The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-06
THE CITY AND THE LABoRERS.


THE CITY AND THE LAB0RERS.
Tho squabbles Among tho Departments-why
the Work ON the Streets is Stopped
Conflicting Statements and
az Bogus workingmen.
There has been lively controversy going on for
some time between the dinerent city departments
as to who ia responsible for the prosecution OF
work on the streets and avenues, legally ordered,
much needed by the city ana capable OF giving
employment through the winter to large number
OF laborers now idle and suffering. At various
times delegations have waited upon the heads OF
the departments, asking work and seeking to
ascertain who is to blame for the 'Hock out"
Some OF these have honestly represented the un-
employed laborers, while others have been ar
ranged by the employees Of city officials for the
purpose OF making out good case for their
employers. One OF these bogus delegations re-
Gently waited upon the Comptroller. 1t is said to
have been headed by man who. 80 far from
being an unemployed laborer is an empl0ye in the
Finance Department at So q day. In reply to TINS
body the Comptroller denied that he was resPOn-
sibe for the stoppage OF the work on the r0adsan
avenues, and charged that he had been badly mis-
represented by other city departments. AS the
mater Is OF Importance to the aborers, and as the
work 80 much needed and already legally author
lied would give much relief If it could De at once
prosecuted, 3 reporter OF the HERALD waited on
the Commissioner OF Public Works yesterday and
obtained the information embraced IN the follow
ing interview
Commissioner Van Mort in answer to questions,
stated that he had never been called upon by
committee Of workingmen headed by James
OReilly; that, In fact, he had not for several
weeks past been called upon by any workingmens
delegation whatever. About the beginning OF the
winter season he had received frequent calls from
committees and representatives OF workingmen's
organizations asking that the labortng force of the
department be largely increased, In order to give
work to those whom the crisis had deprived OF
employment. At that time there were number
Of large contracts for street improvements, which
had been awarded by him at q public letting In
October, still in the hands Of Comptroller Green
awaiting his approval OF the suretes. and the delay
IN approving the suretes was keeping hundreds Of
men OUT Of work who could have been employed
by the contractors II the surettes were approved
aud the contracts executed. --. i.-i
The Commissioner proceeded TO state to the
Advertised Mayor I Havemeyer caed upon him into to
know II the whole proceeding could not be
stopped. "a Mr.. Green would not be able to raise
the money to pay Tor the improvements: that
upon examination OF the laws upon this subject
the Commissioner found that 1t was his duty to
the execution OF the works in obedience to the
ordinances OF the Common Council. In Difference
to the wishes OF Comptroller Green, as expressed
poped the letting OF the contracts some two or
three times tor periods Of FIVE days each, as au-
thorized by law; but In Justice to the property
owners, who were urgently demanding the execu-
ton OF the works, he after several postponements
opened the bids and awarded the contracts and
sent the surettes ON the same to the Comptroller
Tor approval. Several OF the smaller ones, such as
prosecuted during the winter season, were an.
proved but the larger ones. Tor regulating and
grading, were withheld and some OF them still re-
main In the hands OF Comptroller Green
REPoRTER-I notice that Mr.. O'Reilly claims to
be spokesman OF this company OF workmen who
plOyed under the Park department and under the
Public Works until discharged by you.
CoMMssIoSEEi would prefer not saying any
INDUCED IN talking about me, have no objections
to state briefly that he was discharged from the
Park Department ana was restored by Judge Hill
ton at the earnest solicitation oil Commissioner
Thomas q. Fields After the works upon which he
was engaged were transferred to the Department
Of Pubic Works he was again discharged. Mr..
Green then appt inted MIN foreman on the Cen
trai Park when, as /! am credably informed.
OF the Central PARK, told Mr.. Green that unless
ORely was removed he {Ryan) would resign,
senger IN o bureau In the Finance Department at
So day.
REPORTER-lI the Dill before the Legislature, IN
relation to certain streets OF the city, becomes
law. and the Common Council authorizes the
Department of Parks to proceed with the work Of
Riverside Drive, will they at once 60 to work.
CoMMIssloNER-Yes, upon the surveys being
made
RHPoRTER-How long will that take to enable
them to work intelllgentlys
COMMIssIoNER-That 1 cannot say; two months,
and perhaps three, and at q considerable expendi-
ture OF money. All this will be necessary before
Drive.
Department OF Public Works would toe same ex-
pense and delay be necessary
COMMIssIoNER-No, SIT; for the reason that we
now have In this department all the surveys pro-
nes field notes, &c, OF this work, The engineers
who made these surveys and plans are now IN their
employ. II the authority should be vested in this
department to-day could put at least 1000 men
at work on this work in twenty-iOur hours. Dir.
Kellogg, my chief engineer OF boulevards, has the
Organization all complete to start the work at an
hours notice. All the b0uevards, Avenue st. Mich
olas Sixth and Seventh avenues, and, In TACT, all
been built under hts immediate supervision. In
fact, not only having been connected with all these
WORKS personally since 1858, have now in this
department under me amostever man-enoineer
superintendent. toremen, mekeepers and clerks
who were with the Central Park Commission and
ton or the Central Park. Grand Boulevard, &c.
They have all been educated to these works and
do not say but that the PARK Department could
conduct this work, out Claim they could not do it
as expeditlopsly aud as cneaply as this depart
The Park Department could not put a la60rer at
WORK until the surveys on ali are complete; and as
I now have them all at hand you can readily see
the advantage this department has IN prosecuting
the work speedily and putting the laborng men at
work at once.
REpoRTER-I believe no work has ever been done
on this drive
CoSMrssfoNER-Yes; this Department has done
considerable work upon 1t, and only ceased wnen
1t became doubtful In my mind II had the right to
continue
REPoRrER-how many men could you employ on
these works?
CoMMIssIONER-I could put at work within
twenty-iour hours at least 1000 and increase 1t
from day to day as rapidly as the men could be or
gained into gangs.
REPoRTER-Is the law clear In relation to the
rasfnQ Of monpv for this Wnrk