New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-01
LEGISLATIVE INQUIRIES.
COMMISSIONER THoMpsoN EXAMINED.
TEE BEGINNING OF THE INVESTIGATION OF TIE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON EXAMINED.
TEE BEGINNING OF THE INVESTIGATION OF TILE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
! The Senate Committee on Cities. comprising
Senators Grady. Daly, Mccarthy, Covert Lansing nus
sell and Treanor. met yesterday In the Department OF
Public Works TO investigate the working of the Depart
meut H. pursuance OF resolution Of tho Senate adopted
on March - setting forth that the official report of the
transactions of the Department Of Public Works during
the year 1851 shows increase in the expenditures o
the department over those OF the year 1850 OF s6ZO
O65 o. ana over those OF 1879 of 81 3l2759 2s that
this increase Of expenditure is due to gross neglect Of
duty aud violation of law the part of the Commits
sloneT and that the accounts of the Department,
published in the quarterly reports of the
Controller show apparent evasonsand violations of law
and charter provisions the part OF Che Commissioners
The resolution directed that these charges be referred TO
the Committee Cities OF the Senate which shonld eX-
anime into the management of the Department, nVest-
gate an charges made, and be empowered to send Tor
persons and papers.
F. L. stetson said that he and Colonel George Bliss mp
peared for Commissioner Thompson, but Colonel Bliss
was unavoidably absent. Mr. Thom pson was the first
witness He testified;
have been the Commissioners OF Public Works since
County Clerk and Deputy Commissioners of Pubic Works
Senator Grady-rhe resolution CHARGES that under
an Increase those Of 1850 $500 o65 o.
those OF 1879 0! Si3i2,1Jg 81 VII you please say
MI Thompson-The annual appropriation FOR ESQ for
TINS wa ana or te Sc 10
improvements for 1880 was T4G1,56s and for ISL
fund for increasing the water supply in 1850
S32S,335 and 1881 $isl 26l an increase OF Sl5292o
works aud distributing pipes was In 1885, $l5G,337
and nothing In 1881 The issue OF revenue bonds for
EXPENSES Of furnishing and setting meters was in $50
S30997, and in 1ss1 1885, l5-su increase of -. us
Tho total appropriations of the Department for 1850
over the preceding year Of $500 o76 The amount ex-
penGcd fl. about 100000 less than was asked for.
Senator Daly-Have you expended any more than
was allowed you by the Board of Estimate aud Appor-
Mi Thompson Unquestionably not. I will say here
that the mount asked for needed, hut the Board
decncd lest the of not wishing 10 raise the
rate Of taxation, 20 reduce the amounts asked for.
The witness here gave at much length explanation
of large number Of items, of which had been or
dered by the Legislature tho new work amounting TO
Sl32. 800 and considerable humber Of other items, com
Ing under the head of increased work the amount of
1921 OOO which, with the increase In the appropriation
count, would 60 far toward accounting for the remaining
excess Of appropriations the preceding year These
incuf repairs to the aGueduot, extra street paving,
the rs Of the aud boulovards, and repairs
n scweTs lie added
The cost of everythinc-materias and labor-has in
creased considerably There Only account for
work of course most Of the work done under
Common Council aIn merely the executive officer !
have work done under 900 cost, aud the repairs
Of sewers under exclusive control Tic receipts
eourco. .122OOo
Mr. a,d,-Is there not "A special fund for repairs of
paVcIuCufsi
Mr. lhompson--Ycs It is a separate fund.- aud was
created by my predecessor. BeTct ofOre there
been good deal of trouble caused by PLANNERS
tearing up the street paoeineDts aud lopiac-
Cauphc J. SCI ~ q similar practice i'll Brooklyn. hal
ordinance passed by tho Common Council empower
ug tht Commissioner 10 charge plumbers and others for
disturbing The street pavement a certain amc ant lie
then employed Richard Cunningham, careful man. 10
make these repairs The amounts pa'd him fOr tis work
were less than tIa charged the plumbers. The differ
tet tn cunts received and paid apprO
puatcd TO the payment of clerks and inspectors. The
City loses uUtlng by this arrangement have employed
MI Cunningham 10 do this work sine" have been Ia
Once ana has given fun satisfaction. The plan has
been found to work well, the streets being kept III much
bel repair thar formerly
Senator AcCartny-Are there any water meters in phi
waite houses
Nj Thompson-'Thore are few There Is one in my |
own house Otllcr the Mayors, and third IN
the house Of Chief Engineer Newton. There are few
others Ihey cave been put In ~ IN experiment those
for il buildings used for business purposes. We
pect To check tue waste of water putting IL motors
Oi couite after meter IL placed IN "A building We |
charge The actual amount OF wafer used. and ia That
manner believe that the city would be more than re-
iInbIrsed l0r the cost of putting ia the meters.
Mr.. Thompson explained at ieng1h his system Of book
keeping how payments made by warrant the |
the responsibility OF the various bureau
officers and their snbOIdhates to himself add the
ncr al nnrchasinc supuItoa rnrI'fsie'~- o..
The committee adjourned until 10 O'Clock this morn
ng IL Will sit until noon, when of two Lours
viii lie taken The subcommittee OF which Senator
DAILY Is chairman &c compel the telegraph COMPANIES
10 sihk their wires below the street anracc viii
ne metropolitan Hotel AT noon and hold two hours
session. AT the end OF That time tht sub committee Will
cjun the main committee and tie Investigate of the
Department Of Public Works viii DC Resumed.