New-York tribune., 1883-12-13
MR.. THoMpsoYs EFFORTS TO MIsLEAD.


VAIN ATTEMPT TO FIND HIS "EomNGs his
PECULIAR STAFF OF INSPECTORS"
In his reply to the exposures made in regard to
the contracts III his department Commissioner
Thompson on Monday said:
To prevent in the future far possible the injurious
operation Of unbalanced bids included w the depart
ment estimate which submitted the Board OF Esti-
mate and Apporti0nment the 1st OF September the
sum OF $4,000, which has been allowed In inc pro-
visonal estimate, TO enable the Department 10 cake Dor
ngs to ascertain accurately the relative quantities
rock excavation for and earth excavation tor sewers
and grading works
The only item in Mr. Thompson's department es-
timate bearing on this question is the following:
For surveys maps etc. for street openings and new
streets $4,000 The department by law required 10
streets and for similar work required by the Board Of
street opening and improvements 10 laying out new
streets That Board has under consideration seVera
important Improvements FOR wnlch very extensive anu
elaborate surveys and maps Will have 10 ne lnade mo
sum named needed for the performance Vi tuese
works
II will be seen that Mr. ThompSon's effort To mako
il appear that he was applying for an appropriation
70 make "borings" in order to make correct esti-
mates and save the city from the enormous losses 10
has met under his administration was like his cStl-
mates, misleading. The work of making maps ior
legal proceedings and for the Board of Street Open
mos is AN entirely different matter from prepar ug
estimates on contracts There is not one word in
his departmental estimate scnt to the
Boord of Apportionmcnt about "Gorings" or
rrb,louced bids and no such separate item OF
100 is mentioned (; and il II has been allowed IN
tha provisional estimate II has been covered UP IN
such a way that at least some OF ti'e ulchrOcIs OK
the Board are unaware OF tho fact'
AMPLE PROVISION FOR PAYMENT ALREADY
There is sufficient provision by law now for pay
ing for the work of preparing estimates and tho
cost il met by the issue of bonds ana not out Of an
opproprintion. That the pay Is ample Is shown by
tbe snms paid to some of the men who do the work,
and who are not on the regular pay rolls of the de-
nortment In an examination of the books OF tho
Finance Department for three months
it was acertained that w. V. Smith was
maid in that time S2,50O for TINS
work of surveying on different contracts. that -
at the rate of 900 year, which IL pretty g9on
nav for a man who has other employment h'Sidcs
that he receives from the city.
"INsPECToRs WHO DO NOT IHSPECr"|
In the suppressed testimony taken before the SEN.
oto committee which investigated the Public Works
department, 1t was proved that Patrick Brown.
while receiving per diem pay rs an inspector" In
thc Public Works department, was also Ieclving
nnv s nm inspector of election in lOnkcIs. whether
pr NOT contractor properly does his work depends
unon the watchfulnesS of the inspectors. From
snch n circumstances as that mentioned ~ VIII hOO
Lr n rause for wonder that contracts have, occn
paid for in full III the Public w orNs DSpartneht
and afterwards discovered not to have been cont
nlrteJ MIR Thompson Las large force OF " m
spcctors" many of them well known poilt'clans,
Who are paid by the issue of bonds ana ot from an
onnronriatiOn At one time he has had nearly ono
huudred inspectors i'll his eEplny VINO were palC
out of the street Improvement fund. some OF lhcso
men i'm reality do nothing for months ut lllno-