New-York tribune., 1885-03-25
WHY MIR. SQUIRE WANTS SMOREMOHEY
INCREASE IN PUBLIC WORKS EXPENSES

THE BILL FOR LARGER APPROPRIATION IN THE
INTEREST OF FLYNN AND CUNNINGHAM.
Commissioner Squire wrote to Mayor Grace
recently asking that the Board Estimate increase the
appropriation for the Public Works Department for the
present year. In his letter Mr. Squire made particular
complaint that the appropriations for repairs and re
newas Of pipes and stopcocks for repairs and renewals
of payements and for contingencies too small He
wanted $23600O to be used for such purposes. At
the time of writing his letter Mr. Squire from his inex-
perence and lack of knowledge of the city government,
unaware that the Board Of Estimate had no power
to Increase decrease his appropriation for the present
year. lis has since ascerained that he only
money through the interference Of the Legislature
and he has been busy cutivatng the friendship Of the
members Of that body. 1t is said that Republican
member has agreed to introduce the bill increasing the
appropriation for the department. In return for certain
patronage to be used by the member In getting himself
returned to the Legislature next fall Senators DAILY and
Murphy and other Democrats have been pacifed and
their support has been secured. Governor Hill, who is
a candidate for Democratic nomination for Governor
this year, has promised Is sad to aid the bill In return
for political support One of the inspectors In the Pub
lie Works Department yesterday went to Albany with
the bill and liberal allowance for expenses to be
charged TO the contingent fund" which Mr.. Squire
seeks TO increase by this bif was one OF Hubert o.
tngeIees" and !" travelling expenses outays made
fund largely increased this year, but the Board OF
Estimate unanimously refused TO give him within
~
the Legislature Is to be asked make up the difference
For repairing and renewal OF Iipes stopcochs, etc.
Mr. Squire wants an increase OF Sl25OOO. The appro-
priaton for this purpose for the present year Is
SI7500O. In 1881. the first year OF Commissioner
ThOmpsons term, the appropriation for that purpose
$liO000. Allan Campbell who had Just LETT the
Public Works Department, and who was enllrely
familiar with its requirements, member OF the
Board OF Estimate when that appropriation was made
and 1t his motion that 1T was fixed at Sl4oO0O
When Mayor Grace In the Board in the following
year the appropriation was increased TO Sl3OO0O ana
for the CeXt IL increased to $4,000 when
Mavnr Hann pamp m N TnDnDSDn
successful in getting his appropriations increased ana
In spite OF the earnest protest OF President Asten OF he
Tax Department. this particular appropriation was In
creased to $2lS000 with special appropriation OF
$4,000 for West and South sts Last December
Mr Thompsons urgent efforts TO keep up this particular
az prop ration the figures OF the year previous failed
under the exposure by the Grand Jury and the egsa
ture of the that had been made OF the fund 5tl
much larger sum allowed than ex-COmmssloner
Campbell said necessary and now Mr. Squire seeks
further TO Increase the amount
The explanation OF the anxiety TO increase these par
tcular appropriations found in the fact that they are
used largely benefit Maurice H. Flynn and Richard
Cunning by OF 1899 orders Pipes, stOpcocks
and hydrans are purchased Flynn, while Cunning
nam e. nm tbe anpropriatIon for the repairing and
newal Of payemens by the extraordinary $999 systeIn
exposed before the Senate Committee Flynn and Gun
nngham the chief financial hackers" OF thompson
and the County Democracy Mr.. Flynn Is said To have
secured for ar. Squire HIS present office. Hence the
the Department OF Public Works is really designed TO
benefit flynn and Cunningham and the County Dem0c-
racy In 1880 the last year OF Allan Campoels term
the department expended S3025SiS. Last year IL ex-
pended $i.6435I6. The appropriation Tor 1889 is
s5O8 greater than Mr.. Campbelsexpended for Ike
purposes In 1880. In addition TO that Mr. Squire mas
The power To- spend 81 900 by the issue Of bonds
increase the water supply, besides whatever may DC
used in the building OF new sewers and In other improve
ments 1879 Mr. CamI bell began 20 build the Bronx
River conduit estimating that the work required In con
nectOn with that Improvement would cost the city
100000 Up TO the present time Si25O,OOO has been
expended and the work is still going promising To
last until another Presidential election.