The New York herald., 1875-10-21
Investigating the Department Of
Public Works.
Commissioner FitZ John Porter Makes
Some Frank Admissions.
THE CITY PAVES MR.. WICGHAMS SIDEWALK
Jackson s. Schultz on Blackmail-
ing Coroners.

Senate Investigating Committee yesterday or great
interest and developed many abuses in the Department
of Public Works Those portions Of IL aluding to the
gross abuses OF the labor ticket system TO the bad
character OF some OF the departments employees 70
the removal Of competent and the appointment OF
incompetent in their places from political favort
ism, to the waste Of public money by employing the
day labor instead Of the system for political
reasons to the relaying OF pavement in front of the
residence OF Mayor Wickhams father, &C. suggest the
necessity of closer investigation into every root and
branch of this department II will be observed that
these abuses only limited at in Mr.. Porters frank
confessions The testimony given by hessrs Schultz
and Sherwood perfectly startling.
Commissioner Porter, Of New Jersey was the 1rst
witness
O. What are your duties as Commissioner OF Public
WorksP A. To take charge of the following bureaus-
The Croton Aqueduct, Sewers, Water Purveyor Water
Register Repairs and Supplies Street improvements,
Lamps and Gas and Street Encumbrances.
O Have you not also bureau for the Construction
of Roads and AvenuesH beg your pardon-oh, yes,
sir.
O. Can you give me the number Of aborers employed
at the present tmep A. From 2, 500 10 2,S00
O. What is your system Of appointing laborersY A.
They put necessity requires; sometimes par
ties to and ask that aborcrs be put on, but
their requests are not granted unless the
wanted.
SYSTEM
Q. You have a system Of tickets have you not' A.
The ticket is addressed TO the Chief Engineer with
orders to employ the for whom II is made out.
O. Is not fact that the man who recommends the
laborer receives the ticket2 A. Yes, sir; that is
often
Q. Charges have frequently been made that men who
recommend aborers have sold these tickets and that
those who bought them have got work. representing
themselves the person for whom the ticket made
outS A. have investigated many Of these charges
but never found q case in which it was true
Q. The system is open to such abuse, is it not
A Yes sir; think it is utterly impossible prevent
all fraud in this matter.
1t here suggested that the laborer should be
brought personally to the Commissioners Office and
there identified by the Chief Engineer Mr Porter said
that even then laborers had been found
TO HAVE EXCHANGED THEIR TICKETS
through the connivance OF the foreman In all such
he declared that upon proof Of the facts such
men had been discharged He then asked as to
the extent of the work the changing Of the 'bg"
pipes phe Croton Aqueduct. The work extended from
Ninety to 10th street, and begun in 1871
or 1872 The Commissioner then explained at length
the of the work BE said by tomorrow night
OF the newly transferred pipes would be ready for
the reception of water leaving still three pipes to be
transferred. In his opinion tho whole work would bc
finished this year. Under the statute the department
authorized to spend So 700 900 for the alterations
/ from Ninety-second to 18th street, and all
this money had been spent but s245, 600. The
| asked to give his opinion TO the condition of the
aqueduct, and went on to state what work had been
completed before he went into Office and what since
Under Mr. Porters administration only 800 900 of the
total expenditure of s., ,455, 600 was spent
| O. As expert will you tell me what you think OF
the cost9 A / not capable to this question,
l know nothing Of the condition OF the work done
before my time
O. AS Commissioner Of Public Works you have not
examined any portions OF that works A. No, sir
@ Can you not tell me whether 1t was done al
fair or at an expensive priceS A think il was ex
pensive.
@ Was it not very expensive A. should not like
Mr.. Porter gave the number Of laborers employed
the Boulevard as about 600 described work of
completing the sewerage at considerable length. He
unable to give the total expense of the work
small portion oft was done by contract and contract
compared favoraby with the day labor system
in point Of cheapness Nevertheless Mr. Porter adj
mtted that, under his administration, scarcely any of
the work had been done under the cheaper contract
system.
Q If it is cheaper to do the work by contract why
have you not adopted the system A. found the
system in existence and thought change in 1t might
make trouble TO the aboring people and produce bad
effect politically; have doubt that the contract
system in point Of cheapness is the preferable but
good deal Of this contract work has had 70 be done
again.
| Q Well, could you not as Commissioner inspect tho
| works done by contractors9 A. Yes, sir and IL is
done as thoroughly as 1t possibly can be.
q II your inspectors do their duty Is the contract
| system not preferable in every respect2 A. Yes, sir
| Mr. Porter unable TO state the number OF gangs
on the Boulevard or the number of men in each gang
| He inspected the works once or twice a week.
INSPECTION.
Q What do you mean by inspecting do you mean
riding by itY A. Yes, str; sometimes l found men
not working they ought to have done and some
times found negligent foremen, whom removed
4 q Have you had many complantsp a. Not many
but wherever there has been complaint 1t has been
thoroughly investigated and justice has been done TO
the city.
O How is the work being done9 A. Most Of the men
are working very we'll; they don't work as a con
tractors men will work
q And why is thatg A. suppose because the fore
men don't exercise such rigorous
Q. Who Is above the foremenY A. We have regular
inspectors and general superintendent and his as.
sistants.
Q. Have you ever been informed Of the frequent ar
OF foremen along the line OF the work in state Of
gross ntoxcatons A. No, sir, have never heard Of
@ Have you a foreman named McCughP A. don't
Q win you ascertain whether he is still forcmanS
A. Yes, sir, WILL
@ DO you require a certificate OF competency from
the inspectors. "A. No, sir.
O Does the law not require that they should have
certificates Of competency from two master masonsf
A. think there is no such law.
O am informed there is such law. A. don't
know Of any
@ Who has the contract for the cleaning Of sewers
O Who is that MooreS A. only know him a
contractor.
q Is he not iRockyh Moore the prize hghterY
A. / don't pretend 10 know the soubriquets Of these
people,
q Then the records Of your department viii not
show that he has been quite prominent In getting ap
pointments for laborersg A. No sir except for his
laborers
O who is the keeper Of the aqueduct at Yorktown
A. / think man named Eagan.
O. Isn't il Fernando Wood, Jr' A. with an ex
preston Of immense surprse) Yes, think II Is
O. There very competent man named Palmer
there before Wood and he removed without cause
was no not2 A. do not think there wero any charges
against Palmer; Wood was appointed at the recon.
mendation Of his father
q DO you know what Woods mental condition isl
don't know, sir 1t has been stated that he is only
half witted.
''GENERALp EAGAy
Q, DO you know the character or standing OF aGen.
erap Eagan who is keeper Of the aqueduct at Dobbs
FerryY A. have been told that hc discharges his
duties satisfactorily.