The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-19
THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS PLOT.
An Exposure of the New
Contract.
WHAT THE CITY REQUIRES.
Organizing Crusade Against Jobbey
and Extravagance.


son avenue. 10 the absence Of the President, Mr..
Dorman b. Eaton, the chair was taken by Mr. SIN
clair Tousey. The nrst business OF the meeting was
she receiving of resolutions respecting the constitu-
ttonal amendments THIS was postponed In conse-
luence Of Mr. Estons Absence and not referred to
except In q speech BY Mr.. SIMON Stern, report oil
which ID given below Mr. Thatcher NJ. Adams read
The following report from the street Cleaning Com
mttee, giving history of two months agitation OF
The question:
On the 23d day Of April, 1877. this society appointed
COMMITTEES, with Instructions to investigate and re-
port upon the system OF street cleaning as admin
stered by the Board Of Police in the city OF New YORK
Ifany warrant be sought for this action beyond tho
In the horrible condition OF the streets Of this city
that period. long aud rigorous winter was on the
bacxened snow and ice, which, with the approach Of
warmer weather melted during the day sufficiently TO
receive and incorporate within themselves periodic
deposits OF DIRT and refuse congeang again at night,
until under the constant repetition OF this process
the whole network of our streets and avenues be-
In words AS the sun grew more powerful
portion OF this concrete material dried and whirled
noyance OF every one who had occasion to be out In
the open The press teemed with complains;
seQuent familiarity with tho workings OF our politi
cal machine sh0ula have taught patience and resig
nation, used strong language, and stu the Street
Cleaning Bureau gave no sign OF existence. II was
time something should be done, some practical facts
brought 20 the knowledge or long suffering CON-
munity, and in default OF better men your commit
tee charged with that duty. They unable
TO report at length until January T. 1878; meanwhile
the condition tho streets during the summer may
be gathered the following extracts from reports
Of The sanitary inspectors taken at random from the
daily press during that season.
FILTHY CONDITION OF THE STREETS.
"lnspector Bryant stated that there Is an accumua-
to OF ashes, garbage ana street sweepings containing
Thirty seventh street. which is very Offensive II
not soon removed would breed pesliencc." ..In-
been recently dumped at the foot OF East Thrtyeghth
street. that Twenty second street, between ave-
lion OF street dirt, ashes and garbage about twenty
feet deep and containing probably thirty thousand
loads" 'Inspector Hamilton reported pile Of dirt
the loot Forty sixth street and East River IS feet
long. feet deep and 10 test wide."
This state Of affairs soon brought other champions
into The field. Inc daily press had from time 10
time issued occasional articles on the subject but
November, 1877, the HERALD, World. Post and other
journals up the cudgcs in earnest,
hardly day passed without the appearance OF strong
editorial Inc neglect OF duty by the Cleaning
Bureau THIS agitation was not without It's effect ana
ud that Its CHIEF executive officer had determined
call the delinQuents 70 account
THE MAYOR GETS UP FARCE.
the facts oil that socaled trial are fresh In your
memory and 1t would thei eiore, be waste time
recuptuate Its farcical details Suffice II say that
the Mayor, In dismissng his own cnsrges against
The Police Commissioners, put himself upon
their champion rather .nan snelr Judge ana IN Inc
published 10 the expectant CITY his verdict that al
though during the past year had been apparent 10
every 0izen that our streets had been deplo raby
filthy condition, yet the Comm ssioners were
msiled and embarrassed ny existing iaws-more par
ticularly those trolling the disposition OF the
uated hllhthat he felt compelled 10 dismiss his
own charges against them. Not content with this.
