The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-05
A Field Day in the Board
Yesterday.
Mr. GREEN AS A LOBBYIST
The Comptroller aud the Commissioner Of
Public Works Face to Face.
THE MAYORS VICTORY

errinG &c. 900 10 from one fund to another ior the
Health Board. and laying over for future consid-
GRAFTON the application OF the Charity Commission.
ers to be allowed to use S2,o 900 balance OF an old
fund for the erection Of hand elevators In Bellevue
Hospital A resolution to authorize the Comp.
troller to issue 100000 Natural History stock be-
ing the balance OF the 100000 authorized last No
vember was laid over.
The application OF the Commissio ner OF Public
Works that an issue Of bonds for sewer repairs to
the amount Of $4,000 should DO authorized by the
Board. which application was read az the meeting
on Wednesday, was the occasion for the exciting
scenes which aiterward marked the proceedings
and during which, as will be seen, Mr.. Green ana
Mr.. Van Mort had lively tilt. In speaking OF the
application OF tho Commissioner Mr.. GREEN said -
Mr.. mayor, l consider that the expense
for the repairing OF sewers Ii Q part OF
the current household expenses OF the city.
to DO paid for out Of taxation and not BY
the issue Of bonds. The effect OF issuing bonds
for this purpose gives the Commissioner OF Public
Works the right 10 spend 500. 900 year in addi.
ton to the sum provided for his department. In the
TAX Levy. He has $4,000 already for 1878 for
sewer REPAIRS and deem that amount quite sum-
Gent
A LIVELY FIGHT.
| The Mayor at this point sent for Commissioner
Van Mort. who on arriving WAS informed or the
the bonds.
Mr.. VAN MORT said THE Department Of Public
Works have $3.50 for sewer repairs; but this is
for ordinary repairs. By Law OF 1872 an issue of
bonds not to exceed $780, 900 In any one year was
authorized for extraordinary repairs There Is q
contract for cleaning the basins at $4,000 q year.
and that has to come out OF the $4,000 The law au-
thorizing this expenditure was In existence when
went into once. Now, out OF that s75,O00 be.
sides the $4,000 for the contract men,
toned, 411,500 Is expended for clearing sew.
ers, and for the pay OF mechanics and
others BY days work who do the needed repairing
$4,000. which, you will perceive. leaves a very
smarl margin for extraordinary repairs and other
work that Is necessary In connection with the
sewers. The resolution asking for the issue Of
that $4,000 In bonds Is based on chapter 200 OF
the Laws or 1871. mr. Van Mort here read the
iaw.)
The MAYoK-Is the demand immediate for this
money
Mr.. VAN NoRr-we are working now, and q
good deal OF work on the sewers can be done dur.
ing the present kind OF weather. Out OF the
$4,000 We will have left over ST. 900 to $4,000
Mr.. GREEN-Now let me read lew OF the bills
for what are called extraordinary repairs. Here's
one for sl6 another for SSs, another for e1le.
The Comptroller here read on the items and then
contlnusd:- 81 contend that the law referred to
did not contemplate such work as this. Work on
the sewers OF the character shown IN these bills
ought to be paid for out OF taxation and not By
issuing bonds Ny object In opposing this issuing
OF bonds is to ADJUST this matter about the work
on sewers. It Is not only I'm wise to Issue bonds
Tor the purposes asked Ior, Out 1t Is wrong-un.
juStlna0ie.
Mr.. VAN MORT sharply Il question whether the
Board u no. Obliged under the law to issue the
the MAYon-well, now, ecsrcely think the law
contemplates such work as that winch costs SIS
Tor repairing culvert. Certainly that can't be
Mr.. Van NoEr-I submit tina. the men who do
these repair: are are men VINO 90 the WORK MT ey
e Tn a1
the MAYoR-That item Of sas could not have
0isr VAS al due Tss sesa TO Your
honor, repeat that have submitted resolution
soner o. Puoc WORKS ought to BE- allowed some
discretion In defining the work he ls obliged to
ALL ABOUT CONTRACT.
M GRIIN-Wnsn came INTO once found this
The Hx1osMMr tweed was the Uo m
oil Public Works when he made the contract, pre-
MIR. GREEN. appearing not to notice the Mayors
interruption, continued:-A contract, sir. be-
the MAYoR-Entered into BY Mr.. Tweed when
he was Commissioner OF Public w orks, was 1t note
Mr.. GREEN toostinately)-A contract which.
The MAYOR (half rising In hts chair and assum-
ing an air OF severity)-Was that contract made
Wor 's THAT'S what you mean, don't your ''''
Mr.. GREEN-Yes, SIT, yes; on yes; believe be
The MAYOR taryly,-wel, that's what wanted
10 know. ! was asking the Comptroller Tor infor.
Mr.. GaEEx-That contract was q gross fraud. 1
desired to get rid OF and resisted payment OF
claims under It; but after the present Commission
came into ONCE a law was passed, ~ the tail end
Of which were few lines which declared all con-
tracts then existing between the DeDai tnient OF
mere to say anything about how that par. Of Inc
law was Drought aDout--by what singular means
an act disastrous ns 70 tae c.ys interests was con-
The MAYoR-lt was, dare say, brought about BY
rivalry OF interests ana 49, in my view OF It, an.
departments going to Albany to influence egisa.
tion for their own departments or against other
HEAVY BLOW AGAINST GREEN.
MT: GREEN-irecognlze the force Of Your Honor's
oSUyns a. xSany sDore sayns any,
thing aoout That matter In speaking OF this law,
and regret that mention has been made o. It.
strengthened In our good Intentions now by the
disasters when you see follow two or three lines
stuck into law like the one referred to.
Mr.. VAN NoRr flushed with anger and with mis-
eyes flashing fire, sprang to hts feet and ex.
Albany to influence legislation have re- words
TO say. there are no Two men. think. who know
self; ror while 4 subordinate OF his for thirteen
years In the Department Of Parks, under his in
structi0ns went TO Albany every year when the
Legislature was IN session on "busness Tor his
bcnent."
Mr.. Van Nor, turned toward Mr.. Greon a. no ut.
tered these words, which, It Ia needless state crc-
ated the lveliest excitement among the members
OF the Board. As Tor Mr.. Green the blood rushed to
his lace and although he tried TO seem indifferent
bis looks betrayed MIN.
After pause MI. Van Mort went on 70 state
tract, but failed although he had been able get
rid OF others he deemed bad. He then added:-
AS the contract stood the Comptroller refused
TO pay. and say here it was VINO asked to nave
those lines put into the law. was unwilling that
the health OF this city should be endangered
because OF bubble over q contract took the
responsibility OF doing what did Tor the benent
OF the city. am not ashamed OF anything 90.
AS to the contract ! will say hat since u was
made over one thousand new basins have been
built, and ! think the contractor would DC very
glad 10 be renewed OF the contract
49, hc resolution was then. on motion OF sne