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

6Estuates extend four squares beyond improvements
sEstimates extend five squares beyond improve.
ens reported AS the character Of the improvements
Is the same on the whole sgenne sne oost OF
illegal expenditure Sl49,9l4 81
improvements Illegally extend three squares beyond
In tins and other streets where the extent of the i'm
and 81 the cos m sRe ts tine
improvements made boar TO the whole Of the improve
mssR.s estimated for
The above table, though IT includes but sfia part OF
the l16 5000 miles Of improved carrag pavemens
which the Board reports TO have been laid under its d.
rectlon comprises every street OF which the Board
ports the cost and which had been made
up to November last. Its footings are as follows:
amount sPeos M that might have been legally
spent on the same streets amount esti-
mated less 20 per cent? ............. ei6,637 90
Illegally spent. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. s.e72,258 90
Tn other words the amount expended these streets
was 297 per cent Of almost three times 1.-The amount
to which the Board limited by law. When the In
vesgation OF 1872 in progress, Mr. Shepherds
ton called to the act Of the Legislature limiting the
amount TO spent and no held that the act did not
limit the amount that might be spent each street. but
the amount might be spent In the aggregate and the fol-
lowing question was put to him:
O. Then what effect does this limiting clause upon the
power Of the Board OF Public Works hayei Is IT, IN fact
any limit at ALI
A. Certainly aud have kept within the restrictions
imposed upon us TO the letter. you take the aggregate
OF the improvements.
Whether this was true not year ago. the figures
which have taken from their report and from the
estimates which they submitted TO the Legislature show
that IL far from being true last November OF 80
separate improvements but comes within the est
mates less 20 cent, and the aggregate according
Mr. Shepherds figures. is almost three times what
they estimated. li -..I . -....t .
I'D WHERE TIE MONEY COMES FROM .t
Whose money it that the Board has been spending
the District, and secondly, that Of tho United States
OF the cost OF the improvements above described
$4,000 80 has been assessed private
This is about 81 40 per cent Of the entire cost Had
the expenditures been kept within the limits liked by
the Legislature, and the rate Of been
made, they would have amounted 10 only t2 97S g. Is
IL strange that the majority Of the resist
these assessentsf They had voice In determining
what improvements should be made, or how much
money should be- spent upon the streets Tue upper
house OF the Legislature that passed the four million
loan bill was appointed by the PRESIDENT the lower
house was composed OF men selected by the Board as
tho TaDnany Ring used 10 select Ats Assemblymen and
its Aldermen and elected by the votes OF negroes who
hold no property and pay taxes tho bill signed
NV the Governor appointed by the President. and finally
red against the will OF the by negro votes
~ woud be bad enough TO DO forced 10 pay legal
nents made under suoh circumstances, but when they
are Illegally increased 200 per cent they become nothing
less than robbery. sr g. r,i1aHy l.rs 1tltD ~
Ia the sooond plaoo tz7a2a Of this menev has boon