New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-24
THE LETTER.

To me Hon. JOHN KELLY, COnHOitef'
SIR: / have received your letter of the Sth
inst in reference the payroll Of aborers and others
engaged in the repairs of street for the last
fortnight of july ana the payroll Of engineers and
assistants In charge Of several works In the upper part
Of city, which transmitted by 10 the Finance
Department This letter, under pretext OF inquiry
into these accounts merely the continuation OF
tematc attack sometime since commenced by you
to embarrass this department, its employees.
contractors and agents. and. If possible to bring dis
credit upon its head. While you may, and for time
have. by delaying payment 10 contractors ana OthFrs
employed upon the public works, subjected them ana
their wOrkmen to loss and Inconvenience, and wheyou
may by this course If allowed to continue It, nure the
public interests you will fail in your attempt to reflect
upon the administration of this Department because Its
results are as well known in this city your object to
embarrass department which you cannot control IN
the interest OF political faction.
Your course upon previous occasions in writing to this
department impeachng its action in other works. and
which 1 proved to be wholly devoid Of TRUTH showed
that your motive in putting forth such accusations
was other than to subserye the public INTERESTS and in
the present learn that you paid the entire roll OF
abOrers and Others the correctness OF which you at
tack, in the regular order OF such payments
without awaiting my reply. and without with
drawing your offensive imputations, showing
clearly that you did not believe your own
statements but that they had served the only
become the vehicle for sanderng by their pubica-
ton in scurrous newspaper the evening before they
reached my hand It is not therefore, TO you' as an
auditor of city accounts, that address this reply; for
having paid the rolls you have no longer any junction TO
perform as an official. Nevertheless, you think It
worthy OF you 10 your office TO give some degree OF
weight TO charges and nsnuatIons impeachiug the IN
tegrity OF this department, and lest somebody more
ignorant OF the facts yourself should believe the'
l shall reply in such may be necessary to
show your violation OF truth and official decorum.
First as 20 the payroll OF laborers in question,
you say There are number OF men designated as la
borers upon the payroll who, II is learned, detailed
by some authority unknown TO this inancel Depart
ment to duty other than the labor specified.
This Financel Department has means OF
Judging Of the necessity for large an employment OF
inspectors in the work OF repairs pavementsbu upon
reference to payroll OF July 1876 eng during the
first Summer Of your administrator II Is found that at
that period there weny-four gangs OF laborers
working in twenty-four places with but one Inspector
while the roll OF July 81, 1873. shows
twenty.four gangs Of laborers, working in twenty
four places, with virtually thrty-eight inspectors"
lNir Campbell answers that many Of the workmen whom
Mr. Kelly has cassed inspectors merely laborers
and adds Your assertion that these common laborers
doing abOrers work. and receiving laborers wages are
inspectors, is simply bold misrepresentation OF fact
The number Of inspectors returned upon the roll, the
Commissioner says Is nne instead OF thrtyeight and
be explains the duties performed by each).
have thus shown that the objections raised by you TO
these pay-rOs have no foundation in fact Payment
has been made by during the whole season on rolls
made out 10 precisely the same manner. Had you now
or at any time desired explanation, all that was nee
essary was simple inquiry by respectful letter. but It
is evident that an explanation not what you de-
sired for you did not believe the statements yourself
you would not have paid the men as you did without
awaiting a reply 49, -. 49,,
you add " II this information is correct shall con,
slider II my duty 10 Wlthho.d pay 70 tneS I
strongly condemn practice which grew up IN the DO
partnent ofPubc Works under former Com missiOner
OF certifying the performance OF a fictitious duty
upon payroll for the purpose OF creating claim
% service ren1ircs the employment OF men In one ca
pacity they should be represented as performing IL IN
II lis dcut to conceive that You should have the ei
frOntery address such slandcrous language TO me- for
will not affect 10 be Ignorant 70 whom YOU mean 20
refer as commissioner whose practices I'm fas
fyiug payros you charge upon me The statement is
OF known to you to De false no pay ron mas ever
been certified by me during your term that
YOU have not paid. Clearly, therefore, you
been taught 10 believe that sefrespecting
would rather suffer than bear false witness and
liable 10 the just JUDGMENT OF men for uttering
true what BY Sy9s e the The sO add SG% P fSc
that you published the statements before your
communication o youT reS m6tVe yH to inInTe
me-not obtain information a. 10 actsas your letter
O
that YOU have entered upon systematic scheme OF mis-
representing me aud my department., and submit to
Won thar II Is procedure altogether unworthy the chief
financial officer OF this city,
Tho records OF this department since my accession to
office afford the most conclusive evidence OF faithful
administration Of Its affairs
During this period, from January, 1875, 10
July, 1873 and half years, the total eX- . - .
pendtures OF the department have been- sSb3l4O9 %
For the corresponding period preceding Jan.
nary, 1873 10 July, 1875, two and half --. -
years, the expenditures Wero......... lholSSo4 o1
Difference sa2s75l4 81
or an average reduction OF than three and half
million dollars per hDnum, the reduction In salaries or
administration expenses alone having been Sl20OOO q
year As the financial officer Of the city, you ought 10
be gratincd at such result as IL has tended IN no small
reduce the debt and taxation OF an oppressed
and lOng-suffering people. $1,000 49,.
IL seems TO me that might be much better en-
plOyed COOPERATING together harmoniOusy In the work
of tightening the public burdens than In consuming our
me-yOu In publishing sanderOus statements 70 Grip
pie and embarrasB Inc, and In answering them, lest
somebody knowing less Of the facts than you, shall De-
HcYe them.
The conclusion OF the whole matter that shall con
tnue Ia the marked out for myself when con-
scented accept this office, TO conduct the depart
ment business principles, and not 10 allow 10 to De
used the Injury Of the city, for mere party puf-
poses under pressure intimidation from any quarter
L have the honor 10 he, etc, ALLAN CAMPBELL,
Commissioner Of Public Works.
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