New-York tribune., 1891-05-08
MIR. GRANT RETURNSTHANKS.
HE THINKS THE STREETS WERE NEVER
CLEANER
AGREEING WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE


ON MOST POINTS OF THEIR REPORT.
Mayor Grant sent a letter yesterday to Morris X.
Jesup, Thatcher NJ Adams, Charles F. Chandler DaVio
III. King, 1r., and F. " Greene who compose MS so
visory streecleaning committee. formally scknowieos
Ing the receipt OF their report Of March 81 Ihs s
mowledgment has been delayed he wrtes' III Wv
hope that the Legislature would grant 10 lhe .' '
authorities ct It's annual special session 'o ao
tional power the Commission declared essentai W 0'
out its recommendations. For this reason tne
OF the working force and appliances for caine ~'o
streets recommended by the Commission v""',Ts
nut into effect this year. The failure OF the bes
lature however, would In no way reheVe 'ao .,s
authorities from responsibility TO the extent VI "'
power. IN. corn
The Mayor again thanks the members OIL .no S.n, 80
mission for the careful and peinsaking way III "".-
they have tried to solve the problem ior "o -,
OF their comments and the practical charac'sr "
savioe. He goes on at great length to say tha' uio
work of street-cleaning is In his judgment' Dc'0 -
formed now than at any previous une si"'o w
creation OF the StTeetCleantng Department. f
personal observation. and from data that no mas W W
Ieeted he believes that New-Yorks streets are Oe''of
cleaned than those OF any other city on the continent LII
collecting information on the subject from Europe as
vef as this country he finds that the newspapers VI
London and Paris have made harsher comhei's o
the workings of their streetcleanlng sysVenis uue
The past winter than have been made here. All 'nss
Of the cities of the Old World, the way In when te
streets have been torn up here, and the uncertainty
and severity Of our climate tho streets Of New-forK
eompare favoraby with those of the large european
cities
The Mayor compliments the efforts Of the citizens
who have formed a society to aid the authorlues III
keepng the streets clean, and hopes that the recon-
mendation OF the Commission that permanent WORK
ing force be employed will speedily be put into erect
nv the department He sees difficulties in the way,
however, which he points out. The rate OF COM
pcnsaon proposed and the project OF classifying the
laborers under the Civil Service regulations are among
these. He says:
II does not seem to me that $40 month is enough
cent less than the wages paid by the EedeIa 1oVer h
much less than could be made oy any goUa % b n
at his trade. Cleaning the streets cannot wei De co
pared with the work that railroad enploye or ihuo0r
iaborer does, for this work is harder ana not ceT
and the hours uncertain Again. II does not seculG
possible price c0ntented man, satisfied with his
pay and treatment will do better work lhah ne 10
dissatisfied and constantly looking out for some other
employment No citizen will begrudge good wages for
work that is faithfully performed 60. ,o.- !.
Whether il is legal under the Civil service law 70
classify the laborers doubt Section Z, Chapter 3o4,
Laws Of 1888 says: No person employed mercy az
laborer or workman shall be required to be classned
hereunder This has been the practical constracCh
OF this statute during the eight years SINCE ts %
nent. The amendments to 10 have not ahected hs
section But aside from this important o6staele l, TO
the classifying of laborers under tie Board OF CVi
i
present streetCeaning Department reads the COM
missioner of street Cleaning is wholly reSponsie & t3
the wOrkmen he employees. He should be held TO TINS
responsibility strictly.
Citizenship should be required in The laborers'
he adds. The Mayor finds that the recon-
mendations regarding the plant and It's local
ity coincide with his own previously expressed. He
holds. however, that one point Oh the East River
should be selected instead central points in differ
ent parts Of tho city. The city should own its own
horses and sprlnkling machines. The saving would
soon repay the cost. A plant cannot be created at
once but the Commissioner of Street Cleaning is now
acqriring one with the 100000 allowed him by the
Board of Estimate for this purpose In concluson the
Mayor believes that all who have studied the
question will agree npOn certain propositions, which
he thus summarizes
FirstA separate department OF street cleaning, 50
prganzed that it would be possible at all times to fix
,e responsibility for inefficient work ON responsible
second-A thorough and suitable examination by
tho department Of all applicants Ior empoynenS % anu
emnations and of the character and services OF the
applicant in case he is employed. .. .o.o. ..
rfird--The employment OF permanent force OF
laborers sufficient TO do the minimum work OF the de
partment any increase to be made from the super %
numerary list. in II IS found that competent ad-
ditlonal Jaborers can thus be obtained
Fourth-The ownership By the city Of complete
Fftb-Tbe disposal of the refuse by contract for
period of wears in case the bids are lower than the
estimate of the cost now In preparation. inc cM s
NOT nnhampered i'm this regard, some OF the app-
anees are patented and do not know what arrange
snents can be made with the patentees
In spite of the Mayors statement that Commissioners
peattie is now zealousv "acqulrng" his plant there
Is a panful rumor which is well authenticated that
fhe Commissioner means 10 ask the Board OF EsImate
ot ot its 81 neTt ean Son for for the present pressing
the Department, and send the acquisition OF the pian'
into futurity.