New-York tribune., 1883-12-20
PRICE THREE CENTS.
MR.. THOMPSON UNDER FIRE.
HIS EXTRAvAGANCE AND LOOSE METHODS
DENOUNCED

POINTED CRITICISMS BY THE COUNCIL OF REFORN
AN ONSLAUGHT BY ORLANDO B. POTTER.
THE TRIBUNE's exposures of corrupt and
loose methods in the Department of Public
Works have aroused taxpayers to the necessity
of limiting the sums put at Commissioners
ThOmpson's disposal. A committee of the
Council of Reform yesterday called the atten-
tion of the Board Of Estimate to Mr.. Thomp-
sons evasons of the law his letting of con-
tracts on false basis, and the extravaganza OF
his payments for cleaning public buildings. In
the Aqueduct Commission Orlando b. Potter
gave the Commissioner drubbing for his man
agement of schemes to increase the ctY's water
supply, and emphasized the necessity of the use
of common, sense in the Department of Public
Works.
ARRANGED BY THE COUNCIL OF REFORM.
FACTS AND FIGURES LAID BEFORE THE BOARD OF
ESTIMATE.
Edward A. Morrison and committee from the
Council of Reform appeared before the Board of
Estimate and Apportonment yesterday and
strongly urged the necessity of economy in the
making Of appropriations for the city departments.
They especially criticised the management of the
Department Of Public Works and Mr.. Thompson's
loose methods in awarding contracts and giving
out work in violation of law. Mr. Morrison
pressed the hope that the appropriations would be
made on a business basis. All of the departments
Of the city government he declared, were extrava-
gantly administered. Among the most extrava-
CANT was the Department of Public Works. 1t had
been shown that certain favored contractors were
given opportunity to make large sums.
Prominent among these were Richard A.
Cunningham, John Barry who keeps a road
N;old g, 10 au6 fyvn aoal laoI-
ers Treacy and Collins. These coal contractors had
apparently had complete control of the Department.
AS specimen, Mr.. Morrison said, take the fact. as
shown by the records, that within three days they
delivered coal to the amount of 81, 300. 1t was
split up into parcels, each amounting to less than
81 900, thus evading the law. At the two high
service pumping stations there were delivered, dur
ing 1882, $3.50 tons of anthracite coal and 7S
tons of camel COAL The latter was charged for
at $I5 per ton, but could have been purchased
for S11. The anthracite coal was also charged
for at an excessive price. Mr.. Morrison added;
Owing 10 the manner of keeping and rendering the
counts this Department together with the nature OF
some OF It's duties 1t is not possible without legal
actual operations of the Department and the amount OF
money 1t requires Several ttems OF these accounts;
m every such case there is evidence or a persis-
tent and systematic effort on the part OF the nanagen
resort to any pretcxt and device by which the lag-
est amount OF money possible can be got
ten from the city, without regard to the prn-
ciples OF economy and carefulness, which are
the conditions OF all successful private business.
COST OF CLEANING PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Mr.. Morrison then spoke of the excessive cost OF
cleaning the public buildings. He said:
For 1884 Commissioner asked for $4,000 for sup
plies and cleaning Of public buildings The cost OF these
supplies for the last year Sil,553 large part OF
which was grossly excessive But the same amount D
allowed for the supplies for 1884 the cost of labor and
salaries. on this estimate, will be S1O4 Az We nave
ascertaed the cost OF cleaning several OF the large Dai
ness buildings also OF the public schools OF the city foi
the last year. and herewith submit 10 your Board com
parative table OF these expenditures:
Compaative Of cleaning the public ana certain pFae
buildings Of the city VI New-Y0rk