New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-11
THE BROOKLYN BOARD OF CITY WORKS.
1T ANSWERS no QUEsTIoNs-THE COMMON COUNCIL
GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER.

THE BROOKLYN BOARD OF CITY WORKS.
1T ANSWERS NO QUEsTIoNS-THE COMMON COUNCIL
GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER.
Considerable sOlicitude is expressed by tax
PAYERS and influential residents Of Brooklyn in regard
10 the increased powers which, by the provisions OF the
new charter have delegated TO the Board OF City
Works and the attitude which 1t toward per
sons and representative bodies of citizens applying for
information The Department under the control OF VIM
A. Fowler has secured from the municipal organizations
and citizens committees immunity from searching in
yestigatons or embarrassing inquiries by bestowinR
patronage according to the wishes Of the leaders Of those
bodies or placing contracts where they will do the
most good" The father OF an Alderman, who is Chair
man of a Committee appointed TO investigate the op
pressve conduct OF the Water PurveyOr Of the Depart
ment Of City Works, has been resppointed TO an in
sieficant position in the Department az large annual
salary while two Of the Aldermen hold positions under
the Department and other members OF the Common
Council belong to political organizations in which Com
missoners Palmer and Whiting shining lights. Two
of the Commissioners OF the Department are members
OF the Citizens Committee Of One Hundred, and thus
far have been able prevent any damaging report from
being made in relation TO the Department The Legis
lafure was manipulated at its last session by VIM. A.
Fowler and Secretary Northrup who engaged with
Senators Murphy and Perry at Albany, in patching
a charter which, finally passed, keeps the Commits
oners in Office and retains the worst features Of the
old system OF patronage, freedom from investigation,
aud unfairness in giving jobs 90 contractors.
There is no check upon the money 20 be dsbursed by
the Department for the requirement. OF streets the
building Of sewers, the expenditures OF which
drawn indefinitely from the Controller in gross OF
$4,000 or $4,000 at time for engineering, labor, in
specors fees &C. and distributed by the Department
an it may it, the Department not being compelled to
furnish public or any body Of citizens the details
Of the outlay. From January /, 1862 TO May, 1879
no nd ud41
in this manner. During the past year efforts have
been made by the Common Council and the Committee
OF One Hundred 10 obtain information from the Depart
ment 10 regard internal workings and the dsburse
ment Of its funds, but in every case without effect
More than six months ago rmor was current that the
old Water Board, Of which Wm A. Fowler was Presi
dent a. he is now chief OF the Board Of City Works.
had been paying immense unlawfully TO numerous
lawyers for legal services rendered to the Board This
rumor led the Committee OF One Hundred to investi
gate the matter, which was referred to the Law Com
tee with instructions to report the facts and furnish
list OF the names 20 that body Up TO this time the
influence Of the Commissioners Of City Works has been
sufficiently powerful 10 prevent the presentation OF any
report In view of certain suspicious circumstances
and the failure OF the Committee 20 report the belief
prevailed that two members OF the Law Committee.
who are friends of the Commissioners, A.
Il. Perry and LudOYic Bennett, had them
selves been the pay Of the Department. This how
ever was denied by them meeting of the Committee
of one Hundred but strange 70 say they did not give
he names OF those who had received legal fees make
any report In regard TO the matter.
The reyclstions IN regard to the abuses praeced by
Mr. Rhodes. the Water PurveyOr, induced the Com
nttee OF one Hundred 10 appoint subcommittee OF
hye to Investigate tue matter TIE C9minltee called
upon the Commissioners OF the Board Of city Works
received their version OF the AFFAIR." winch was III eject
that the Commissioners WereSnOt responsible Tor The
Of MI Rhodes who had entire charge OF That branch
OF the Department and proposed to make report re
evng the Commissioners Of all responsibility one on
two members Of The Committee we're IN favor OF Iar
cation, aud urged that the statements OF the
plumbers should also be received IN evidence THIS wac
hnay but reluctantly assented 10, and testimony was
gwen iatiDg all the charges Of Oppres-ior made
" IE lhBU NJ Tue members 81 the Committee, AFTER
nc9llhk an lhe Facts totally unable 20 agree III
tnef ieIdc TIE majority fayOTing report eIcnpatng
lDr tphs,ionefH, ana the Others proposing, as com
pfOhise ihhl the statements OF the Commissioners and
ibe pDWbeis De given 10 the report and the deduction
ifIt 10 Ue '"uihIttec OF One Hundred. Consultations
WIN tODmissioner Whiting subsequently took place,
whatever should be maze.
Committee Of The COmmon Council war also sp- |
pointed " investigate The same subject Aldermen