New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-03
OFFICIAL DETERMINATIONS.

SHARP CORRESPONDENTS BETWEEN THE CONTROL
LER AND COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORks-A
QUESTION OF VERACITY TIE CONTROLLERS
RESPONSIBILITY.
Cen. Porter. Commissioner of Public Works.
has written long letter to the Controller in reply TO
communication in which Mr.. Green denied that nc was
responsible for the alleged extravagant expenditure on
tbe upper part of the island The correspondence was
begun by the Controller sept. in communication to
the Mayor asking his AID in arresng the enormous eX-
uepdure of public money for the prosecution OF street
improvements and other public works which are NJ TINS
time premature ard entirely unnecessary tbs was
answered by Gen Porter who TO DC renee
tion on the manner in which the Department oil
Public Works was carried on, and retorted by
declaring that the Controller, as member
of the Department Of Parks, when the plan OF
LAYING ont the upper part Of the city adopted, was
really responsible part for the extravaganza Wnich
followed and the burdens now imposed on the taXpa9-
ers Gen Porter held the Controller Responsible Tor an
expenditure of nearly $230OOO0O for land acquired lof
the Riverside and MOrninCsdo Parks, street openings,
&C. The Controller denied this. and gave history OF
the Park Commission during the last lime that he was
member and claimed that everything was done In an
economical manner until The Tweed klhg Oh
tanned control in 1868. The Controller declared
that he could DO held responsible only for the expendl-
tlre of S1l56172 30, extending over period OF 3i2
years For the plan Of laying out that part of the city
,,Iaus on the West side below y-hfth-
A. TO form the Riverside and Morningsdc Parks, the
Controller admitted his responsibility, but ne protested
against going on under this plan and improving streets
and avenues in the extreme upper portion OF the city,
where they will not be needed for the next 20 years
For pushing forward hese premature Improvements he
declared thar the Common Council anu the Department
az Publc Works were responsible
Considerable feeling has been SHOWN Oh DON sucs III
tho grr.suOndence Referring to the last communion
fnn OF The Controller, Gen. Porter says: WIN your
fua4 ttsIfs
y0ur communication 10 tie Man or or common superior
officer have here nothing 10 sa! put you iat"nr o
judgement OF rejecting men If, by lntclnefae language
and unfounded charges you seen 10 lni'ho thGh peeNo
that all honcsjy has been lodged III yO" anu ta' 5.ri!
,ofy else should he su- cctcd' Gen. Porter fellHihs
ms that the Controller was resohSlDc Tor an
expenditure OF 80 D I9 ain rom ISIS TO
that tie apiication 10 take the land for River
e park Was made N November, ls6o, after delay oi
two years; mat competent ptiruA7 h"u NHluci
the land at Sl409OOO, but that Che proceed
iHSs we're rrotracted until August ISL when the
final sum reported the value was h1cd al T6oooOVp
ghomas Z. Fields ON June ~, Is AT Il lhees o sHe
p nix Commission, offered resolution 10 slOp IuflhcI
work ON Tie Riverside PARK i9I me purpose T Mlnhs
otnod-;n favor OF stopping the work, Commissioners
Dion AID Fields; opposed Cohhlis3loels GIt,n anu
Ounsead. This Gen5 q ue VOC llc Icso,oii " a.
lost Gu. Porter shows that ON the reorEaniZiloh OF
the PARK Dtpdfuheht uI9i to ,I &C. n,ii,ad 81
motion of COMMISSIONER H0n' ana 9G cohpineq i2toS
~ commissioners Sweeney, NIc"n, Hll"E, ana flclds
Commissioner Green was t1OS,u .f 1,.io 1'.
same meeting COiinis,ioneI Ni'. ,n o., 49, W if
INJECTING the Controller OF the city 10 place 10 the ciedt
~ 'n i,l the sum of S595 900" Cen Porter then
states tn8t of resolutions passed IN the depart
mcut from April 20, 1870, TO Nov. ,, 1o72,
involving expenditure OF money and can
Ing on the Controller Tor s,3391l3 D. - were offered
10, CoInBiss Green, iU1 we're PASSED with ms con
rirInf vote aud y without it, The Icsn utious - ac-
nm mo To- Land for widening and str ntening the
EinS-6rdge-road were voted for BY Comnis>oner
I'm a. tfrrr also similar resolutions TO acquire land
f Fopt Ton Park. the Parade Ground 81 InwoOd
M. circle nj fIfty-iintl-st. and Eishth-ave, the
Plaza" II ftyDiath-st. ana fAlA-"t, lAc Alsh
- PAM; and other schemes. Referring 10 the
,,aT3es made against his department, Gen. Porter
s fhat the AFFAIRS of The Department OF Pubic works
30. nm economically administered, ana tLat the say
ing o tie city vii be 30 per cent Tor work OF equal
I.rtitv and quality He quotes the published reports
mo ntroIrl 10 snow tina. the latter formerly favored
he system OF having public work done by days labor
Instead of by contract. Referring 10 the assertion thdt
t,.itcl appointments had been made III the depart
nent cen Porter says that appointments have Deen
made unless there was work 10 De performed