New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-21
EACH THOUGHTITA NOV EEYTHE OTHER
TRUE MEANING or BILL THAT WAS sTRANGLYD
by MAYOR GRACE MD aP SQUIRT.

TRUE MEANING or Bill THAT WAS sTRANGLED
by MAYOR GRACE MD aP SQUIRT.
TO the Edttor Or TIE Trtbmne.
SIR: In The Ner- York Times Of May Is.
1856. appeared article warning tho taxpayers OF
New.York against the provisions Of a bill pending q,
Albany in regard to tho payements OF New York. and
stating that the authors Of the bill insisted repeating
the existing laws against tho uso OF any patented
ces In NewYok. and for this reason Mayor Grace had
declined to give his approval to the BILL In The World
OF May 10, under the heading Look Out Tor It," ap-
pears O similar article denounc,ng the Oil as "job"
and calling upon member, OF tho Legislature To
"strange" tho "Afrcan In the wood-piie" In Ths
Teegram and Daily Aeus OF the Same date arc 0tbor
articles OF tue and finally In The MAJ and
E1press the public is informed that this now Job at
Albany is devised by Mayor Grace az " move againss
Commissioner Squire" and "Commissioner sqare's
friends assert that Mayor Grace not being able 70 oust
him out OF Office, is scekn. to deprive the Depart
ment OF Public Works OF all jurisdiction except
minority IN commission"
II would appear that the article In Inc I'm" was In
spred by Mayor Grace. and the ono in The Nal and IL
press By Commissioner Squire. each considering the bill
as move by the other; and the same course has been
pursued at Albany whore Mayor Graces personal reprs
sentative has argued against the bill before
the Senate Committee on Cities and
Mr. Bruins and other friends OF Commisscnef
Squire have raised the point OF order against II In ss
Assembly. Their united efforts have succeeded In do
featng the bill, and also In totally misrepresent'ngio
purpose
As the bill In question affects important public in
tsrest and drawn by myself Ibeg the favor Ut
enough Of your space to explain Its provisions.
universally admitted that the payements OF New
York very dscredable ID city OF its size, and that
they inferior to those Of nearly every large city in
the country except Philadelphia Their bal condition
has constantly referred to in the daily press and
especially In leading editorials In THE TRIBUNE, Hocs.
las M nd q a
comment among the citizens generally.
In order provide for better pavements 1t Is necs
sary that special commission shall be charged with
the thorough examination Of the subject ana Should
after consultation with experts determine what ma
teras are suitable for paving different classes OF sreeta
Having decided these general principles the execution
of the work could very properly he left to the city de-
partment public Works or Parks now having charge
OF tho in different sections The object OF tins
BILL which is now denounced az Job and political
"movev to provide such commission. and nothing
more. For the member. Of the commission the three
chez elective officers Mayor Controller. President OF
the Board OF Aldermen, were naturally suggested.
and TO them were added the heads Of the two de-
partments (pabic Works and Parks having charge OF
the streets The commission to have the advice OF
engineer, expert In payements. and we're althoriZef
IN their discretion to reject any or all bds in to
further protect the city every pavement WAS 10 Do
guaranteed and maintained In good order a. the expense
OF the PARTY laying IL FOR perio OF not than live
years and additional security and guarantee fund
Tor replirs 10 per cent of pavement
lie aimed by the city during tue guarantee period
1t was a cOH,nssi OF similar character about ten
wears which lad the foundations OF good paving IN
Wshn and changed the cOndi ion OF that city from
mud mole TO the best paved CITY IN the country and
the provisions in this proposed bill as TO repairs and
guarantees cOpe from the United states statutes
in force in the District Of Columbia
Such being provisions OF tho DILL all laws ncon-
ss.ent with it were naturally 20 be repeated, ana n
order thar there might be no conceament or nsnhdcr-
standing these lays wrre cited by their numbers Ia ths
Consolidation Act Among them was section % which
prohibit, the laying Of patented pavement or use OF
patented description whatever by the cry
Of New York, except undcr such terms a. may ~
prescribed by the Board OF Estimate ami Apportion-
mcnt.
No special importance attached to this law or is
repeal that ii IL not repealed the re'ponsl'
blity payements would De divided between the new
commission anu the Board OF Estimate anu Apportlo1-
The theory OF tho bill was select the Chief Municipal
give them full power. FREQ from restriction
order -,
The bill was introduced into the Assembly by Mr..
patronage deals nor boOd!e-lt was not JoO II the
chief NewIurk CRY cannot be entrusted WIZ
specified without fear OF job then the hope
good for this city IL Indeed SMALL No ono
OF the members OF the proposed commission was con-
suited his views concerning the different Kinds OF
pavement and these views are not known 10 myself or
tention Of the company with which am now associated
argue before ths the merits OF tle paye-
witch II las laid with entire satisfaction u tAe
taypayers IS well city authorities to the extent OF
more than hundred miles twelve different cities
This law has, however been defeated by the ulltct
efforts OF the present Mayor and Comm-sipner OF Puoo
Works II Will be- promptly presented ~ tue next meet
of the Legislature. the most fe tsbe method of
improving the condition OF the NcwlOrk STREETS. ana
meantime the fullest Investigation and discussion IF The
merits O the bill and the influences when inspired u arc
Viro.i' lent Barber Asphal. Paving Company
No $50 BrOadrHy, May 20, 1856.