The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-19

report but In pursuance OF series OF articles
menced long before its uppearance-publi shed the
draft OF bill which II had caused To be prepared for
presen tation to the Legislature its present session.
looking u complete change OF tho system OF street
cleaning. The bill Is the same in principle those
to which reference will be made on In that II aims
to take the whole subject out OF the DOMAIN OF city
politics. to vest the control OF street cleaning
gle executive officer TO DO held responsible for
conduct liable to forfeit his OIL CO Tor neglect of
duty. II also conlemplates cleaning the streets by
what Is known the small contract pIan dividing the
whole city into number OF DISTRICTS each let
separate contracts for ashes and garbage This
the second step OF tho winter toward securing
legislative action and the first step In the
right direction, and. as shown by the interviews
with prominent citizens published IN the same
paper for several successive days. met with much
approval On the l4tn OF January this society fol-
lowed up its report by appointing a Of i've
bodying the recommendations OF the report, aud
Gu the 18th of January DR.. Hayes. oil New York,
offered resolution IN the Assembly requesting tho
Mayor, the President OF the Board OF Health and the
Commissioner oil Public Works TO devise o plan Tor
The better cleaning of the streets Of the CITY, the
separation OF ashes and garbage and its disposition,
and 10 report the same to the Legislature in twenty
days The introduction OF this resolution gave
a warm debate, which shows ncusve!y-if indeed,
such showing be necessarytbat the whole business
Of street cleaning is regarded by proessed politicians
solely with reference to the opportunities 1t gives
al. consideration for the oomort and health Of clsi
zons must be subordnated TO these Mr.. Grady,
who, as your committee understand. represents Tam
many Hall, at once moved an amendment adding to
this Commission the Comptroller and the Chairman
OF the Street Cleaning Bureau, Mr.. Nichols. In ad-
vocating his amendment he mado the bold assertion
that the streets were we'll and properly cleaned under
the present system. Another patriot Mr.. Calvin, op-
posed the Commission, because officials named in
DR.. Hayes resolution have already settled plan for
cleaning which is opposed to the interests OF
the iaboring man. Finally the anendmen was de-
ieated and tho original resolution adopted. Up 10
this date the Street Cleaning Bureau had, with Its
usual tranquil indifference TO newspaper clamor and
the complaints OF citizens, pursued its customary
course OF doing the least work Tor the largest avail
able amount OF money. 1t will all blow over. as 1t
haze Nnftn dana hofn ttAtp rnNnO
ton. But this resolution seemed 70 Indicate ap.
preaching trouble, arising from source which could
On the 21st of January therefore, three days after
the passage of this resolution, the Board OF Police
Commissioners adopted q long series OF resolutions
presented by the Street Cleaping Committee directing
the adoption OF the socalled block system whereby
one man is patin charge Of certain amount OF street
good condition Full directions for inspection by
patrolmen Tor detailing carts to follow promptly the
sweepers and Tor enforcement OF all city ordinances
to disposition Of refuse and garbage make goodly
In this document The next day the police cap.
tains convened at headquarters and Instructed
by superintendent Waing In the duties incident to
tho new system, the conference terminating with
the caution that the Board OF Police fully meant all
that was comprised in the resolutions, aud that it
would be imprudent for any police officer To be caught
mapping Porter tous activity and pustle AZ once
placed the usui listlessness OF the Street Clean
ing Bureau, and all this unwonted activity and hustle
was duly chronicled with very large headings 10 the
newspapers, which constantly published interviews
with MessrA Nichols and Gunner as to the working Of
the new system. "why," said Mr.. Nichols 10 a
y,
think this s snecure, but You that, summer
and winter. rain shne drive about tho city two
and on sunday morning give up my church to visit
West and South streets and the markets." "Cieanli.
next TO Godness" says the old proverb. but the
jealous Commissioner seems disposed TO give tho
the preference II his Interpretation OF Godii
ness. however, corresponds with his conception OF
cleanliness exhibited by the streets under MS care,
duo regard Tor public morals should compel long
suffering community 10 insist on his retiring 10 sta
ton where he may devote his Sunday MORNINGS TO
calls vi office.
