New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-19
OFFENDED by MR.. CHOATE.

WHAT POLICE COMMISSIONERS MASON AND FRENCH
SAID AFTER THE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
Police Commissioners French and Mason were
found OH the platform in Cooper Union last ovenin
by TRIBUNE reporter after tho meeting to demand
clean streets was over aud asked their opinions of
tho various speeches just delivered.
liam in perfect accord with the purposes Of the
meeting" answered Commissioner French " aud
have no criticisms TO offer, except in reply To the
harsh language used by Mr.. Choate."
Commissioner Mason-I am no murderer.
think the remarks of Mr. Choats are very unjust.
Mr. Choate has known me for years, and if he
doesn't know that what he said Is unjust he might
have known 1t.
Commissioner Fronch-The placing Of the clean
ing of the streets in the hands of the Mayor Is some
thing have always advocated. The Commissioners
were the first TO propose such change Il was pro-
nosed by us last fall, and when the Mayors message
came out approved the suggestion rs L had done
before Mr.. Mason and myself have written and
spoken to prominent members of both houses OF the
I,egislature These persons understand our views IN
the matter perfectly, which are to get the matter OF
cleaning the streets out Of the hands OF the Police
Department
said tonight. venture the opinion as romeo
Commissioner that the streets of New York cannot be
Kept Clean ny TIC pIOocub UPPA"PA'N ~
that it il possible to keep them clean with any such
amount of money is piece of moonshine' and any
one who claims such q thing doesn't know what
ne il talking about Let me show You some figures.
During he last sixteen days there have been re-
moved 46338 loads of ashes and ii $50 loads OF
street dirt at n cost Of $2S l42' Dy ZOO loaleIs;
as Mr.. Choate characterl2es them' Now ia 1870
81 O45 S46 30 was expended on street cleaning,
while in 1880 $6777 31 II was spent. lne cost VI
removing DIRT and garbage IN 1878 was % CENTS
load and in $780, 81 cents IOad' NOW, !! - nece9
gary 10 take INTO consideration also the rapid CROWN
of the CITY since 1873 There are 80 mics OF paved
streets to be- kept clean, WHICH make an increase
of 90 miles Moreover, there are IVA hyuIInIs
anu as many cuvers that We have to Keep Tree from
snow and ice although there is money especially
for that purpose. The stun has 10 Oe taken in0to
aud a half miles TO sea. YESTERDAY o,puo t2ns
started from this ctg and after going twelve miles
te sroya had TO be turned back again. nat occurs
reneatadIv | repeat that am Ia accord win the
a, ircts of this meeting IN taking slreet-cleanlhg
from the Police Department; but the aTaig!luehI
nj ths Comm ssoners here tonight is very uuJust.
am surprised that a gentleman Ilke 81 N H,
should permit himself 10 make sncn reullrksi many
~ his assertions are not founded IN fact ana IOlu
hun 50. c.,o .oIa ho,,a
Commissioner French-Mr ChOate couid nave
learned the facts if he had wanted 10 40 So 81,
COMMISSIONER Mason-The majority Oh lhe
speeches were fair but don't know what pOSsesSea
"A man of Mr. GhOate's intelligence 10 make SuSh
statements he hid l. can excuse s"Io VI , ,,,o
things said to- night but Mr.. Ch0ate mas known INC
Tor VearS and am no such man as he has repre-
sented me to be- If an opportunity had been gwen
me / would have refuted some of the charges.
am mortified that mau OF Mr. ChoaJeS stauuihR
shouId forget himself as he has done tonight.