New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-06
MIR. VAN NORT'S DEFENSE.

A POINTED REJOINDER TO THE CONTROlLER-MoNEf
NOT WASTED on STREET IMPROVEMENTS, AND IN
sPECToRs NOT EMPLOYED NEEDLEssLY.
A communication will be sent in day or
two, by Commissioner Van Mort, to Mayor Havemeyer'
which will he virtually reply TO letter recently re-
ce,ved nv the Mayor from Controller Green, animal
vertipc upon the management OF the Department OF
Public Works. the expenses incurred in street improve
ments and the number OF street inspectors employed
needlessy as claimed to attend to the grading nhs
in and payiug OF streets and the construction OF sewers
portion of Mr.. Van NOrts reply has already peen p
pared and 1t relates to that part OF M Green ~
which is of interest to the public is furnished In sub
stance below
The Commissioner speaks OF the assumption OF author
v which induces the Controller TO exercise supervisory
control over the other municipal departments OF co
ordinate Jurisdiction thus attempting 10 govern 'neH
operatons and determine the business OF the Claims
OF the subordlnates by refusing TO pay them, althongh
the warrants have been duly certified TO. He then
TO the consideration OF the employment OF street
Inspectors the necessity OF which the Controller denes
The Commissioner states that when he assumed charge
OF the Department excessive number OF persons were
employed ostensibly as Inspectors some OF them
were accustomed TO remain away from their places
for long time and thus rarely If ever discoy-
cred attending 10 their duties. Most OF the inspectors
were broken-down political hacks, who, having failed TO
be elected certain POSITIONS received their places as
com pensaOn for their services at the polls and In the
primary meetings. The communication states that one
Of his first acts was to investigate the matter find out
the persons whose services could be dispensed WITH and
reduce the force 10 the minimum number OF persons
required He found that in streets three four
inspectors had been appointed and pavement job
afforded opportunity for the employment Of worthless
political followers. These all discharged, and
men appointed TO places where they cond
be OF service to the city. He states that
the number Of inspectors thus reduced from
Of rv q
Mr. Gibbs the present Superintendent of Streets, makes
tour OF all the streets where new work is doing every
day. and keeps report Of all the inspectors whom he
finds on the work. Those who not In attendance are
called TO account for their Absence and If the expana
ton is not satisfactory they discharged. II the
oense repeated ordinary excuses are OF no avail and
their places are filed by other persons. Orders are
issued requiring peremptorily the attendance OF
all inspectors from early hour In the
morning until evening, and inspectors are appointed
only such streets render the services OF faithful
men absolutely The necessity OF such super
vision stated to be imperative, since the provisions OF
the contracts are earned out by contractors who have
frequently been found INSCRIPTIONS Whenever a street
is filled rocks large stones should be used
in the middle Of the road they would interfere with
the opening OF the street II sewers were
afterward constructed waterppes laid; no
decayiDg vegetable matter or refuse should be
used; yet the inspectors are engaged continually
dumping every kind of worthless material TO I'LL up the
streets 1t is also stated be extremely essential that
inspectors should the curbng and bagging OF
streets smaller stones than the contracts call Tor
will be placed position and the material laid IN SUCH
manner as TO last only short time and the city thus
derauded out Of thousands of dollars IL is asserted also
that laying of sewer pipes and the building of brick
sewers must be supervised for otherwise material
will be used and the sewers be worthless, involving the
possible cavng in of the streets and great loss of prop
erty letter states that only thiryone inspectors
are now employed by the Department, and that it will
be necessary TO appoint five six men to positions
which have lately been declared vacant by
Mr.. Gibbs, who discharged the inspectors for
unfaithfuluess TO their trust. There are forty
four Jobs al present under way, in some Of which
where openings made through the rocks inspectors
can be dispensed with. The Superintendent of the
street Bureau himself visits the whole ground daily and
in person TO OF the streets where improve
ments are making. The pay of the inspeetOrs-s3 day
lis considered small for persons who are qualified to
attend to such duties and who do 1t faithfully 1t is
stated to be questionable whether the city would be
benefited by dividing 1t into districts and appointing
inspectors each, and paying larger consideration
for services the Controller suggests for the persons
might fail in their duty, and the property-owners
bring suit 10 have their assessments vacated on
the ground that the work not properly
done or supervised. The places have been
given to persons account OF ability and fitness for
the duties alone. tOuucal pfedlecuOns nave nau
nothing do with their appointment or retention the
only desirable qualification being faithfulness TO their
trusts and punctuay in their attendance upon their
work. The city cannot safely dispense with single
Inspector the competent persons cannot be obtained
the compensation is reduced, and the taxpayers who
have to pay ultimately for all improvements done TO
the streets would derauded If the inspectors
withdrawn and the contractors permitted to perform
the work as they should see fit.
,-Yx,c nAuN1u Ifh1ErEc