The herald., 1893-02-02
THE PAVEMENT SKIN GAME.

rooms of the HERALD have been visited
by scores OF taxpayers, without regard
to partisan utilization, who have in the
warmest terms commended its course
upon the manner in which the city and
its taxpayers have been robbed, in the
past two years, by the connivance of a
thrifty street superintendent with un-
scrupulous contractors, whose grand
rules OF mathematics consist of subtrac-
ton, divisiond and silence. We can assure
the culpable parties that they are far
from having heard the last of this mat
ter; the storm has only just begun, and
if they find themselves nailed by both
ears to the pillory of public condemna-
ton they will have only themselves to
blame for it.
The present occasion is one that will
serve for reminding the taxpayers
union that their work has barely begun
that there are thousands of superficial
feet of rottenly defective pavement on
other streets recently paved, in addition
to the wholesale botchwork which they
discovered on Second street east OF
Main; and that they will find, by as
close an examination of First street,
running as far west as Quebec street, an
equally deplorable condition of affairs.
The act of show not to do it," we are
assured by an old and practical civil en-
gineer, has already been practiced in
that vicinity for all it ia worth.
The HERALD is actuated in this mat.
ter by something higher than mere
personal spite against professional pol
itician of the Union League stripe, who
is, as far as any future hopes of prefer.
ment are concerned, dead to the world.
Nominate him for Office forty days hence
and frog-mouthed Chinaman could
beat him. There is something higher
than personal prejudice in this matter.
We have handsome and growing city
and are endeavoring to invite the COM
ing OF capital from all parts of America
and Europe. To make it an assuran
that they will seek investments in our
midst, we must render it an impossible
ity for property owners and taxpayers
to be swindled by greedy and avarieious
contractors, aided and abetted by shrewd
and conscienceless Office holders who are
willing to serve two masters for the sake
of lining their breeches pockets.
This is matter in which we have put
our hand to the plow and do not intend
to look back. 1t is too late. If the Re-
publicans have not served the people
honestly in the past the Democracy
must do 30 in the present and for the
future; and if they cannot make up
their minds to do 80 and screen nobody
from partisan considerations, then new
party will be organized to take the rule
of municipal affairs out of their hands.
1t ia better to face reform now than
revolution in the near future.
We intend to probe this matter to the
bottom, because the prosperity OF the
city depends 30 largely upon it. gen.
tleman said to US yesterday: "You will
keep on at this until it will be impossi-
BILE to get good and reliable men to go
on the bonds of street contractors. !"
This we do not fear. There are specifi-
cations set forth in all these street con-
tracts, and the man who does his work
according to the specifications will ne-er
lack for good and wealthy sureties. 1t
is only the slipshod and slovenly gang
of cormorants that have fattened upon
contracts under Union League rule, that
have anything to fear. As soon as they
find there is no chance for them to steal
any more, they will probably seek fresh
fields and pastures new," which is some
thing for which the taxpayers will most
earnestly pray. "Tney never will be
missed"