New-York tribune., 1881-03-26
NEaLEcT OF THE STREETS.


uAyo, CALLED TIN DAYS AGo--wHAT Iiik DIS
TR,cr-ArToRYEY sAYs-DIsiSTEREsrED Arii
rupe or rHg POLICE coMMlssIoNERs
The Grand Jury yesterday examined seyerai
,x;t,;aases in regard 10 the management OF the
Street Cleaning Bureau of the Police Depart
meut Fl. Police Commissioners William +.
Smith was one. and Controller Campbell an
!: ,tier. District-Auorney Rollins says tnere
has been no effort to indict any particular
Police Commissioners. Mayor Grace has NOT
made any direct charges against the members
( Of the Police Board, or called on them for any
fur.ber explanations. The Commissioners say
that they don't know anything about any in-
dictments.
INVESTIGATIONS OF TIE GRAND JURY
The report OF M effort TO indlct the Police Com
nssioners for neglect duty 10 cleaning the stfee'S
oaused number of politicians and Others to garner
naout the Grand Jary room YESTERDAY Az niS'
many doubted the truth of the reported Grana jury
investigation, claiming that it could amount ="
nothing and would only saddle the city Win heafy
expenses for counsel fees for defence OF the Com
pissoners as the case IN the indictments oi ."e
Excise Commissioners and IN the trials OF the 70
fioe Commissioners before Mayors Ely and Cooper.
Those in waiting. however, were not left long IN
hinder investigation. Ex-Poce Commissioner Will
lam r. Smith. accompanied by his faithful friend.
Atx-Aldermap Michael Tuomey, made his appear
huce soon after the Grand jury convened, anu was
bxamined for upward of an hour. De related MS
hxpefieuce in tile Police Board regarding the man.
ogement OF the Street Cleaning Bureau and the
}ailure of his efforts to reform the system now in
vogue. He denounced the management OF the
bureau, and explained why be refused to be ere re,
suons,be for the bills and voted In the Police Board
neainst their payment. Mr. ru0mey was not sum
moned before the Grand Jury. but departed wlth
Controller Campbell was the next witness ex-
amiued His testimony related mO.tV 10 tne
amount OF appropriation made for cleaning Tue
Rtreets aud bow the money was drawn. ne con-
demned the present method Of paving the employees
OF the bureau and of the whole Poiice Department,
= being an exception 70 sne Ssse be Sayros
and the bills for other departments are cerane1 20
by the department head ana sent to the Controliers
Office and the paymaster of the Finance Depart
ment makes the actual payments and collects the l
receipts By this system no fictitious names can De
placed en- payroll pSp can ANY w, oPs RevsVH WITHOUT
the knowledge Of the paymasGer OF the ftnance
Department A special Law was passed, however.
some years ago making an exception 70 the rule IN
favor of the Police Department. which draws one
twelfth of its appropf each month"; ana makes
tts own payments sendng great nss Oh atsr
Under th.s system, the Controller said, u was I'M
possible for hun 20 know WHISTLER the money was
be refrained from expressing any opnion upon IL
He willing to say that The streets had not oeen
well cleaned sns ,Sst and yts MsdI s former employees
the Street. Cleaning Bureau, were also preeent Mr
Moody has been employed by the Mayor IN Ratner,
ing facts IN regard the management OF the fund
for cleaning the streets, and be had related these
facts to the Grand jury on the day previous. Dir.
Greenes testimony was oi mucn .ne sans % oa h
learned aud also the Mayor. gave evidence TO the
Grand Jury on the same subject on previous days
ID was stated about the Grand Jury room that the
matter first started by residents appearing be-
fore the jury and beng heard at thor own request
as to the condition of the streets; this leo the |
Grand Jury to undertake the present Investigations
we'll known politician who was present, however,
stated that tue persons had appeared az ne re9ues
toe movement. It was begun. be sald, before the |
recent STRENGTHENING meeting Ia Cooper Institute.
with view of having the Grand Jury make |
presentation to the Court TO aid the passage or |
street cleaning bill At Albany.
Distrlct-Attorney kons Of whom inquiries q were were
been indictments found against any OF the Police
COMMISSIONER nor is the GrandJury INVESTIGATING
The workings of the bureau with that special end IN
yiew 1t is its duty to investigate such matters ana
suppose the jurors are attempting to follow It OUT
Assistant DistrIct-Attorney Bell who has had charge
of the matter In the Grand Jury room. said; SOme
etgens appeared before the jury aud testified rs to
the bad ceuditon Of the streets. aud the Jury has
been following the matter up II was started WITHIN
. But ala told that the Mayor was before the
SuTy he ten Says S not snow Hs RSs
In freonent consultation, believe. with the fore
man. and has been IN the jury room, but did not |
know of his examination ten days ago. There Is no |
Mort to indict anyone IN particular but think |
,resentation Will be made 70 the I'urt on the SUD-
WHAT THE MAYOR SAYS.
Mayor Grace said that he summoned before |
ths Grand Jury about ten days ago. and was ques-
TONED about the Police Commissioners He could |
give no more information than had already been |
made public concerning them. He had called on |
them for certain information, aud their reply had
bot been furnished when he was examined. From |
,ther sources IL was learned that the Mayor inti-
mated that the best way for the Grand Jury was |
10 obtain ats information directly from witnesses |
sho eoaa s speh ~ ,m b sutboTaaVe 0forma
NON rs to the condition of the streets and tue |
Amonnt paid by the Police Commissioners for Ger;
lain work were furnished 10 the Grand jury and |
hese men were summoned to testify.
Since the Mayor addressed hts demand to the |
Police Commissioners for an explanation OF the |
,eaniDg. many complaints have been received by |
him from all quarters OF the city concerning the |
sonditIon OF the streets No direct charges have |
been made by the Mayor against the Police Com- |
nssiOners rs yet. he received yesterday from the |
Conn ssoners of Accounts their report as TO |
nsntiated the figures given By tie Police Com |
missloners in their reply. This rt rt the Mayor |
declines make public yet. Ii is Understood that
he Mayor is at present most ANXIOUS to have the |
street Cleaning bill which was taken up to Albany
by the Clnzens' Committee become q law. This he |
ieeEns important than proceeding against the |
Police Commissioners for derelictoDs IN the past.
OPINIONS OF rHE -FOUR COMMISSIONERS
The Police Commissioners declared yesterday that
he only knowledge which they had concerning the
reported action of the Grand jury was what ap-
,eared in TIE tribune When Commissioner |
Nichols was asked particularly what he knew on |
kbe subject ne replied:
g Ali can say is that haven't been served with
sny papers yet"
"Doyou know that witnesses have been before |
the Grand Juryfn
q 81 don't know it, / have heard some vague unin-
telligbe rumors that have been floating about for
r. g..