THE WORKINGS OF THE 'sNEw SYSTEM"
Under the new system streets began assume
credaole appearance and the better and central
oflhe city might for once have been called fairly
clea But Tor the condition Of the streets on the ex
and west OF the city, for South Fifth avenue
aud It's parallel streets little could be sa. The HERALD
rate slaemen Of the streets cleaned and unclaimed.
But on the 29th OF January new surprise was pre-
enforcement Of sections IS and 1888 OF The SANITARY
Code providing for the separation OF ashes and garbage,
and the next morning found the police courts crowded
with men, women aud children VINO had been arrested
for violation OF these sections and for sweeping
dust into the Streets The magistrates imposed small
hnes declaring their intention to rgidy enforce pun
In all future cases, and IL really began to look
though there was hope for better state OF affairs,
when came the great snow storm Of tho season,
and whole attention OF street Cleaning Bureau
gwen TO clearing Broadway OF snow. This work
was well and effectively done but with It's termination
disappeared all the late activity and energy the
partinent and matters resumed pretty much the
status OF the LIST Of January. The tensment house
uudisuroed by arrest and me- and II here and there
some householder with the fear Of tho law before hs
eyes continued 10 separate and keep distinct these
articles the drivers OF the department. carts soon con-
WINGED him oil the aOsurdIy oil his action BY dumping
them before his eyes Into the same vehicle. For
proof your COMMITTEES beg to refer to article
published in the HERALD OF February %, the
writer OF which had carefully verified his state.
ments by personal Inspection giving the numbers Of
the carts whose drivers violated tue regulation Tor.
bidding admxture OF ashes and garbage, and other.
substantating The TACT that all vigilance on this
and other points had been relaxed. Wnether the
street Cleaning Bureau considered that two weeks
activity entitled them TO SIX months' vacation, or
whether u course OF action determined upon ny them
and now 10 be noticed made them regardless alike OF
nss pns to aSosa arg ouv
Ing facts. II will be remembered that during this
period the commission appointed by the Legislature
work upon It's bill, Well the committee OF
this society, aud intimations cropped out from time
time the papers that the result OF their deiibera
lions would be bills relieving the Police Board oi all
future onnection with street cleaning, recommend
Ing the small contract system, In the one instance
under supervision OF superlnsenoent 10 % appointed
by the Mayor; In the other under supervision OF a
board consisting Of the Commissioner Of Public
WORKS. Tho President oil the Board Of Health ana the
President OF the Board Of Police.
The Legislature was largely republican and there
every probability that ono or the otner Of these
bills, or combination OF both, would pass. On the
1Ith OF February II was announced In the HERALD
that the Counsel to the Corporation had given
expected opinion that the Board oil Police mad power
in their discretion let out the OF street clean
ing by contract and that the Board proposed 10 avail
themselves OF this opinion and mako cnangc In the
tnls opinion, fortified by an Endorsement from Judge
Emott, made Its appearance IN the HERALD, niling
nearly two columns Vi that paper. An interview
with Mr.. Nichols followed the opinion matter Of
course In that interview Mr.. Nichols states that the
Board sought tor Information to their rights In
letting tho work by contract simply TO have their
powers legally and clearly defined, and not with the
purpose OF taking immediate action thereon. VI
course H. reflection, was found that The present
system cumbersome, imperative or expensive,
the Board would have No hesitation IN substituting
other means to keep the city in healthy or
cieanly condition
No one could Talk better or more promsiDgly than
Mr.. Nichos-he seems 10 have n git that wsy-and
we snail other statements OF his the
same interview further on.
rHE CORPORATION coUNsEL's OPINION.
But We desire TO give lew moments consideration
to what the HERALD well calls the unexpected opinion
of the Corporation Counsel
In July, 1877, u certain Frank Swift had made him
self rather troublesome TO the head Of the street
Cleaning Bureau by repeated oilers to relieve him OF
his one great annoy ance-t0 w.t. the inability TO dis
pose OF The garbage Of the city, by repeated oilers
" take contract TO receive and carry away at ms
expense all the garbage Of the city which might