New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
BOOKS CARELESSLY KEPT.
RECORDS SAID TO
RE IN BAD SHAPE.
COMMISSIONERS OF ACCOUNTS MAKE THEIR
REPORT TO THE MAYoR-MANY EXPEN-
p1TUREs ALLEGED TO BE NOT PROP
ERLY vOUCHED FOR WEDDING
OUT OF "INEFFICIENTs"
SUGGESTED.

John C. HertIe and Edward owen. Commission
ers OF Accounts yesterday submitted report 10
Mayor Van Wyck regarding the Street Cieahihs
Department. The report is long document ana
filled with details. IT reads In part:
The result Of our examination for 1896. 1897 and
1895 has shown that the management so ias az I.
relates the bureaus mentioned herein anu 'resi
tenn and that the books in these bureaus were care
lessly kept as to records. fun OF erasures check
voucher when rendered by contractor were very
defective We also found II CUSTOMARY f tT with
the records OF the Department 10 CONFORM WIN
AS the present Commissioner has retained ios IN
further in this report. who were appointed uioer
the last administration we ind that the saTe the
business and Of keeping the records OF INNS De
We therefore submit this report to assist the the
Commissioner in remedying anX evils we 10
improve his administration and enable MN , a.so
to weed out those in his Lepsrtment wi %n0 70 per
form their duties honestly and conscientiousH'
The Commissioners say that the Bureau OF final
DISPOSITION exceeded its appropriation by Si"i'"''
which was greater than any other In the Depart.
ment and at the end OF 1898 had dehct ol
S2,S524. .-,.
This bureau is under the supervision or Supe'in-
tendent c. A. Meade and Assistant superintendent
A NJ Crovther The Commissioners report that
Assistant Superintendent Crowther has pracucaiy
the entire direction and control OF the shifting ana
movements of the scows which forms the srea'e'
part OF the annual outlay Of more than sScV"
The Commissioners say that they have discovered
a state OF affairs here that made necessary pri-
yate report TO the Mayor. They say 1t Is necessary
that the Commission subject this bureau 10 .he
closest scrutiny and watch all bills closely. The
report then says:
While there is excuse why the present, OH h
missioner should not be fully censure
the Deputy Commissioner and these during
GERS who have been In me Reoa bove had SUN,
Client time and experience TO have become acquaihN
ed with such facts are herein set forth
The Commissioners say there appears TO De ma
grant incompetence and mismanagement IN 'he
movement and hiring Of scows and tugooa's' Dc
we'll the apparent desire 10 iaVor 'ne"
at the citys expense
We ere OF the opinion that the head Of this p p
reau is either absolutely incompetent or 70 h,rad
e syews 70 ana towboats whereby the city many
unnecessary dollars. There Is also ev I nynsnse
MAN, MANS ond as These corrections are generally at
the city's expense II certainly aomlts o, BOUNDARY
observation-disclosures Incompetence or pecu"'a'S
motive
THE rsno-t then gives a number Of specific IN
stances Of Encouragement along the line OF tne
cbar1es made Every instance given makes t'Ie
work OF the bureau seem TO bear out all Tue 0 80
made and each instance Is In detail
The report says that most OF the amount aiio~eu
sunerintendent Meade for working In Ice caH"o'
he checked as there is no evidence OF the WIN
having been performed and In the balance OF Gases
the Dump Inspectors daily entries 90 not asleo
with the records OF the office OF final dspoSi.o"'
and the report decides that This Is but anP'ne,
evidence OF the absence OF system In that bureau
A number Of Instances OF the above are then
given Other ABUSES" complained Of and OF ~hlch
instances are given. are full payment for towing
and unloading partly filled scows, and towing
one Barney dumping scow TO sea IN place OF seV-
eral" The report goes on to explain thal II :
always 10 the city's interest to have as iid"'
Barney scows as possible taken at one time IN
tow 10 sea- and says only stress OF weather lusti,
aes any other policy total OF lI6 instances Vi
This "abuse" IL given, each specifically
Another evil complained Of is the hlritg OF .t naI-
Dor scows at IS per day" 1t IS charged tnat 'nTS r
scows have been in use largely for private puI-
for them at the rate Of s. a day. in which time
the city was supposed to use them. THESE nve
scows are paid for at the rate mentioned lot ever
day in the year. whether in actual use ny the
Gnother thing complained OF is the purchasing
of supplies where in the aggregate the amount -
over 81 ono without public letting.
The report finds the bureau having charge or the
removal OF snow 10 have excellent system OF
unless the inspectors where carts are loaded ana
inspectors at the dumps act in collision and give
10 the contractor credit for more cubic yards than
actually carried
The report closes with number OF suggested i'm