The evening world., 1893-11-29
Horses Worth $4,000 Sold 70
the City Of New York
for Over $65, 900.
WHO WAS IN ON The DIVVYi
One Reason the Departments
Has Given the City
Poor Service.

Two months ago.. soon after Street,
Cleaning Commissioner William 8. An
drews took Office as successor to Com
missioner Thomas S. Brennan, he made
an official report to Mayor Gilroy. In
his report. which was based upon the
work Of the Brennan administrator.
Commissioner Andrews complained that
the Department needed more men and
more money in order-to ksep-the streets
clean.
For many years the Street-C Cleaning
Department has absorbed large sums OF
public money. for which citizens claim
the city has had no adequate return. 1t
has been the rule in past years that the
larger the appropriation. the more Inn
perfect the work. and the poorer the ser
vice Of the Department.
In his report to the Mayor. Sept. Is
last, Commissioner Andrews says the APP
preparation for carting ashes and sweep
ings for 1892 was $685., SIS, and that the
actual cost was .64s, 754. making a def
cheney of about SIC, 600. There is also q
deficiency of $40, 900 in the final DISPOSE
ton branch of the STRENGTHENING De-
partment, and like deficiencies in other
branches.
Commissioner Andrews. having only
assumed his office as a successor to Com
missioner Brennan. did not go into mi
mute details with which he was unfa-
miliar, and in his report. therefore. gave
no direct causes of the deficiencies In
the Department and the excess expendi-
ture
Within the past few days a reporter
fo- THE Evening World" has been
looking into these little details. and has
discovered some startling facts in con-
neotion with the STRENGTHENING De-
partment under COMMISSIONS Bren-
mans administration. particularly as to
the expe. diture of money for supplies.
The purchase of horses for use in the
Department during the period from
March /. 1898. to July l3. covering hvo
months. has been mad in the most
reckless and e~Xtravagant manner. and
the waste CT money in this PARTICULAR
will explain to a great extent the cause
or the cash deficiency in at least n
OF ,ne departments of the Street-Clean-
ing Bureau.
The purchase OF supplies for the street.
cleaning branch of the municipal govern
ment, which supplies include horses. carts.
harness, feed. sweepers. scraper and
other machinery. is largely made through
the instrumentality Of Mr., Croker and
Mayor Gilroy.
The firms who furnish these supplies
are generally regarded as political favor
ties. Contracts are not let to the lowest
bidder, nor are the purchases OF supplies
divided among different firms who are
| specialists in any particular line.
For instance, the firm OF Fiss & Doerf,
, horse dealers. at l47. l+9 and Isl East
Twenty-fourth street. has supplied the
Strcet-CleaninS Department with all the
ash-cart horses bought by the city since
| March ! of this year. Horses have been
purchased from no other III .-.. and, in
deed. no other firms have been asked
TO sell horses to the city 1t being gen.
erallv conceded among horse dealers that
Fiss & Doerr are political gentlemen
favored by Messrs. Croker and Gilroy.
Messrs. Fiss & Doerr have received
some large, fat orders from city officials
or others who have the power to expend
the city's money.
From March /. 1898, to July IS. 1895.
covering Il period OF five months, they
nave sold to the city OF New York no
Jess than go horses for ash-cart pur-
poses in the STRENGTHENING Department.
The price paid TO Messrs. Fiss & Doerr
| for go head OF ash-cart horses was $3.50
per head. even money all around. with
no change in price when condition.
weight or age OF the horses was taken
into consideration.
In plain figures Fiss & Doerr have sold
the city OF New York $4,000 worth OF
ash-cart horses In Ave months, ana
doubtless continue TO sell horses to the
Department at the same figures.
Al the Comptroller's ofice an ''Even-