lbtcun ia "adysed that Investigation
viii be- made into the affairs OF the Board But WHO'S
10 make it, amy unprejudiced person, quoth MI.
shennr The whitewashlng season Is az hand and the
Pnrats snd brynsba5 r...r...- ~ J,w
. WASHINGTON, ID. o., April a. 1878,