New-York tribune., 1874-08-28
A NEV MUNICIPAL CLOUD.

THE RUMoR THAT THE MAYOR WILL PRESENT AFFT-
DAvITs TO THE ALDERMEN IN OPPOSITION TO
POLICE COMMISSIONERS DURYEE AND DIsBECKER
THE ACCUSED INDIGNANT.
rumor spread through political circles yes
day that Mayor Havemeyer intended soon to submit to
the Board of Aldermen aiidavits in which Police
Commissioners Disbecker and Duryee are accused
OF resisting the removal OF certain persons
who held sinecures in the Street-cleaDing De
partment. The report obtained credenee In
OF the opinion prevalent for two months
past among politicians that the Mayor would willingly
listen to any complaint which might be made against
the Commissioners named out Of resentment for their
course at the time Commissioners Gardner aud Char
lick were reappoined. In regard to the truth OF the
ohsrges there were few persons who expressed any
The mode Of manag Of the Streetceanng
Department being unknown. The Mayor, when ques-
toned by TRIBUNE reporter in regard to the rumor,
said: "All that to say about that is that you
must ask those who got up the report what authority
they had for doing So"
Commissioner Dsbecker said that he did not fear any
investigation that might be made concerning his course
he became member Of the Board OF Police nor
any inquiry might be specially made about his part
in the management OF the StreetceanlnR Department
He had been told that the atidayits submit
ted 10 the Mayor In regard 10 the department
to by two men who were dismissed by Com
missioner Duryee and himself during the week between
the conviction OF Gardner and Charck aud the appoint
ment of Commissioners voorhs aud MatseL The
causes OF the removal Of the two men were stated to
the last named Commissioners upon their assumption
Of office. and the action of Commissioner Duryee
and himself was approved by them. Whatever
charges the two men might make, there could be NO
evidence submitted OF intentional doing by either
himself or his fellow-Commissoner Mr.. Duryee and
himself had co0perated with the other Commissioners in
the measures which had been taken TO decrease the
number OF employees in the street-ceaning Bureau,
and increase the efficiency OF the force. The
minutes of the meetings Of the Committee
Street-cleaning would show that they had as
frequently offered motions for the dismissal OF useless
or aborers the other two Commissioners
In fact. the Committee had been unit from the first
day OF its meeting. All the measures 1t took were
adopted by unanimous vote. There had been no
resistance offered. no adverse vote given by
either Commissioner Duryee or himself to
the removal OF any person attached to the
Department None OF the Commissioners
aware of there being any person in their employ who
held sinecure. Certainly neither Commissioner
Duryee nor himself would resist the removal Of such
person. nor would they keep the knowledge OF such
fact secret. The books Of that Department were
not kept secret like the books Of the Police De-
partment. They could be inspected by any citi-
zen and II there were any abuses the Commissioners
would be much obliged the person Informing them Of
the fact, The Committee consisted of Commissioners
yoorhis Duryee, and himself; and Commissioner Mat
SELL as exocio member, always attended Its meetings
The full Board Of Police was consequently present ss
held responsible II there was any wrongdong. As
duty Of inspecting the character done by the
aborers Of the Department than the other members,
ken laborer He and Commissioner yoorhis made
| tours through the city daily to discover the
had been passed over by aborers and the vigor
with which the gangs worked. on several occasions %
Commissioner YoOrhs and himself had called the rolls
of the discover II the number OF names
| the lists corresPonded with the number at
TUrs' tas that ie' the la6orers had been paid Of
to prevent any chance Of the Department being de-
frauded. reproach which might formerly have been
uttered regard the favorsm shown in dividing the
could no longer be urged Nc person was now per
mitted have than cart In the employ OF the
Department, and An effort was made to employ all an
eqIS Commissloner Daryee said that he thought the
| charges made in the anidavits absurd. Any person
would take the trouble to look through the minutes
that there WAS NO opposition made by himself 70 the
any vote ever given against the removal Of men
| charged with holding sinecures. he was not
held such position. lie and the rest Of the COmmis
sioners eager to reduce the number Of persons
OF rSsn shs Boafd nS OF Police Would away: be sup
IN Sy IT'S % nS Sss
OF the sreetceaning Department and there never had
pspartSent The adaviis were doubtless the fret Of
many attacks which would be made upon himself and
their course the time the legality OF commissioners
Gardner and Charlicks reappontment was In doubt
Commissioner Yoorhis sadthat he was not acquainted
with the contents OF the adavs, nor did he know the
names of the who had made them. The minutes
of the Committee Sreetcleanng, showed that at the
first meeting Of the Committee July TO- on motion OF
Commissioner Disbecker, two men were dismissed
from the Department. One Of these men. George
Deukemeye dump inspector at tho pier at the foot
OF Thirty ST., b. r. was accused VI drunkenness
the other Patrick Salmon dump Inspector OF the foot
OF Twenty -seconds, Il. r.. declared by Inspector
| Thorne 10 be incompetent Several foremen OF
gangs OF streetsaeepers had since been
dismissed, all for sufficient cause,
he was convinced having heard the testimony In the
Complaints could IN regard TO his accused
ciaes that they had offered any oppoEon to the
removal OF whose services were found not to be
neoded. They had co6perated with Commissioner Mat
sell and himself IN every measure which Was proposed
for the Improvement OF the system Of sreetcleanins
regard TO increased economy or increased EN-
ciepcy He had not discerned any indication that they
deaired TO check the contamination Of the plans
for ACQUIRING better force and better methods
of cleaning the thoroughfares. He believed that
Commissioner Disbecker aud himself worked harder,
Inspected more streets, made the gangs Of labor
ers cleanse the streets thoroughly and. time
would show saved the city moro money than any Police
Commissioners who had preceded them In ONCE.
The gangs of laborers had been inspected. and
all feeble or lazy men had been dlsmissed.
Of kborsrs vp0 would wQSk WIN energy ana a0I0uxa