New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-05
THOMPSONS ADMINISTRATIONS.
ARRAIGNED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

TIE COMMISSIONER NOT MAN FOh MS
oFFICE-EEMEDIEs SUGGESTED.
There appeared in The Herald yesterday the
draft OF an alleged report OF the Senate Committee on
Cities concerning the administration Of the Department
of Pubic Works The report still under consideration
by the Committee. and has not yet been
agreed upon. IL will probably be submitted
the Tuesday Should 1t he agreed 10, copy
the report will he foT wared to Mayor Edison. together
with COPY OF the testimony taken his action in the
matter The alleged report says that the Committee sat
for days nearly every week since January Ia
examined a large number Of witnesses and invesu-
gated directly or through counsel immense
number OF rumOrs reports and more or less sptclAo
charges against the Department OF Public Works. HE
committee examined the Department OF Public WORKS
bureau by and believes 1t has covered sufficient
ground to enable 1t TO make just and substantially
accurate report upon work. methods, aud conduct Of
the D0artment
In the Bureau Of Supplies and Repairs the com
mittee fouBd increase ir tho Item supplies
for and cleaning public Offices" for me years
1881, 1892 and 1888. OF SS3S42 92. over
that OF the previous years The head OF the bureau
failed 20 account to the committee for this increased
penditure and the explanations offered unsasfac
tory aud misleading This bureau purchased all the coal
necessary for the citys consumption under what Is
known 1899 order system down to about January
l. 1854 Different orders repeatedly issued within
a few days for the same material Coal
Board OF Edncaon purchasing upon contract awarded
at pubic letting obtained the best coal during the
years ~ 93 and "a 70 per ton. sinoe January
l. 1884 the Department OF Public Works has obtained
under the system, coal at - 81 per net ton
From year 1873 year 1854 the cost OF coal con
sumed by the Department Of Public Works increased
from 81, 800 10 $4,000.
The cost OF cleaning public Offices under the Bureau
Of Repairs and supplies Tor 1888 was S5j,s77 03
which Includes about 10000 for salaries FOR Jani-
tors etc. The total area to be cleaned vas
23ggo4 SQUARE feet This is 224 cents per
foot The Of cleaning the Post OGce building Is $50
cents per foot; the schoohoes OF the Board Of Educa
tOn 3.5 cents per foot, and the NILS Building the
Equitable Building and the Morse Building each about
cents per square foot The Of material in this
bureau has been 50 loose that portions have been
APPROPRIATED by individual, TO their own uses. Tie
transfer Of 500 900 TO $4,000 uHcXpeuded balances
from one appropriation TO this item FOR cleaning by the
Toord of Estimate ana Appointment is condemned.
Instances given OF the $500 Orders IN the repairs 30
The Cty hccofd Office and painting the interior o. the
new Court House I'M tire ilrt case taerc were five order,
Tor what practically one piece Of work, and N the
second there were nine orders.
In the Bureau o, Roads and B0rcvarls Il appears that
several mieso ROADS have been left In dangerous
dtiOu, n0.VI landing the fact That frequent com plants
have been made and that The appropriations have been
increased IAe resources o the lulcau have een applr
emily an cxuondce upon RI GETS ud roads which are used
for pleasure erwin. 10 the gTe'ous neglect or /
tie man thorou4atTe OF the Island The
account Oh ~ "- 'i- -l+ l i ..-..-" o." oS
in cntoit cond on anu lht thr cry us 20 means %
zuovin- wh tncr The wor. wlrI 70 I3s paid for o. rae
lac. Decu either rendered %" uninsured Ihr cases OF
Barry, ,a'eru-kceper Hnd contractor named McDon
aid are cited. Both furnished material used Uy TOE .
bureau. lac MT nam. n .. TO- O''n,' aug I
could not teu Low ml.h material he ldq /
Of thc bureau. McDonat h! no snow-s'-e Is % aen
where or how much mater ls AlI lr'i .ed To- ne /
~ ,' ,i H., I i -r ~ ',ing rryi
nat t5 hook. ,. oboIt .ix months be1.adhanf In be.
