New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-14
POINTS FOR THE GRAND JURY.

Bad LEGISLATION Is to blame for manyOi the
evils in the city government. But II the stat
utcs were strictly enforced there would be
much less cause of complaint. Perhaps the
greatest evil of all is the disposition of depart
ment heads to interpret loosely the laws i'll order
10 circumvent them. When the head OF de-
partment takes such liberty, the SubordinatrS
naturally follow the example. Hence the whole
service becomes dcmOralizcd.
From disrcgarding the plain requirements of
q statute to stealing the city's money is an easy
step. If that step has not been taken by many
city employees, who are not now under lmlnedl-
ate suspicion. il will be a wonder. 1t is not the
subordinate, however, but the principal. who Is
most i'm need of punishment. And 1t VIII be no
great gain to detect and expose the subordinate
if the cause of the decentralization Is not re-
moved. Let the Grand jury now investigating
the administration of the city government look
TO the principals and their methods OF enforcing
the statutes.
Take an instance from the Public Works De-
partment. The law plainly states that any par
ticular work, Job or supply, the several parts OF
which together involve the expenditure OF more
than 81 900, shall be let by public contract TO
the lowest bidder. II is well known that Com
missioner Thompson pcrSistcntly violates the
spirit of this statute, if not its letter ms Is
done bv having several bills made out for par
tcular job of work or supply, 50 that each bill
shall not exceed 1899 In that way favored
contractors are enabled to grow rich ont of the
Public Works Department, and to contribute
large sums toward the election of candidates
favorable to Mr.. Thompson. Let the Grand
Jury read the testimony on this subject taken
by the Senate Investigating Committee, whose
report Mr. Grady so oblgingly suppressed, and
then pass upon this important matter III the
light of the law as interpreted by Chcf-Justicc
Davis and District Attorney Mckcon.
II will be well also for the Grand jury to c1-
anime the vouchers in the Finance Department,
and see in what way the Commissioner OF Pub
lie Works cxpends the $l,O0O,OOO a year al
lowed him by special act of the Legislature
for the purpose of increasing the water supply.
Many taxpayers would be glad 70 know
whether there is anything wrong i'll the enor-
nous increase over the estimates made by Allan
! Campbell in the cost of the Bronx River con-
| duit, and why the completion of the work is 80
long DELAYED. Is there a large salary list to
profit by the delay? The Grand jury should
also observe the names of persons drawing Sala-
ries from the Water Fund who are also the reg
ular recipients of salaries i'll other departments
of the city government, and pass upon the legal
ity and honesty of such transactions.
There is a law which states distinctly that the
police force of the city shall not be increased by
the Board of Police except " 80 far as the funds
appropriatcd allow" The Board of Estimate
refused last year, and the year before, to appro-
pirate money to increase the police force, unless
the Board of Police would make a satisfactory
report in regard TO the work of the patrolmen
detailed from the regular force. No report was
made. and the Board of Estimate and Apporion-
mcnt refused to make the appropriation Tor an
increase of the force, as requested by the Police
Board. But the increase was made III defiance
of the Board of Estimate. That is a fair exam
pie of the administration of the Police Board.
The Grand Jury should take the evidence OF cx-
Mayor Grace and Others on this point Few OF
the departments will make any better showing.