New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-02
MAYOR GRANT AS A WITNESS
HE GIVES TESTIMONY ABOUT THE CITY
GOVERNMENT.
ANSWERING QUESTIONS PUT BY MR.. FAssErr
AND MR. WINS AT THE INVESTIGATION BY

AND MR.. WINS AT THE INVESTIGATION bf
THE SENATE COMMITTEE on CITIES.
Light was turned upon the government of this city
yesterday by the Fassctt Investigating COMMITTEE
as the senate Committee OIL Cities is best hno"h'
Tie committee began its longcxpectcd lnVcsteauoi,
and the session, which lasted from ii a. H. uii,n
; 80 p. m, highly satisfactory to the hepuon-
members Of the committee. At the same tllhc'
the friends of Mayor Grant appeared to be rather
lubilant his good appearance as witness. lie
the stand throughout the sitting OF the COM
mitee, and parted with unexpected dcXterty some
Of the questions that asked by cxCity Chai-
berlain WINS. But on the question OF proViohg
this city with better rapid transit facilities the Mayor
was hot able to keep rs partisanship in the pack
ground. 1t out through the adrolt questions
Of Senator J. sloat Fassett, who also demonstrated
the time that he willing TO consider any
good suggestion If any were necessary to prevent
his bill from falling into partisan pohucs'
Mr. Fassctt the chief inquisitor among the com
mltteemen, and tho task could not have fallen INTO
better hands.
The inquiry was set down for 10 80 a. m. but 1t
was considerably later when it opened. The com
mittce is composed Of Senators Francis Hendricks.
chairman OF SYRACUSE J. Soat Fassett OF Elmlra'
Lspenald stewart and John f. Ahearn, OF TINS CITY
J. W. BirSctt. Of Brooklyn; G.. A. Deane, OF Co
lurnbia and Donald McNaughton, OF Rochester. The
counsel for the committee IS the welknown law nrm
Of Tracy, Mcfarland, Boardman, Wins d Platt. MI.
WINS aud Mr.. Boartman appeared for the firm, and
Mr. WINS did most Of the questioning. Mayor CRAM
came into the court room about II 40 O'Clock,
and was soon placed in the witness
CHAIR Mr.. WINS opened by saying that the
committee had requested him to prepare summary
of the special acts of legislation from 1850 to 1880,
affecting tho government Of the cities in the state.
OF the Whole number 12s4, 800 applied TO this city.
l95 to brooklyn and 146 to Buffalo. Before the ex-
hoo
Naushton asked that Corporation Council Clark be
rsquc ted TO aid the committee counsel. Senator
Fa,sctt objected because the committee might have
10 investigate Mr.. Clarks Office and the committee
declined 10 ask the services Of Mr. Clark except as
Corporation Counsel.
Mr. Hendricks, called attention to the non partisan
character Of the inquiry. and said that 1t would be
As impartial as possible. The committee wa. here ID
learn about the workings OF the city government,
Mr. wins announccd that he should conhnc his
ouc tiou. Ia MAYOR Grants two messages, not touch
ng on the list of forty questions when had been
sent ~ other cities because they were not shown
with regard 70 the government of this city lie reai
a par1sTlph in message in which the Mayor spoke Of
the lncOhepncc and confusion which were caused from
The pIcfs invested IN lie different departments Of the
city To- pass ordinances and regulations, and winch
Mr.. G.ut declined To- furnish the bill Of particulars
which Mr. WINS asked for. lie -aid that he could
hot supply that Information readily, but the DOCK
Dcpasimcnt. which was now under Invest cation. was
an cNamric. Mr.. Grant specified the rIrc Depart.
u.nt as having this power and said that the Board OF
, could y @ We T mn, sa Gae to ' revs a
hy I'll; Mayor, and gave power that might lead To
harm in tie hands OF a bad board.
WHAT reform or revision would you suggest
an municipal code replied the Mayor "No,' he
continued, " would not propose revision of the city
charter There Is no place IN this city where one can
spohc OF the troubles between the Police and Park De
rlrimcui IL protecting the parks, and said tlat II az
showed that a ,OMllet" - stem or ordnihcco was
fTs Dr,t
toduced at Ms wish To compile the ordinances passed
yacd f,r the appointment OF three Commissioners who
would discharge 'heir duty without compensation.
