New-York tribune., 1883-12-11
PRESS COMMENTS ON THE EXPOSURE.
AN uNASswERABLE ARRAY OF FACTS AND

AN UNANsWERABLE ARRAY OF FACTS AND
FIGURES.
From Tie York Commercial Advertiser tEdh0raLl
The exposures made by The TRIBUNE OF Sun
day morning aud this morning of the system Of unbal
anced bids In the Department OF Public Works by which
the taxpayers of the city annually defauded OF hum
dreds OF thousands dollars furnish ncOntestabe ey
dence that municipal thcvery did not die with Tweed;
that many Of his methods and probably not few of his
benefciaes survive him. The charges OF THE TRBCSE
not based upon mere assertion but are supported by
an unanswerabe array OF faots and ngres WIN names
and days and dates. No read them without being
convinced that the city has been defauded OF vast sums
o. during the past eight or ten years And while
do not wish TO give currency 70 uf0unded suspicion
touching the honesty or integrity OF any public officer
seems impossible upon the as IN evidence 10 resist Tue
conclusion that these frauds have been carried on with
the knowledge OF the heads OF the several departments
pated officials is that 1t can be shown that they have not
Rroh!ed personally by the proceeds OF these
The discovery OF these enormous frauds In single DC
partment indicates the existence OF similar condition OF
aud doubt horoughinvestieaOn win disclose state
OF rottenness and corruption not exceeded even by that
ature soon 10 meet H. under these crcumstanoesy very
plain. Its first business should be TO set on foot thor
Oug and searching inquiry into the details Of mun
cipal administration Here is reform work 20 be done
that calls for immediate attention.
without intending TO trench upon tho province OF
morning contemporaries and certainly no disposition TO
instruct them as 10 their treatment OF public questions
still take leave 10 that this is matter of such Inn
pOrance not only to taxpayers but TO the cause OF good
morals and good government that they cannot afford 10
ignore 1t simply because rival journal has taken the
initiative in the exposure. One two things Il true
either there gross abuses in municipal admnstra
remedy THE TRIBUNE Ia guilty OF Wholesale libel and
sIander OF number OF worthy and honest persons. In
either II is matter deserving the attention OF the
p ess The reading public will not be likely TO approve
policy OF suppression, but viii buy and read the journal
that gives them the facts. Some newspapers made
mistake twelve years ago n trying to ignore the Tweed
disclosures OF The Tines They 1t later. Are they
going TO repeat the bunderl
AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY. SHOULD BE DEMANDED.
From The Neie York Nau and ErpTess
THE TRIBUNE yesterday opened fire on the Oft
assailed, but stu strong and hearty Department OF Pub
lie Works, with such energy and yigor as doubtless
seemed 10 the head and body OF that Department TO be
violation OF the Sabbath The campaign II thus began
ITO be continued" until large quantity OF accumulated
ammunition Is expended. THE TRIBUNE exposures go TO
show the commission OF great frauds the taxpayers by
the means OF false estimates by engineers and unba
anced bids" by contractors and that result Of this
reckless and dishonest system OF doing business there is
vacation and reduction OF assessments 20 the amount
OF millions annually. These grave charges Illus
trated several instances in which the OF the
contractors and the details OF the bids and OF the prices
arc given. The Department OF Public Works Is bound TO
promptly meet these charges and specifications. and TO
demand an official inquiry