New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-29
GENERAL NEWTON,S REPLY.
sUAvE, BUT WITH A wASPLIKE STING.
SHERIFF GRANT DOES NOT PROFIT MUCH BY

SHERIFF. GRANT DOES NOT PROFIT MUCH Bf
HIS ATTACK ON THE COMMISSIONER.
The answer Of Commissioner Newton, of the Puonc
Works Department. 10 Sheriff Grants charges VI
October % sent out yesterday. II covers dozen
typewriter pages, and would make about column
and half of The Tribune printed In full
The first part OF General Newon's defence reiers
10 the contracts which Sheriff Grant says have been
awarded without competition, through systematic
evasion Of tho law" The Commissioner asserts that
the list furnished by the Sheriff Of alleged subdvided
contracts the purpose being 10 evade the law above
cited gives false impression and is made for eiecoh
eering purposes Sheriff Grants COUNSEL Is referred
decision Of the Court of Appeals, and an opinion
Of Corporation Counsel O'Goman in 1872, sustaining
the right Of the Commissioner, where contingencies
arise, 10 dispense with competitive offers and wrttep
contracts.
The Commissioner charges tho Sheriff with endeavor-
ing to gain favor with the laborlng population by ue
nouncng the contract system and by insisting that inc
city's work be done by hired labor He then repeats
his charge that the Tammany in the Board OF
Aldermen have refused to pass his orders for repavhg
the streets because they openly alleged, the worh
would be given to contractors, so that half INC
100000 appropriated for rcpavng Is locked up anu
the cily and the laborers deprived OF Its benefits
General Newton, at considerable length defends
HIS system OF giving contracts, orders" as he calls
them TO Richard A. Cunningham, president OF the
New-Amsterdam Club, and one of-the big four OF
the County Democracy. The reason the price OF
cleaning sewers in 1ss7-whcn the contracts were
competitive-was less than in 1888, when Cunningham
got the monopoly was simply from the fact Mr. New
ton saws that In endeavong TO establish schedule
of prices many irresponsible, untrustworthy and In
capable people bid for the work. MI Newton goes
through Mr. Grants list Of Mr. Cunninghams con
tracts, to show that there has been no such sub
division of awards, in order to bring the sum within
the legal 81 900, as the sheriff alleged
Regarding the receipt by Mr.. Cunningham Of the
substantial of $2 395 CO. for repairing the streets
under a similar contract awarded to him without
competition Mr.. Newton says that this was for re-
pairs pavemcnts over sewer connections ana wafer
services; that Mr.. Cunningham has given bond for
faithful performance of his work. for which he Is paid
from special fund that each separate piece of work
rarely exceeds 50. and must be kept in repair for one
year. The Commissioner declines to notice charges
appearing I'm an irresponsible newspaper and thinks
Mr. Grants indicates that If elected to the
Mayoraty he would first attempt TO blackcn tho
character of Independent Commissioners, try them In
some selected newspaper and confirm afterwald his
previous action in the Mayoralty COURT adding: -
commend your evident purpose TO the voters Of this
city"
For the purpose of giving an object lesson In Mr.
Crokers theory and practice Mr. Aew,oh .rcb S
alleged agreement, signed and sworn TO Mafcn 10,
1870 by Mr.. Croker, James Barker George W. Ciegier
and six other Aldermen OF that PERIOD III which ,neS
Of any officer created under the provisions OF the ey
Charter any laws of the state, or adopt any 9rai-
nance or resolution affecting the powers, duties ana IN
tercsts OF any municipal department OF such city or
county government without consulting with Messrs.
Henry " Genet. Thomas J. Dreamer, Michael Norton
and George W. Purser, and first obtaining their con-
sent" - -.,
declaration that he is inspired by no motion OF hostility
toward the Commissioner, but only hopes 10 lhuuce
him 10 look more closely into the affairs of his de-
partment, and prevent continuance of his scandal
Gus methods. He then adds:
Let say, in charity, that aeaut you personally
~ all intended malice know your OF training, and
OF intellectual power satisfied that you are sailing
under colors and that are mentally Incapable
OF writing the letters which, since nomination. have
appeared over your signature.