The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-19
WHY THE STREETS ARE DIRTY.

COMMISSIONER MACLEAN ACCUSES HIS BROTHER
OFFICIALS OF HAMPERING HIS ACTIoNs-MR
MORRISON PANIED
The VIGOROUSLY filthy condition of the streets. re-
peatedly complained of in the HERALD. has at last
aroused the attention OF the Police Board Commits
sioner MacLean. chairman OF the Street Cleaning
Committee. in a recent newspaper interview stnted
that he was hampcred in his action by the three
other Commissioners. who were combined to thwart
his measures of reform. He is credited with saying
that he has been interfered with and reduced to be
mere clerk for the performance of duties that
might just as well be attended to by anybody else in
the department. while the other Commissioners. for
reasons of their own assume the functions and au-
thority of which lie has been deprived" Mr.. Mac
Lean has stated that after his appointment to
the Board rs Police Commissioner he made an effort
to rid the department Of incompetent employees.
He was DESTROYS of dispensing with the services of
decrept. lazy old men. and accordingly discharged
them. They were. however. reappointed. he claims.
against his wishes. by his colleagues of the Board
Some of these men were so feeble that they were
compelled to use their brooms as crutches when
they made pretence of cleaning the streets.
This condition OF affairs has caused Mr. MacLean to
excaim against the present system. He states that
inasmuch as his colleagues representatives of
political organizations they obliged to distribu to
the patronage of their office according to the die
OF WlrepullerS VINO control their
parties. On the other hand. Mr. MacLean holds that
in consequence Of his not belonging to any such
political bodies his judgment is uninhuenced. He
charges that the other three Commissioners Messrs.
Morrison. Wheeler and French are combined against
him to overrule his objections and to defeat his
plans.
NEITHER JUST NOR COURTEOUS.
Regal ding this alleged conspiracy in the Police
Board HERALD reporter sought the other Commits
sioners yesterday. Mr.. Morrison was found in his
office at Police Headquarters and when his atten-
ton was drawn to Mr.. MacLean's charges he ex-
what he bases his charges" said Mr.. Morrison.
particularly SO far as l am concerned, as have
never thwarted him in his duties chairman of the
Street Cleaning Bureau in any shape or manner
When Mr. MacLean states that 1t only requires the
combination of three Commissioners to render his
action powerless to make the Street Cleaning SER
vice effective he thereby charges that have entered
into alliance with the republican members Of the
Board to render his action ineffective as u demo-
cratic Commissioner. This is not just courteous
to me. In reply to these allegations would say
that have never suggested or named person for
except after consultation with the chairman.
Mr.. MacLean. I have always maintained
Lean full power s in the matter s' Of removals,
provided the places of such persons removed should
be filed by the Commissioner who hao appointed
the former incumbent. SO far as am personally
concerned, Ihave never recommended o man did
not think competent in every respect. Mr.. Mac
Lean should know better than to make such allega-
tions. have gone so far as to sustain him even
when he onmended the removal OF my ap-
pointees. and have never questioned his motives for
be understood as giving utterance to these uncom-
plimentary opinions rejecting upon the actions OF
his colleagues. / know that he said to me he had
been misquoted. but in what particular he did not
specify. He said in q general way that If he had
thought he was being interviewed he would have
been more guarded in his expressions"
els it true that Mr.. MacLean is not . member OF
any political organization?
"If he says SO suppose he has stated the truth.
All know Is that at the time OF his appointment to
the position of Police Commissioners by Mayor
Cooper his appeared the list Of the General
Committee Of what is known the Irving Hall de.
moeracy from the Sixteenth Assembly district and
also know that his appointment was then regarded
by politicians generally compliment TO that or
ganization. so far I know to the contrary his
name still appears member on the list of the
General Committee of that organization. but can't
for the life Of what the appointment OF street
sweepers has got to do with politics. Think that Mr.
MscLean has regretted his nasty utterances. for
one discaim being weight on his actions. shall
always render him all the support in my power to
give the citizens of New York an efficient police force
and well cleaned Streets
Messrs. French and Wheeler were not to be seen.