The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
INQUIRY ON STATEN ISLAND
now SOME THINGs ARE DOVE II
NEW BRIGHTON yILLAGE.
The Taxpayers Looking Into some Contrsoo
Charges Of Loosencss aud Carelcssness-
Trustee AruoId's t.rnye Responribiitty,


The Taxpayers Looking Into some Contrsco
Charges Of Loosencss aud Carelcssness-
Trustee Arnoid's Grave Responsibility.
The taxpayers OF the Second Ward q
New Brighton, Staten Island. have spent tis,ooe
upon public works within tho past two years.
and they say that they have very little to show
for Il. Early In January seine residents called q
meeting and had Mcssrs. G. Helncken, J. Z.
Brown, w. X. Sputter, John G.. Dale, A L. Lv-
ingston, Thomas Melville, j. Kingsley Martin.
i. ID Fowler, L. Morton. q. i. Hicks, Aduiiis
Rich, !. Y. EmmOns, George Il. Cooks, George q.
Holyoke, s. NJ. Weston, NJ l.. HARRISON, p. W.
Cesar. J. W. Simonton, W. 4. Garner. aud q.
II. Kissel, apponteda committee to investisats
the expenditures. Tho committee presented
their petition before the Board OF Trustees Of
the village and the President Mr.. X. Il. white
more, appointed a committee Of three to repor1
what measures were desirable. MIR. II. Tracy
Arnold, the trustee OF the Second Ward, was rs-
sponsibc for any misuse OF the public moneya
and for any other Irregularities that might bs
discovered No charges were m lde against him.
however, and the committee of three trusted
al djourned to await a more definite com plaiuA
from the taxplyers.
On the 22d Of February last the taxpayers nn-
ishej and presented their complaint. They
found many things In the management OF tue
putlic works that needed explanation, and
their report expressed the opinion that mors
ceived, and that excessive rates had been paid
for labor aud materi |. They learned, also, that
Patrick Hart, "A contractor, controlled the work
| done In the ward and seemed To have been paid
for superintendDg bis own work. They found
capacity were CHARGED for twice. or In two
capacities on the pay rolls, and they believed
that the accounts OF the expenditures for laDos
| and other items that should have been kept by
| the Marshall had been copied by him from the
eontnrsctors eI,n books books; The t,xpaysrs learned.
| competition for contracts exceeding $3.50 hsA
been violated: Tyson street had oeen widened
| at a cost Of $3.50, and Patrick Hart had bee1
| awarded the work la two contracts-one OF scS
and the other Of S75. Mr. Herrs bill for tux
| work was made out for the full amount, Sxo
| An these facts were presented In detail In ths
taxpayers report, and added to them was .
suggest ton tn At "the uDOye-recited facts abund-
| antly show the necessity for some stringons
| regulations for the purpose OF rendering irrsgu-
| larlty, extravagance, ana fraud more difiicut b
| the future" The report was signed by q
ieincken. J. +. Enmons. and Fred. +. Brown.
Trustee Arnold In replying to this cUmpianA,
| denied some Of the alleR R1tlOns. anu demaD -
| proof as to others.
A great deal VI testimony was then taken by
the committee, and a month ago meeting Of
| the Board " trustees was called TO deternlins
should be approved. Four trustees constltutea .
quorum, the iull membership being six, put -
one trustee was III, and Messrs. Arnold aud
| MOOie did not attend, the repor; was not pre-
| sented. Another meeting was cllcd with .
like result At the third cal MIR. Moore al
| tended and unpletcd the quorum, ana the
| report was accepted.
| Al the last meeting but one, Trustee Moore.
| who sympAthiZci with Arnold, ui-sented IRON
| the report ana offered a minority report Of his
| own, anu after tue majority report hld been
read the minority report was laid over.
Mess j. w. SinOntOn and j. +. EinmOns ox
the Committee ot Taxpa, crs, regret the mis-
take that Crept into publication hy which II was
made to seem that chuces OF dishonesty In
ofiice had been preferred against Mr.. Arnold.
The charge IL Of ioOseness or carc!ea sness. Ne
attempt Is made To disgrace or iinpcach Mr..
| Arnold any other person. 1hs comtntttso
seek simply 10 uring ABOUT the passage oi strioe
| ordinances that sh II guard the public agaiDse
| been discovered.
| will READ before the Board VI trustees at ths
| NJ II meeting. lie says thlt the caarges agsins,
him arise from person emmy GA the part OF
two Or three pcfe.ns, ara mat man, OF Tue sub
sctibers to tue rItiOn IOr All iuvestIg .tiOu
signed the pCunlcut without underestimate ing IL
nature. lie beiirvrs that the sympathy vi the
taxpayers, MS mass, + with him. He says tns<
to OulRs them ne gave tue committee permis
sion TO close It's inNestlgdtiOns before he hs1
brought all lis witnesses to the stand, but tha1
they GftCrward cUhtinued their sessions without
Informing MIN Of tao fact, and refused to allos =
| him to CrOss-eXainine tie witnesses thai
| testified before them. As To his aosenos
| from the meetings, whereby aquOrum was pre-
vented, ne plead, u 4 he W IS III. In conclusion
lie challenges fun Investigation Of his pubiis
service, and sugse-t> tnat tive proper pldos fOs
his tTidi ~ either at thu pJlls befOrs the
Grand Jury.