The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-13
THE FILTHY STREETS.
Views Of Mayor Ely and Comptroller Kelly
on the Subject.
READY TO ENTERTAIN CHARGES
The Mayor Powerless-Albany Deaf to Ap-
peai-The Comptroller's Plan.

the immediate attention Of our highest city officials.
II having been currcutyundersood that Mayor Ely In
tended take regarding the failure OF the
Police Commissioners 70 perform their duty. our
worthy chief magistrate was called upon yesterday.
What he said in OF tho interview given be-
low will be found BIO OF the very highest interest
citizens and taxpayers generally. Mayor Ely was In
tho very thick OF hts countless Official and Official
engagements when his views were sought, but having
evidently bestowed UGH and study upon tho sub
jcct, he delivered his views with rapidity
few perfumcd biet-douS urgent applications for Offices
and labor tickets and lot OF officials foreigners and
visitors from this city had to be disposed Of before His
Honor could subject himself to tho Intervening pro-
cess, but whom he did the following the result
ssMr Mayor, what do you propose do in regard to
the failure Of tho Police Commissioners clean the
streetsf"
MAYOR ELY's PLAN.
~ think the most practicable plan OF cleaning the
streets IL to create separate department and bureau
Of street cleaning to appoint energetic and
competent man as superintendent Of streets, who
should have entire charge OF the work Of cleaning
them and also perhaps keep them in repair"
.'Is there any reason why the streets Of Now York
cannot DO always kept thoroughly cleans"
sCcrtainy not II has been demonstrated that II IL
possible keep Broadway and tho Fifth clean,
and that sufficient proof that the whole city bs
kept equally clean if properly attended TO-"
els there, Mr. Mayor shadow Of Justification or
sxcusc for the Police Commissioner neggencef
.The great difficulty under which the Police Commits.
yioners have had to labor has been to dnd proper
deposit for sweepings and ashes The plan for all-
ing up Little He'll Gate has been defeated by the Legs-
!ature think, however, If some permanent system
Of ceanng the streets should be adopted parties could
readily be found who would contract 70 take ali the
street dirt ana utilize it for fcrtlizng purposes A
fortune could be made out OF i'll think the ashes
Or
sunken lands In the vicinity Of the CITY,"
"a change In the present system, such you advo-
cate, Mr.. Mayor would require legislative actionf"
''Of course it would. When first entered this oflce
] supposed that before this time desirable
changes the laws governing local affairs would
have boon made by the Legislature but have ceased
therefore, get along Tor another year under our pres
ent system"
Commissioners lay them liable to DO removed by you,
Mr. Mayory'
GOVERNOR ROBINSON IN THE WAY.
"Lct me say on this point that believe the public
expect moro OF tho Police Commissioners than lair
considering the great difficulty with which they have
to contend which l have already pointed out 10
you. have been applied by many persons to pre-
fer charges before the Governor against the Police
Commissioners but from careful deliberation | have
to the conclusion that the Governor would hardly
be justified in removing them upon the state Of facts
presented by their accusers, and consequently have
thus far rerancd from taking any action in the mat
ter No charges OF fraud corruption have been
madc against them, tho accusations being based only
II officially established, have hitherto been
regarded by the Governor sufficient for
movais Besides understand that the Commssi Lers
show that they have actually expended the 500 600
month allowed them for street cleaning by the Board
OF Apportionmcnt. /"
els that amount not entirely sufficient TO havo the
work we'll doneyW
Il think with $1,000 day the can be thor
oughy cleaned and all the ashes removed. !"
READY TO ENTERT.IN CHARGES
81 understand that respectable body Of taxpayers
arc about TO prefer charges before your
IA m ia tpr n m
tain them land to cite the Commissioners before In
order to give them IN opportunity TO answer them;
and II consider them OF sufficient weight to
eucn action, to lay them before the Governor"
'But for the present you SEQ no hope OF relicfs"
~ do not As have already said, my control or in
Hucnco the matter only be exercised the very
indirect way already referred TO. | receive letters
every dry from citizens cont tanning complaints OF the
terrible CONDITION OF their respective localities Those
cmaratng from manitestly responsible quarters have
referred to the Police Commissioners, and IN some
the complaints have been attended 10 and the
in those localities have been cleaned think
that during the last few days deal OF work has
been done in different parts OF the city; and tho
season advances, l think the evil Will undoubtedly
diminish evon II change takes place in the admin.
istration OF this branch OF city government Tho
present CONDITION oil many OF our streets is largely
owing to the great accumulations OF snow apd Ice dur
ing the past winter"
,sDo You regard yourself head oil tho city govern
ment responsible Tor the OF the streets ~
PowERLEss MAYOR
The answer oil Mayor Ely was quick and vigorous
ain no respect wnatcver,' SAID no sharply and de.
cisivey. II have just much control over the
streets OF PnladelphiA l hnvo over those OF New
York until lney reach condition such as, in my
Judgment would be regarded BY tho Governor sui
cent cause Tor revoluionzing tho entire police sys-
TEN oil the city by a change OF all the Polcc CQmmis-
sioncrs This very grave matter, and donot be-
lcve that such coni.n -ency has as yet arrived
ssYour friends In the Legislature introduced a bill
giving you the power OF appointing superintendent
OF street cleaning, who should have charge Of tho
II know that such bill has been introduced but It
was not done upon my sug. esti0n, this u labor
and responsibility which do not seek determined
.tSr
pcrtancd to II or should be imposed upon 1t faithfully
ana TO the best OF my abilty; but | do not deem it
TO solicit new iabors aud responsibilities which might
fail 10 discharge either to my satisfaction that Of
the public Holding these views have carefully ab-
stained from all interference with Albany legislation
on this any other subject"
CONTROLLERS KELLY on THE SITUATION.
Comptroller Kelly expresses himself entirely will
ing to cooperate IN any movement which VIII insure
p thorough cleaning OF the streets. In an interview
with the HERALD representative yesterday nc was en-
phalic in explaining mis- Official position on Tho subject
lie also into precise details as to his powers
the Police Commissioners In withholding their APP
preparations extent OF his supervision OF Their
street cleaning duties
"rhe HERALD contends, Mr. Koly, that you have no
right TO pay cent for street cleaning 10 the Police
Commissioners that Is not honestly earned" remarked
the HERALD representative
II have nothing whatever to do with the cxpendi-
turc audit pay Of these bills for street
cleaning We would DO astonshcd al this Information,
II anything could asonish US now IN tue management
operations OF the Street Cleaning Bureau MS con-
nectea with my department aud our anomalous city
government
"what really tho facts as 10 your powers In the
prcmscsf"
81 seems that under the present laws tho Police De-
partment entirely independent Of the audit bureau
OF the Finance Dcnartmcnt auditing ana paying Its
own bills oil all kinos.n
rmE APPROPRIATIONS QUESTION
"Have you any power under the charter TO Keep
back the Appropriation Tor the Police Departmental
"Nonc whatever After the charter oi 1873 was
passed somebody got through supplemented act ex-
cmpt'ng the Police Department rom us PROVISIONS
anu virtually creating an independent department
with complete control over It's management and OK
pendituros y
"Wbat rs the clause 10 which you alludct"
1.-The Comptroller here pointed out section OF chap
Ter 100 OF The Laws Of 1873 which reads foliows
The Police Department through s treasurer and In
oi the orders rules and regulations o the Board
shall all salaries officers
Of the Police department and force established aud in
pursuance Of law and all bills claims and ubl law
fry incurred by or by authority Of said Board and the
Comptroller shall to the police
rcqustion 81 the Board of Police the