New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-13
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
coMMIssIoNER CAMPBELL CRITICISED.


COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL CRITICISED.
THE CONTROLLER MAKES A COUNTER ATTACK on
TIE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC woRKs-A BIT
TER CRITICISM or THE DEPARTMENT..
The controversy between Controller Kelly
and Commissioner Campbell of the Department OF
Public Works. in relation to the administration OF that
department. reopened yesterday by the former IN
q long letter TO Mr.. Campbell. Mr.. Kelly severely
oriticises the work done by the department He begins
his letter with the statement: MY time is so much oc-
eupied with the duties of my office that have very
little leisure to devote to answering personal attacks
1t is my habit to pass them by in silence ana shouu
not depart from my usual custom but for the reason
that your letter. in the disguise of department cores
pOndence Is evidently intended to blind the public 10
your very questionable administration Of the Depart
uent OF Public Works care nothing personally Tor
your accusations Of uutruthfuness Your correspond
euce has before been intersDersed with expressions
not in use among gentlemen, while have already had
occasion to inform you that It was my habit to con-
duct my official intercourse with courtesy and sobrety"
The writer then dips into his subject at once, by
infinitely narraug the circumstances that led him TO
charge, in former letter, that some men were
designated as laborers the payrOs Of the Depart
ment OF Public Works who had not done any work as
laborers in the streets specified He then makes this
comment: regret that the oerHheaton OF vouchers
by the Commissioner Of Public Works is not at all times
sufficient guarantee Of their correctness so as TO war
rant an audit by this department without auxiliary
information You have certified instance TO the
performance OF work and supply Ofmatera which had no
foundation in fact, and which an imaginary job put
in the bill OF the claimant to obtain money rauduenty
from the city" As further proof OF loose management
Mr. Kelly states last week he called the attention
of Commissioner Campbell in vain to bad WORK done
upon LexingOn-aye, between Seventyfourth aDd Sew
entyninthsts and that then, at his request Amerman
Ford, city surveyors, examined the avenue between
the streets mentioned and confirmed the report that the
contract had not fulfilled He then says that the
last quarterly report Of Commissioner Campbell showed
that 900 square yards OF street had been repaired
at total cost OF S51 319 II for labor alone Concerning
this, Mr.. Kelly says: Il am Informed by practical
PAYERS that the cost for labor should not exceed 10
per square yard These 10000 square yards have
cost the city S33,71S 81 more than they should have
done. 1 am informed that these paving gangs do so
little work that they constant source OF deule TO
the business people of the city," In proof Of this last
assertion, Mr.. Kelly says that taxpayer watched
gang Of men employed on Lexington-aye., between
Twenty-ntnth and Thirtiethsts., recently and that
through their deness the work cost the city SlOo IN
stead of 500, as it should have done.
Mr. Kelly in conclusion claims that the credlt OF re
ducing the expenditures of the Department of Public
Works is due TO the Board Of AppOrOnmen and not TO
Mr., Campbell The Commissioner OF Public WORKS
asked for 0S53 to carry his department IN 1878
MT. Kelly states, but the Board OF AppOrtionment with
Mr.. Key's acquieseence gave the Commissioner only
81 81 II