The New York herald., 1875-11-12
FRAUDS IN PUBLIC WORKS.
1ABoarns ON THE SEWERS PLAYING CARDS

THEY CANNOT VOTE l'-NcREAsE OF La
BoRERs BEFORE THE ELECTION.
Yesterdays session OF the Senate Investigating Com
mttee at the Fifth Avenue Hotel decidedly fruit
fuL The lrst witness, William p Dixon resident on
the Boulevard said that he had watched the laborers
and found that out Of gang Of nfty or sixty only
twenty thirty would be at work, and nine or ten
would 90 some distance back to play "seven upi" he
walked four times, from lO6th 70 10th street. In
the time It took laborer with an empty cart to
60 there once the men, in his opinion, only did three
and half hours work per day; the cost OF the work
was about twice than it would be II the work
done conscentiously.
Mr. Cyrus Clark OF No. TAI Fifth avenue, property
along the Boulevard, counted the men at work,
and out of gang OF twenty only two would be really
performing labor the remainder were "oahng about"
and some Of those engaged the sewers were playing
cards; there was an official In Office who told
contractor who offered to do the work with blasting
machines at one-half the COST now imposed by the
laborers, "The objection to your machines Is
THAT THEY CAN'T voTE"
Mr. Henry Kelly gave similar observations in regard
TO the labor performed the Boulevard The cost OF
the improvements was twice high as 1t should be
The work was well done, but could be done more
cheapy the adoption Of the contract system in tho
Department OF Public Works AS regards the abuses
in the labor ticket system, he knew who had sold
their tickets $1o others who had paid $50 for
being employed with horse and wagon. He tried TO
procure employment for honest good laborers but
never succeeded that endeavor because he had no
political influence
John Brewer, also q resident along the Boulevard,
was in favor Of contract work. The
SO heavy as to almost "eat upn the property. The
more property had in that locality the poorer he
Since the property had 30 greatly deprecated.
the valuation had been raised fifty per cent He would
be very glad have the Riverside Park drive completed
II II were only done by contract He thought It's
pleton would greatly enhance the property's value
Commissioner Porter the next witness He said
he had seen from the newspapers that his and his
deputy's failure to appear before the committee had
been msconstrued intentional contempt Of the
mittee this not the case-on the contrary, he de-
sired 70 come, but was rather unwell
The apology was gracefully received oy tnc Cnar-
man, Senator Booth.
Commissioner Porter was then asked II he had
brought the exhibits requested by the committed and
he replied the affirmative, drawing forth at the same
time huge parcel, which 1t must have taken all tho
Commissioners strength to carry
Fhe Commissioner read from paper voluminous
interrogatories previously put TO him and
which he was at that time unable TO answer from
memory These replies in regard to the cost OF
certain improvements, the time occupied by these
works, &c
Mr. Davenport-Do you know inspector in your
department named Frederick Meyerf
Mr. Porter-Yes sir.
Mr. Porter-Regulating and grading on the Boule-
ward.
proprietor Of barber shop on Seventh avenue at the
timo OF his appointment and is so still
MT Porter Smiling n dG %nlcn mic snowed rna
No sir, do not should hope though, that the we'll
known versatility Of the American people would enable
them 10 do these things at the same time phugher)
Mr. Davenport-Do you know an inspector Of sewer
connections named Greenerf
Mr. Davcnport-You don't know that he keeps lager
beer saloon in Fiftieth street,
Mr. Porter-No sir. QLaughter.)
Mr. Porter finally made statement regarding his
previous residences in New York. which, he said, had
extended till 1871
with tiny and intensely black mustache and
scholastic looking large spectacles, said the appoint
ments were made through him. He did nothing with
consulting the Commissioner Mr.. Guffbeton
gave pretty much the account OF the mode OF ss
ing labor tickets and Its liability to abuses as that given
by Commissioner Porter at previous sitting OF the
committed However, he declared that he had never
known OF case where man had obtained work on
somebody else's ticket Mr.. Gumbleton admitted that
CERTIFICATE or A MASTER MASON
required of sewer inspectors although the law pro-
vided although 1t the custom under the old
Cfoton Board II would be good rule TO require such
a certificate OF sewer inspectors Mr.. Gumbleton was
asked how large proportion OF these inspectors were
masons and said from one-half to three iourtha He
then shown lists OF inspectors In the department
requested TO state which OF them were masons and
could only point out two three In list of twelve
fifteen who masons. He was asked what pains he
took satisfy himself that the men appointed as in
he made It rule to investigate the fact.
Mr. Davenport-We, what did you do In tho case OF
Frederick heyerf
Mr. Gumbleton-Well made the usual inquirieA
Mr.. Davenport-0f whomS
Mr. Gumbleton-of Alderman Blessing, among
others. l heard he was engaged In tonsoral occu2a
Mr. Davenport-was there any understanding that
his "tonsorIal occupation should not Interfere with
his duties as an nspectorf
Mr. Gumbleton-There may not have been in his
particular case but in most cases there is
A. Af~eAa uhana GlroA 10 thn fn6na
which procured appointments made rather contIadic
tory statements. He first said the Tammany General
Committee of district controlled only from hfty to
Five per cent OF the appointments, but after
ward corrected himself saying that he only meant the
committee 'as such' in giving that figure, but that 1t
did not include recommendations from
"ISDrvIDUAL" MEMBERS or TnR COMMITTEE
He FIRST said nearly fifty per cent Of the appointments
made on the recommendation Of "citizens gcncr-
allyn but finally, after some hard questioning ad.
mitted that those sSctzcnsn belonged to the Tam
many District Committees on Patronage, the Commit
tee on Organization and the General Committee.
Mr. Davenport-What proportion of the appointments
have you made on the recommendation OF citizens not
belonging to tho General Committee, the district com
mittees and the Committee on OrganizationS (Laugh-
ter o,,o,o s,ou,a coo ,ror, ,voD,v . an
per cent II might not reach the last figure, but
should say fully twenty per cent Probably ten per
cent Of these were poor men who made their own ap
In regard to Foreman McCugh Mr.. Gumbleton
said he had only known him once to be intoxicated
and then he gwen moral lecture" and that was
all He did not know that McCugh and other forcmen
had been arrested frequently for being grossly drunk
while .at work and he heard that foreman
who about to be arrested was locked up in tool
box by his men. (Laughter.l When asked as to the
increase OF the aborug force previous to the election
he admitted that 270 men we're put the Boulevard
and 400 changed. Since the election more than
this number have been DISCHARGED Mr.. Gumbleton
significantly added that last year the increase was
I000 but Mr.. Davenport interrupted him, saying, 'I
didn't ask you thatl" this interruption was not
prompted by the fact that last year Mr.. Van Mort,
republican, was Commissoner.l
Tho committee adjourned till haiEpast ten o'clock
on Monday next
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON CRIME.