New-York tribune., 1884-03-22
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
HOW THEY ARE LEVIED BY Mr.. THOMPSON.

EXPERIENCE OF Observation-Disclosures WAY
PERMITS ARE GIVEN AND TAKEN AWAY.
The Senate Committee on Cities continued
yesterday INQUIRY into the management of the Public
Works Department. John II. Chambers, the water
Register I'm the department, wins the first witness
Permits for sprnng streets are issued from his bureau
The charge for the water ia made by estimate Because
the streets are cleaner now there is not much sprnk
ling done. said that two persons were not given
permits sprinkle the streets blocks because IL
led 10 conflicts and chickering's He was asked what the
department had do with the matter further than to get
pay for the OF tho water the pay for the sprnkng
collected from the househoders and shopkeepers
benefited In reply he said that the hydrants could not
be kept in order permits to be given to more than
person for block But there had been request
for such permits.
Mr. whltridge-Have you issued permits to people. who
did not themselves sprinkle the streetsi Al have
sometimes given permits for sprnkling 70 persons sons
Q,-Do you know whether not George Garfield has
Al do not. / do not know that Mr. Hart, to whom
permit was issued has horses or carts do not know
and SALE have heard reports OF that kind but have
personal knowledge OF the matter. do not know that
Charles Reilly ever had permit
In further questions the witness said that he
had collected money for political purposes. pOr-
ton OF the route formerly held by ]. b. Conger was
taken from him and given TO man named Hart. The
witness could not tell why It done. He understood
that Hart sold It back Conger The permits were all
issued under the direction Of Commissioner Thompson,
who made up the water routes Mr.. Eyerson had a
route. but it taken from him One of Mr.. Nauges
permits taken from him. That all done by the
direction Of Commissioner Thompson.
To Senator Cullen the witness said that he thought the
streets were cleaner under Commissioner Coleman than
they were before.
The frauds exposed in the Water Bureau last summer
the witness said due to made by prop
erty owners with employees of the department whereby
credits falsely given to persons having paid for
meter charges when in fact they had not paid. The
system of bookkeeping IN the bureau had since been
changed.
Thomas ]. Rush, lawyer, next examined. lie
said that he formerly engaged In the business Of
street sprnklng. His father and grandfather were In
the same business. In 1873 his father died and
bequeqthed him the water route for the purpose OF
supporting the family. In the spring OF 1877, when
| Hubert o. Thompson Deputy Commissioner OF
Public Works, he told the witness that such political
pressure was brought TO bear that ne would nave 10 take
part OF the wtResss water route from him Ihat was
witnesses protest that 1t his only means OF
supporting his fathers family. In 1850 or 1881 the
| was taken away and given to a man named sileck
Since that time the witness had not been engaged Ia the
When asked If he had paid political assessments while
sprinkng the streets the witness said that he had sew
4 eral years when Mr.. Thompson was Deputy Com
Onenand then amember OF Iammany Hail. the witness
informed by Wsknkie Newman that ne had been
/
It. lie consulted friend, John j. German, who told h
to pay it. The next he was assessed SlOO anu
advice OF the friend he paid the amount But
after his The last assessment
paid Mr. Farrell. clerk IN the Pubic works
| Department. He asked by Farrell II he had re-
ceved request for the payment OF $50 and replied that
had said that he should not pay it, Soon after he
received an official notice from Mr. Chambers that COM
plant vas made against him for not properly sprnklng
the He then concluded TO pay the assessment
and did Mr. Farrell presented 90 the witness list
sprinker and against the name OF each was
an assessment for definite Mr. Farrell said II was
for political purposes. The witness was assessed $50,
which he paid.
Mr. Payne In cross-examlnlng the witness asked II he
had contributed any money for political purposes since
sprinkle the streets. The witness declined
TO answer, holding that what he had voluntarily con
tributed private citizen had nothing to do with an
investigation OF the Public Works Department The
chairman ruled that the witness need not answer such
question Senator Thatcher appealed from the chair
mans ruling but all the other members OF the committee
present sustained the chairman.
j. W. Farrell the clerk III the Water Bureau referred 70
by Mr. Rush. testified that he had never collected any
else and positively denied having presented any
paper Mr. Rush asking political contribution Ihe
witness uncertain to dates and persons, but was
positive that he had made or tried To make coec
tons TOR political purposes.
| Mr. Wolf the clerk who testified In regard 70 water
meters said that examined the books and 1OunC
that 81 the notices in September october
and November last. TO persons nVing on lenth-aFe
directing them place meters in their houses
not served the persons not being found In os o
the remaining action had been postponed and oe
| places had not been metered owing to delay BY tht
department plumbers. Only 122 meters had been set IL
| the 3lI places FOR which notices were issued.