New-York tribune., 1878-10-01
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

THE KELLY-CAMPBELL WAR OF LETTERS
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELEs REILLY TO CONTROLLER
KELLY-THE PUBLIC WORKS CARED FOR RcO-
NoMCALIY-" EXPRESSIONS NOT IN USE AMONG
GENTLEMEN"
A documentary war that ragged during the
GUNNER between Controller Kelly and Commissioner
Campbell OF the Board Of Public Works. on the admins
traon their departments broke out afresh yesterday
Mr.. Campbell wrote letter to Mr. Kelly answering In
detail charges made against the Department OF Public
Works by him in letter seut TO Mr. Campbell on sep
tember IL. Mr.. Campbell opens his letter with this
statements Your letter is remarkable for the absence
of any ausOn TO my principal charge, Viz that after
accusing of fasyfyng payrOs after the manner OF
former Commissioner you paid the rolls IN full IN
regular course before awaiting my reply clearly show
ing that you knew the statement TO bountrue You can
not escape from the charge under cover OF Patrick
Buns's pump"
This "pump" and the fraudulent claim that II had been
repaired indeed occupied large portion Of Mr. Kelys
letters the of the Department OF Public Works
But Mr. Campbell meanwhile acknowledged that the
claim mistakenly passed by him. Proceeding with
bis letter. Mr. CanpDell asserts that Mr. heiy SannO
siOns about his economy In the Board OF App0flOnnen
ted for the Improvement Of the dsgraceiu pavements
of this CITY," In relation TO Mr.. Keys charge that ne
had used expressions not in among gentlemen"
MIR CampbelI says; ais the practice among gentlemen
according to your standard, TO make charge on
thereafter admit by their own acts that they knew
false and vet not have the mannesS TO apollo
gze for the assault expect purity In our
city government when OF its highest officers thus
violates the first principles OF justice and honOrf sew
eral Of the charges Of minor character made by Mr.
Kelly and Of little interest 20 the public are then replied
10.
Mr. Kelly had asserted that the repair OF the pavement
LexIngtOnave. too costly and not we'll done; Mr.
Campbell in reply says that lives the avenue, has
watched the of the work. and believing himself
be competent Judge is OF the opinion that the work
we'll aud faithfully done, and at a small cost Mf
Kry's declaration that repaVement could be done AT
yard declared 70 be absurd;
the contract price under sharp competition De
ing SO cents. Mr.. Campbell then continues: Your as
Bertons that the repairs generally are extravagdntY
have in several instances proved the contrary by actual
measurement Of the area paved The few men
employed by the day on repairs have been
selected for their working capacity and not by an
ndiscrimnate issue Of labor tickets and they under
that idlencss will be promptly followed by dis
missal. Considering the bad condition OF our pave
ments generally, candid and observing man can fan
TO that at previous time has more substantial
work been done toward their restoration for an equal
amount OF money. As 70 your claim TO economy In hay
Ing reduced my estimates for repayements $780,,
900 i'm the two years II Is the opinion OF all we'll
formed citizens that IL great mistake. Iyield 70
no public officer in desire 10 avoid all unnecessary
es of the city requires TO be carried and to ignore or
delay them false economy and displays narrow view
OF the situation"
reply Mr Kely's charge that the Department OF
Public Works has been eXtTavagantly carried on, MI
Campbell sends tabuated statement showing the eX-
pendituIes Of the department during the past eight
years be fOllOws 1871, $11 76l 091 1872 s26
1852; 1876. "a, 1888 O95; 1877 S3OSS,763; 1878 Qast
quarter estmaJedl, -. .S00O0O,