1tI md j. D. nd Il RI N
meters wer. ord.lcI 20 Doe inserted just PRIOR the last
election only ~ has been pur On down the present
Tine e1d. - Inference mat the notices we're
Int Luleau " the "a,er Register there W. % nd
ample .iIrnce oi the exist nee OF -ystno olacku 900
under tue gu-e of political assessments which has D., Ell
carried on Tor years lu lne most open manner Toe
power given th- Commissioner by the system Oi
quiuug permits ror the Use OF Croton water for street
sprira ing imposes - been used by MIN arbitrarily and
Improperly o. affect the private fortunes Of individuals,
IN many cases transferring ne business Of streetprk
from "a reputable private iudvidu4Is
tho.t OF politician, Of the lower order.
positive action lcn 70 ron0ve tucun RANGES until
AFTER a second complaint "a made.
clsse-tHe repair aI ceanng OF sewers ana me repair
connexions The work In he first general ella amounts
o. $4,000 year AMI l. al done upon the
s0qa order stem The report sets forth that the law
were issued making total OF sl,469 10 In /
a. for winch four orders issued making total "
81 496 20 In repair OF the sower in FiftysXh-sL.
Tor whlcn fyeures issued, making total OF - l3l
SIS and I'm three other cases which cited In
the comInte believes the work should nave been done
by contract ana failing 10 have so done was clear
violation Of aw.
Tie act that the bills Of the contractor. Richard A.
Cunningham. and the reports OF the |
Inspector, Babcock. botn made up from
memory should agree. is deemed very suspicious.
Mr. Cunningham pays uls a'orers I'D cents per hour
ard charge city - cents par hour responsible
OF 81 90 900 90 DO an the work done by Mr. Cunningham
in year for one a.f tne amount charged oy te Latter
roplvinE plumbers openings about T1).OoJ |
year paid 10 NJ. CInningham. This Is much IN
of the amount pad for similar WORK IA Brooklyn.
The expenditure ~ me department OF Fuhuc NorKs
during the three years oi Ar thompson administration
is SHOWN 10 nave 1e Vo, aHI Ioi ln' me
peudure by Ar Thompson OF p2Z73,557 %.
which your committee have touched the department tiny
have 0un abundant evidence OF slOvculy eXuayaganoe
mead For these reasons and Tor the misuse
o tine power OF the pIrmnt for personal ana p0Alca
% lL1l y5 and ,a 6s fofI i t f5
deputy, MI. Hsnlu CnIef Engineer Towle; Mooney the
hers the water Rer-ter: McAvoy the srpern ,enieut
of supplies; Inspector BaDcoc&. Culver ami Palmer,
Edison Company should relieved Of the incubus OF In
sprctor Murphy forthwith.
and ihc increased expenditure Tor which he RESPONSE
De seen 10 your counii-e to slow That he ha- 'een
tIVa2hce I'D thr use OBJ ihr puhuc money, ana 10 demon
that Do. q l 90 be entrusted
win the -pendlH Of the sane Finally, your committee
hnIs tha he la -Uty Oh VOCATION Oh tle t" I'D DONG
work iu each ~ the specified herein; and Co., pu
coal ruAi material A}dFtni-, Stop
cock bJXc5. iau-uO4e heals ana covers, which work
been done. ana wAirh mat ,ridis have been
furnished upon Oricr, instead OF upon CON /
tracts made at pubic letting Beyond thu, report
ing to the senate, and aiding II IN The event ot any
-up-cqurut legislation auecuug the Department ID
Public Works Do is NOT within he power OF your con-
mi.re % act ia tie premises or 10 deal with the Com
missioner personally 800 any manner AS partial rcme
dee however the evils from which tie people OF the
New York suffer under his administration, your
committee recommends the three following uieasrest-
Fvst-Ihe abolition OF the system Of M Iaiuced BIDS,
and tie substitution therefor OF Tie system ui bidI-
for pd.i.cutr "OrE, and the passage OF
lil ALREADY before tle senate Tor that purpose.
Arrsud- The abolition the night Oi board Of Eatl-
m ate and Appointment 90 transfer uncXNeIdet bali
4uces, and provision thar a such balances should De
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