New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-26

TRIAL BEFORE THE MAYOR.
Indictments for neglect to kf ep the streets
clean are to be prepared Immediately against
the four members of the Police Board. The
Grand Jury has directed the Di>trict-Attorney
to draw up the papers. The investigation has
beer in progress since March, and the last
Grand Jury left the matter az legacy to its
successor Many witnesses have been exam
incd, and the proceedings have thus not been
entirely ex parte. The trial of the three Com
miSsiOneTs who have been accused by the
Mayor continued yesterday.
RESULT OF GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION.
HEARING BOTH SIDES OF THE cUESTION-THE LFG-
ACY OF THE LAST GRAND JURY-wHAT COM
MISSIONER MASON HAS To SAY.
The Grand Jury yesterday completed its investi-
CATION relative to the Street Cleaning Department,
and ordered the District Attorney to prepare ndict
mcnts against Police Commissioners French.
Mathews, Mason and Nichols. For some unexplained
rcrson an attempt was made tn surround the action
Of the jury with mystery and the various officials who
usually cognzant Of the doings of the jury were
more than usually rctcent when asked for informa-
ton The fact of the indictments being ordered be-
came known late in the afternoon, and 80 soon az
the proper legal papers can be drawn up the jury
will formally present the indictments 10 the Court.
III ~ Understood tnat tnP VIII
Commissioners with wilful neglect of duty in fall
ing 10 have the streets properly cleaned.
The investigation was begun by the Grand jury
of the March term of the Court and was, at the
quest of the last jury continued by the Grand jury
for the present term. II has been most extensive in
its notifications the leading of the city, well
as the aborcrs who have been employed at the ac-
tual work, having been called witnesses. Physi-
clans gave testimony as 10 Whaf, IN their
opinion wOnld be- the result the g,neral health or
the city If the refuse and filth were not removed, and
business men told how the accumulaions of dirt had
impeded the transaction of their business. On the
other hand men were called who believed that the
done all in thcirpoW considering
the amount of money at their disposal, and II was
urged by many that the streets We r. no worse than
in previous years In fact, some testimony
avenues and streets were IN better condition
than ever before. The evidence taken before the
jury has been written by Npr,mrtlng nashIe, machine
paper II will be submitted to the Court with the
| indictments. .
probably indict Captain Williams and some OF his
subOrlinates, especially evidence was gwen that
money had been paid 10 an inspector for the use OF
material, while the ashes and garbage
remained the streets. The Grand jury,
however has not az yet taken such action, although
it is possible that additional indictment, may yet be
ordered. The time of the present Grand Jury prop
ery expires Friday; but If ~ found necessary tho
| jurors vii not be discharged until saturday.
| An attIche of the District-Att0rn,S oihce SAID
last evening to 1uBuNE reporter that the Grand
against the Police Commissioners AMI that District.
| Attorney Rollins would probably give has PERSONAL
attention to drawing 1t up. he Grand Jury, he
| said wanted tO know under what form OF the gem
| eral statute the bill could he drawn. The statute
referred TO that relating to making 1t misde-
| meanor for public officer, on whom any duty was
enioined by law, wlfuy to neglect 20 discharge i,
aud the Indictment, if any should he found would
refer only 10 neglect to keep certain specified stress
ccan The punishment, on conviction, was line pr
| imprisOnment, or both, which, together win tho
severity of the punishment, would Ice al The discre-
tlon OF the Court. 1t wond take day Or two, prob
! ally. To prepare the bill ami, if adopted by tho
Grand Jury it would probably Le pres nt"'l Ia court
| this week
Police Commissioner Joel W. Mason said last even
! ing 10 a reporter Of The TRIBUNE:
81 can hardly say that expectcd to be- inflicted,
although am not surprised AT being informed that
such is the ease, taking into accoaut thr excited
state of public feeling aud the action Of IN" Mayor.
| think that the Grand jury mi ght hav' shown us q
little difference by waiting until the iHv'stig tiOn
| now i'm progress before the Mayor Is .2Gclud"i.
What action do you and your colleagues propose
to takeT >, ,e ,.iu
make before the MayOr. We will show that tho
streets cannot be properly cleared Tor The amount
allowed us. We have never Sail thlt firy e?uiL Do
cleaned What do claim. aud vii show, l. that
| we have done the best we could uid"r The .ircum
stancrsand with the amount of money at our disposal
| Neither the Mayor nor any of ti"sn VII" fpeak
fnr him pretend that they can clean the streets Of
this city for less than 81 ,O00Ooo per annnnl. ex-
| elusive Of the extra amount demanded Tor steam
| scows and other plant We are allowed Tor mo
| present year for streei-ccaning proper S51oOoO;
| for clerical force, $7J.OOO aud tins amount
has been reduced $4,000 from last year;
| for the removal of snow and ice, $4,000 for the
| purchase of new stock, 100000; making total ot
! S73J 600. And none of This money "ar ." IiNerIed
from The objects for which il was appropriately. mo
charter makes IT a nlsdeineaior I" do - nere ~
nearly 300 900 less than the Mayor ana Ar iiiehds
insist upon having "A preliminary 60 clean streets.
do not say that the streets have btcn kept Lean
! the past winter | mean To say mat an haa
| hrcn done that could be performed with tho
means AZ our disposal, and We VIII show ths !" tne
| satisfaction of all fair-mlndcd m'h oll"r" We are
| through with this investigation nave peeh
| citizen of New-York for good inahy years 1 aiu
| taxpayer to a considerable extent and II the cyl
| hev1d have been for several years an honorable
| business man. do not think have changed IN tie
eleven months in which have been member OK
'' have watched carefully the actions of my col
leagues Commissioners French and Nichols, and do
| not believe they have done any thing wrong went
INTO The Hoard little prendiced against Commits
| sinner Nichols but only because he was aiiniany
| Democrat and am Republican believe from
| Ahat | have seen of him that he has acted
| With a view 10 the best inte ests OF the city
| in ail his Transactions AMI that he u Thoroughly
| honorable. Mr. NoorhIs was member oi the i'oaro
| for two or three months after came III, and was
thnn rrpaced By General Smith, under decision OF
| tbe Courts Mr. Yoorhis found 20 be- very pleas
ant and competent gentleman, who did well all that
| In undertook After General Smith came into tho
| IIoarJ three commissioners did the work of fourn
| How was thatT
simply because General Smith did little else than
draw his pay. and his work had TO be done by tho
other Commissioners Nevertheless, after neglect
ing his duty in this manner, | underst3nd that he
VAS the instigator of many of the charges against
u.s. 80
''The investigation now in progress andthe ndict-
ment now found must interfere somewhat with tho
business Of the Police Board.
'Cnquestionably My colleagues AMI myself get
down TO Police Headquarters early in the morning
and transact what business can, and then at IL
o'clock in the Mayors office, to remain until or