New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-19
TALKS WITH TWO COMMISSIONERS.


streets Of this city yehcmcntly commented upon "
all who have Occasion them. That such state
of affairs exists possible is declared to be due
either lack Of any system IN the work or 10 i'
ure to carry the system properly. For some tine
many Of the principal tborouglfares have had
n thick coating OF mud their pavemen's
which slight rains converted into pasteiKe mixture
In which no secure foothold could be secured. The
heavy rain which fell yesterday hquehed the mud some
what and made walking s,rect-crossings and even
Oh side pavcments to which the mud conveyed by
The tread of many feet. inexpresslby disagree
able although perhaps less dangerous hat uhlcss one
wore high Overshocs 10 impossible not only to 40
dry.hod In frequented thoroughfare, but even TO
arrive at any with boots that were decent Broad
way was shucknglv filthy Yesterday rom FOurteenthst
to the Battery Incaniious pedestrians. who pursued
their way close 10 curb frequently despatched
with mud thrown up by swift-roing wheels. No at
empts made keep the crosswalks clean. and 1t
made te difference where attempted 10 cross the
street
Some OF the crossings In the lower part OF the city
which ONLY eoura ceous pedestrians would try, were
West Broadway no Cham5erst, Pearl-st al Franklin
square and S4ria-st. al Fulton Ferry. Ful,onst Is
thcky covered with mud much Of which IS thrown on
the sido0aik by the heavy wheels CT stages
ana trucas. Around Washington Market the
mud lies deep Ia places, as in Na'sau-St..
the sge.pers have collected heaps OF refuse, which
are left n be again spread out by traffic on the pave
msnf. Late the afternoon yesterday a row oil hVe
No. 200 Broadway, having oDstructed travel all day.
Many similar rcccptaclcs were To he late IN tie
day also in Wall. Pine and Nassau-sts., taking up IA
some places than third of the marrow sidewalk
This failure 20 prIvde even comparatively clean or
pasaDlc streets has caused recently the most bitter
complaints AN quarters. and personal reflections and
hcap,d upon The management OF the Street
Cleaning Bureau The head OF vhchis Police Commits
siOner MacIoan.
Statements purportng To he authorized by Mr.. Mac
Lean have bcou published In which he is made 10
declare he has unable TO carry out his plans
the Bureau by OF the opposition OF his follow
Commls toner's ana their unwngness TO allow OF the
removal OF Incompetent Itquiries were made OF
the three other Commissioners by TRIBUNE reporter
yesterday. and all unite IN saying that Mr. MacLean
has not been thwarted in ally Of his plans
Tor keeping the streets In proper condition.
The opinions II Mr. MacLeau's associates given be
at is not true" said Commissioner Wheeler on Mon
day that Efforts Of Mr.. Maesan reforming and
conducting the sreet-Ceaning Bureau have
been thwarted by the other Commissioners.
When Mr.. MacLean made chairman of
the Committee street-C!oaning, II was
deemed wise have the appointments removals trans
fers and assignments made by the Board of Police in
stead Of being made by the chairman OF the Street
Cleaning Bureau, the patronage remaining us before.
equally divided between the two political parties. The
resolution then passed Mr.. MacLcan moved TO have
seinded last FRIDAY. but Mr. French aud myself OPP
posed Il thinking II wise long as We mad made
all removals just as he had wished.
IF the patronage in the hands of the chairman
Of the street-Cieanng Committee, he might summary
all the employees of the opposite political faith.
desire retain for party the proper proportion OF
the appointments. But only very few instances at
most not more than half a dozen, has the Board
refuse TO make any and all removals recon-
mended by Dir. MseLean We have thrown no
obstacle IN the way Of the utmost efficiency
IN cleaning the streets Ihave never voted against any
proposed removals unless knew personally that The
men were efficient and did their whole duty. Here was
the case recently. OF Isaac o. Hunt, Inspector Of scows
Mr. MacLcan waited him removed. knew that he ives
n GOOD man. and n he did the work IN the
best wav II because lie was not allowed to-
Mr. French said TO that Mr.. Hunt told him
that when he took charge Of the work it al
most impossible for him TO gain any information
about what unfamiliar 10 him. 1t seemed as II
there preconccrted arrangement among the men
so that he could learn nothing. Believing. as we did.
that Mr.. Hunt good man, we did not vote 10 re-
move him simply because Mr.. Naclean wished It,
asked him for his reasons, and he gave none. Then
there the cases OF some widows who owned
carts and had TO hire drivers for theIo. There
was a rule passed when Mr.. Erhardt was here
that every cart must be driven by its owner.
This Of impossible for and their carts
are their sole support. There is one. Mr. Gun
ningha.n-acr husband a faithful employe OF the
Board for many years, and he left her at his death
horse and cart on which she relies for support 1t would
be most unfair TO deprive her of that
II think that although Mr.. NacLcan has had his own
way with the streets, they are 10 cleaner than they
were before he took them in charge In fact,
some OF ;hem are not clean. Take Broadway its
condition has been bad during the past two or
three weeks. asked Mr. MacLean how often he had il
swept and lie replied twice week. Then said had
dirty and that 1t had not been properly
cleaned the pavement would not be slippery. He
spoke Of wet making the stones slippery Ii has
,vs.4f 1av. rof uf
he could hardly get to the sidewalk.
NOT CALLED To THE MEETINGS.
.Mr. MacLean has instituted reforms in street.
cleaning; he has simply followed out the former
methods and think with less success than his prede
cessOrs Any statements that he has not been able to
institute and carry out reforms OF opposition
from his observation-disclosures are without foun
dai!On / have been member OF the Street
Cleaning Bureau for four years, and always
attended the meetings once week untl Mr..
MacI.ean became Chairman. Ibceve received notice
Of the first meeting at which lie presided and ] at
tendei but since then have received OF tue
meetings A thus had no part I'm The work. red
now suppose shall have notice of meetings.
Mr. MaeISan's reconmeneation every WoeS' Here Here
Is the list cf last Friday SHOWING two closely
1."itpn. .,icsn ne Rcoubcan Comm;ssicners ~ ~
Inc app0utment 10 MI II. and just hen Democrats
are discharged. III any man unit Is appointed aud itss
I'LL n 'i and moves for fs dismissal Excopt IN Inc
lew cases havr mentioned he met " IN opposition
and the responsibility for the condition Of the streets
Tesis Inn. No combination. political or "thcrwis.
nss made Mr. MacLoau is sald 70 have charged
between the Other thee COins 10 thNart Mr.
MscI.eau IN his enoits 20 Keep the streets clean
OPINION or COMMISSIONER FRENCH
Commissioners French said Last evening that so far a
DC knew 10 obstacles had been placed IN the OF Mr.
MaeIeans carrying all his plans regard
Cheating.
Amy statements OF Mr.. MacLean TO the contrary Of
this SAID Mr. French. not with only a single