hs takes pans on MS msssags transmitted asss
to compliments the Police Department as
worthy Of high commentator anu 10 apologize
for their failure 10 clean the streets by saying
OF 1872 makes sufficient provision Tor
disposal OF sweepngs and garbage, and that by var
acts passed since that date the Police Department
have impeded IN the removal and disposition OF
tho refuse matter until prsseat has become mat
ter OF very great embarrassment and one winch i'm
perutivey requires legislative action Tor It's solution
Il only remained Tor Inc Mayor 70 supplement- MS
words by Deeds ana this ne has done Within q lew
duy., not thinking II Inconsistent with his duty as
inemver oil the Board OF Apo. uonmsnt to vote tor
sakng from the pockets OF Inc taxpayers through the
medium Of toe appropriation for street cleaning. the
respectable Of So O0O be paid compensation
TO the ingenious counsel who behalf OF the accused
Police Comm issoners so enectuuily convinced their
that he the real culDrit In even venturng
70 doubt the ability, tho efficiency and the earnest
seal OF such valuable pubic servants.
sage Of the Mayor was sent TO the Common Council
che report OF your committee was read before TINS
society," appearing the next day in iul IN The Columns
OF tne HERALD II received some ait nuon from the
press, and taken connection with the trial OF the
Police Commissioners and the discussion OF the ques-
ton oil street cleaning IN the newspapers, may Do said
70 have givsE rise " an agitation Of the whole sub
tect looking TO the adoption OF some measures Of re-
form, which agitation has now continued little over
twO months. II may not be unDIohtaDie 70 hastily
review that agitation III order that this society may
upderstaud what mas been done and Is doing In
reference to this matter, and tho spirit with which all
attempts ut securing better c0ndi.ion OF the streets
has been met by the street Cleaning Bureau.
WHAT PRESS
Such review Will DO bascd upon articles which have
appeared from time 10 time during the above named
period in the journals OF this city, ana will include in
addition only such facts as are within the personal
knowledge OF your committee. Objection may DO
taken that II Is I0L lair 20 impute to the Police CON-
missoners in charge OF the Street Cleaning Bureau
all the assertions contained In newspaper paragraphs.
AS TO this your commtse desire 70 relate single in
CidenL On the day following their appointment as q
committee they called at Police Headquarters and
had q long interview with the street Clean
ing COMMITTEE, Messrs Wheeler and Nichols.
All the stock objections and difficulties, want OF
dumping ground, vexatious legislation deficiency
Of funds Tor purchase Of material. we're poured into
our The committee carefully refrancd
from expression OF opinions contentng themselves
with suggesting one or two places winch might be
men, We were somewhat surprised to SEQ In
the papers OF the following day an ac-
count Of our interview with tho Commissioners,
contained these paragr aphs:-''Mr Schultz ex-
pressed his full appreciation OF the extent OF tho
annoy ance and trouble experienced by the street
Cleaning Bureau iu the effort 10 get rid OF the street
garbage ana sweepings" ''Mr SCHULTZ Is reported as
concurring IN the alleged impraotcabiiity Of taking
TIE WAYS OF THE COMMISSIONERS
On reading these statements certain scene from
insruds itself. ."Aamphl" SAID Nicholas alter read
ing newspaper paragraph IN relation W the career
and history Of Mr.. Vincent Crummies stage manager
man In question ''humph, that's q very odd para
graph" Very returned Crummlcs, scratching tue
SIDE Of his nose and looking At Nicholas with
assumption OF great unconcern. al can't think
puts these Things IN. didn't" Sui keeping his eye
On Nicholas MI. Crummles shook his head twice or
lhrice with profound gravity, and remarking that he
could not Tor the life OF bim imagine how the
papers found out the things they did, folded up the
extracts put them in his pocket
Without Tor q moment ventur'ng TO institute
any irreverent comparison between Mr.. Crummlos
And the gentlemen the head OF the street Cleaning
Bureau your committee cannot but think that the
appearance OF the paragraph above cited fully war
rants tncm in supposIng that those gentlemen are
perfectly capable Of taking care Of tneir side OF The
question, 80 lar as newspapers are concerned
ACTION THE MUNICIPAL SOCIETY.
The report OF your committee was read, as above
stated, January z, 1873. Editorials commenting
thereon ana accom- panied by extracts thereirom APP
peared in almost ali the metropolitan Journals, notably
IN the HxKALD, on the succeeding hve days On The
"a day OF January the opening session Of the AS
sembly, Mr.. DAILY had Introduced street cleaning
bill with AS II was understood, the approval oil Mayor
Ely The basis OF tue bill was the single Contract
system to exceed i've years IN cura-