New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-28
LONG TRIAL ALMOST ENDED.

FiNisHED-DECisIoN RESERVED BY THE MAYOR
The trial of the Police Commissioners which has
been going on before Mayor Grace with few IN
tcrmissIons since April ~, was closed Yesterday
Assistant Corporation Counsel Andrews who has
appeared IN the counsel for the Mayor
thought 1t unnecessary for him to put record
any answer To the arguments of the counsel for the
Police Commissloners who yesterday closed their
case. George Bliss first concluded his argument
begun the day before. He said that the Mayor had
introduced no evidence TO sustain the eleventh
specihcation OF the charges. and therefore he re-
quested that this specification be struck out. This
request the Mayor complied with.
.Elihu Root next spoke in behalf of the Commits
sioners The ca4se for the removal OF the Police
Commissioners he said, no longer existed, the
strect-cleauing having been placed in other hands
ana ~ was now merely question whether the Com
missioners should be punished. TO determine this
1877 men had been examined, secrct-servce money
expended patronage offered Ia men 10 testify and
other like things had been done. And all this said
Mr.. Root, had resulted in proving the innocence of
the accused Commissioners; Absolute perfection
he admitted was not to be had, and therefore such
Il standard could not be used 10 nudge the Commits
sioncrs by. There had been thirteen out of 100
specifications that ashes and garbage had not been
removed proven. IL had been shown that the IN
formation furnished by the chief clerk was Incorrect
that men IN charge OF dumps allowed cellar dirt to
10 remove ashes: that money had been paid by
Italians for positions which they did get that
men IN scows had dumped them at night, and in
one case within the limit allowed ny law. There
was no testimony of fraud nent payment of money
except that of Moran, who said that he paid the
money himself. The difficulties in cleaning the
streets, Mr.. Root said were and ice the in
SulOclcht appropriation, the lack OF dumping places
and the practice of street lines in pllng mn he
snow on the sides of their tracks These difcu ties
II was not IN the power of the Commissioners 10
obviate. Other important difficulties due to
the failure of the Law Department to prosecute
violations Of the ordinances. Out of ll9 900 COM
plants there were only 1000 suits brought. Out
OF 1865 complaints for offences against street
cleaning ordinances only $50 suits were brought
witness who made 2.7S0 complaints was
subpwnaed only five times. Then it was shown that
l2,TG2 permits had been issued TO occupy the
streets with building material aud other things
Shore "a a 80 in R,,f
all these difficulties the streets had been cleaned at
!, much less cost per capita by the present Board
than ever before.
At the close Of Mr.. Roots argument. Mr. Bartlett
asked the Mayor " hen he woud render judgment in
the case. lie said that unless the Mayor adjourned
10 a certain day and tnen delivered his Judgment
all the proceed ngs would fail.
The Mayor declined to answer such question or
make any further adjournment unless the counsel
had more to say. II they had concluded their side
of the ease he would take the matter into serious
consi deraiion Mr. Bliss said they had concluded
but he cndeavorcd to impress upon the Mayor the
necessity of delivering his Judgment III open court
The Mayor ended further proceedings by taking
his hat and leaving the ROOM