NJ Ivln, dropped This line Of inquiry and tried the
MAYORS kuovlc d.c OF the clty's finances tie wanted
- know what the General Fund Was and the Mayor
ropncd smoothly mat TIE Controllers BOOKS would
show =. but Mr. Wins wanted 70 know exactly what
was tie nature Of the fund and he and the Mayor
became cntan scd in several arguments which dd no,
Cari Suggested that t. was AL al the y. money IGie
wanted TO know whether any officer was in charge of
think that the Controller is7 said the Mayor.
The commissioners Il Accounts have the right . 20
around and investigate this department The Mayor
cNr Ici that the General Fund varies from Sl,?9oooo
to $4,000 from year 10 year; lie also sad that
he vas compelled to rcly upon the ControileTs state
sufficient expert TO through the Controllers books
WINS switched oN to the appointment OK Cor
poratiOn Counsel Clark. and wanted 10 know WHY hI.
Grant had chosen him. The Mayor replied WIN
harry @' that uG M5 T TTh Gr anf M NSs sner
and Mr. Chrk vas IN charge Of the legal business OF
fine -iarin ', Office.
oor.tions were asked about the employment Of W.
noirac Cochran Mr. Chrh's partner on gity hu.i' ,
Co,hrlu's partner, Mr.. Clark lad selected James =
carter special counsel IN the aluedgsit sau3n c
Mr. Grant WIS a,hef whchsr he WOMB di ia'2r t rr
abolition ol the city tnnncrlaln once lie r.
ril.i cuAul.dly that there were - Few safeguard,
"A, the civ Auditor was In the Controller Once.
he had grave doubt, To the wisdom Of abolsnS the
SIR. INA, rose hero to ask the cou1ntec 70 sub.
rocna the Editor Of "Thc. Wordo at
The next inquiry ana odnge an If f'I rhc onice
When Mr. wins was CITY Chamberlain.
Mr. ra~.ci' asked how many departments In the
city were engaged in collecting revenue for the ety.
ION. my :" replied Mr.. Grant. nearly all of them;
,ras asked think" replied The Mayor that nearly
I'll OF II goes with the sinking Fund, say about three
And IS there no one department charged with the
collections az city revenue ~ Mr.. Fassett asked
- 80 Sir" wa the reply. But | think such
department should be- established. and suggested 1t
smrno'c~ said ur ra->ctt. tha. YOU would ask
to have the power Of appointment Logged win YOU,
ON. No." replied Nj. Grant smIlins: - have a.,
way, RETAINED from asking for power for the Mayor
cleaning and referred 10 Mayor Grants message OF
ls-9 ON the subject in which he spoke OF tnc con W
dl;ion Of the streets as rcpf1a'i 10 the ,y. Mt.
Grant said thu; he had talked with Mr.. Coleman
number OF time, on the subject tut noticed no Ina
peovcmcnt. After Mr. Loom, lad 'Hh.n once, now.
ever he had seen change for the better. eSpccilN
IN Broadway. which he said was ned twice DAY.
Mr. Grant preferred the days-work at present 10 inc
contract work. lie said that contractors had mldc
great deal Of money ont of the city III street clean
Ing. ,. 49,,
graph poles and electric wires. The Mayor said That
tho city had paid for the removal ana ne hoped 10
recover the cost from the companies, Mr.. Gilroy,
who was sitting near the Mayor, gave the Information
o. the Mayor that the companies had already pain
some of the cost and redeemed u large quantity OF
the wires. The companies, Mr. ,roy added. had also
agreed 10 remove the remaining poles ana this
save to the city an expense of ~ pole
Mr.. Ta,,ctt. whose pleasant and cordial b"arlh;
t. The Mayor had been marked, asAeu
u,ff
the erection Of building IN city Han Park. Nj
Grant was inclined 10 hc wary of TN, subject lie
admitted that public opinion appeared To be so strong
against building another municipal structure III CIV
Hall Park that he did hot WISH 10 take any Ie.
lc. pom ,ibllity in the affair. INT VIII say salu
Mr. Grant. that there Is plenty OF room In the
Park for II. But the newspaper, stirred up fear
meetings to ascertain the sentiment OF the people
on the question" ,. A., .,,