New-York tribune., 1878-03-19
THE REPORT AND THE DISCUSSION.


The members of the society met at NO. o|
Madisonave., at o'clock. Sinclair Tousey VINO pre-
sided the absence of the president Dorman b. Eaton
called upon Mr. Adams for the reading OF the report
The document long, but received close attention.
Its main points were as follows:
This committee was appointed April %, 1877, ana
IL any excuse was needed for Its appointment 1t was
easily found in the horrible condition Of the streets OF
New-York. Notwithstanding that reports and com
plants Of this state of affairs continually brought
to the notice Of the yet moth
ing was done uni one morning, New-York walked up
to learn that among charges which the heao VI the
Municipal Government had preferred against the Con'
mssOners OF the Board OF Police was that OF negechg
their duty in regard to cleaning the streets IL WAS
astonshed. however, when the Mayor withofe"
his complaints, and apologzed as best he might Tor
having made them He went still further ana Voteu as
one Board of Apportonmen for the transfer Oh
SO 0OO unexpended balance To pay the acute lawyer
who had made him OUT cuprt In the stead OF the
Commissioners
This committee called very soon after 1t was ap-
pointed upon Commissioner Nichols, the head OF the
StreetC Cleaning Department and listened to the recita
ton OF his stock OF We made no suggestions
beyond mentioning few places practicable for dump
ing Next day it stated that Mr.. Schultz had ad-
mitted the impracticablty OF taking the garbage to
sea-" ETC., etc. We concluded that the head OF the
department knew low 10 take care OF himself III
the newspapers Tie Board of Police took no action
looking toward doing their duty until resolution was
offered tine Assembly, asking that the Mayor ana the
Commissioner Of Public WORKS should devise some
practical plan for street cleaning, and report the same
TO the Legislature.
Immediately, or three days after. rather on January
21 the Board Of Police passed series OF resolutions IN
auguratng activity In the streetCleanng Depart
roent on the block system and Superintendent WaDg
told the police captains that the board was In earnest
There was a spasm OF work, aud them came the heavy
snow Storm and the departments efforts were
directed to clearing Broadway Of snow and ice.
That was well done, but when it was finished no
new efforts put forth toward clearing the streets
spite ofthc Htrngent order and the cartnen themselves
the example by dumping into Inc same cart c sep
arnte heaps these refuse materials winch they met
viii m their occasional rounds through the city.
Again when various strcetceains bills (here the re-
port enlarged upn tnese bills aeady RunnMseu sue ~ lie
IRIBUNE) awaiting legislative action, thc depart
ment woke MP and obtained an opinion, feDfuaIy Al,
1877. from the Corporation Counsel whlen stared that
the Board Of Police had the rght 70 icy our ne WORK OF
cleaning the streets in contracts NJ N"hols stated that
the information only sought III order that the tboafd
might be certain OF It's powers lie seemed 10 nave Tor
gotten that IN July, lS77, gcriiean named swift OF
ali the garbage OF this city ana TO pay $1,000 year Ior
II for ten wears. Then the Corporation Counsel said IL
was his opinion that The. board had no rni 10 give ont
such contracts to private individuals Again, on Jani
ary 23 1875, the Counsel SAID tbat nc believed
ne act OF s72 intended 10 do away win the contract
system and tina; the Police Boari had no right to enter
such contracts without legislative action In the
liz of
gentleman on February II, ISIS, seems to be
Singular 1t is the opinion, Of this committee It
tb" Police Commissioners the right Of making
these contracs The POco Board, having the opinions,
reelected for two weeks, ana when measure was pro-
rn..d in tle Assembly which would have taken from
ilo,s Commissioners tue street Cleaning Bureau,
mre,,ns m That the streets Should be cleaned by
one contractor His Resolution was carried, Com
Gentleman favored several contracts But the pro-
posas were advertised and TOMORROW, March 49, the
bids are 10 opened careful review of the contract
conynces the committee that even 1t were possible 10
carry out the uptown streets, as well rs those III the
lower part OF the city, would be nsuhcepty cleaned
II CERTAINLY is singular that the Police Board after i've
wears experience, should burst out suddenly when Mr.
.trfetccaning management, into spasm or activity,
which only lasted three weeks; then rested on
pS8er nS c"TASa Ms asan e threatened and then issued
proposals for contracts IL - more singular When
rdy said would like 10 be relieved OF the RESPONSE
billy OF cleaning the streets. For what purpose is tns
their arrangements for single contract against
universal demaud for the small contract
lions Even Ar. Nichols himself has enlarged upon the
probable imposslDiy that any capitalist VIII be willing
for so short - period nine months-unt The end oI
ISIS Must 1t not be taat the Board OF Police tnink
II would be more profitable TO control
the sucet-cleanlng matter ana its advantages
under the suse OF conlIact man 10 nave the power
community VIII submit 10 Ills sharp practice On the pait
OF ATS servants. TINS society certainly VIII not cease to
inat the condition OF the streets last Saturday morning
VS. mich better than In December. and imuieasuraby
IN ad vance of what 1t had been TWO years ago
DISCUSSING The REPORT.
The reading OF the report loudly applaudcd IL
was ordered printed for distribution, and a vote OF
thanks was rendered to the committee.
Jackson schultz then criticised the contract which
the street Cleaning Department had offered He I'D 1t
stipulated that the contractor should buy up I'LL the
,lements and stock Of the present manage ncnt,
and pay at least $4,000 for them: That only
such pcrs shoud bo used for dumping at pres
ent allowed by tho Dock Commission; anO that tho
amount paid for The work should not exceed the
I'M, xurnIcd steet-clcaniug fund " No man" said Mr..
Schultz will buy up all that old stun Tor contract
thai lasts only nine months at $4,000 The tenure OF
The docks Is uncertain and the commissioners VIII not
tell any one what the uneXpended funds amount to.
Moreover the contractor must give as security certl-
fled check large amount and the certlhc;ition must
be from the bank where the city FUNDS are deposited
od help the man who gets the contract the commits
sioners don't like him. There VIII be 10 hep Tor MIN
otherwise q
that the course of the Police Board unwse In issu
ing proposals cleaning the streets, and that no benefit
could received by the city from the contract under Its
present conditions.
II had been expected the president Of the society,
Dorman r. EaIOn would offer series OF resolutions III
regard TO the Constitutional amendment but le was aD-
sent The presiding officer then asked simon sferne
what he thought the outlook for these amendments
In The Legislature this Winter Mr. sterne said there
was hope for them. The Democrats Wee against
speak plainly, would do nothing 10 imperil
MIR Cougiings or reelection To the senate next
Winter This position OF affairs, Mr. Stcrne Affirmed,
was ydeu long the meeting OF the last state
Convention On motion OF L. VI. Adams, the president
was directed to appoint committee OF seven 10 confer
ponted at the Steinway Hall meeting. as 10 the best
way OF pushing the constitutional amendment, and To
go TO Albany and demand from the legislators there
hearing Oh tne suDJecl