New-York tribune., 1901-09-24
SWEEPER HAS TO PAY.
"SHAKEDOWN" SYSTEM IN
NAGLES FORCE.
CONDITION OF CORRUPTION AND FAvoRIT-
ISM IN THE STREET CLEANING DE-
PARTMENT OUTLINED BY
FOREMAN

the ernolument accruing the heads is indefi-
mite. The Tribune has good authority for say
ing that the sweepers poor men who work for
s720 a year, are taxed 30 cents week by their
foremen and about $50 a year by a uniformed
and unofficial representative OF the working
head Of the Street Cleaning Department. Ex-
elusive Of the fines. which imposed for the
slightest dereliction, only or duty. but of
action the part of the sweepers, this makes
an aggregate of $40 year that the man who
wields broom is compelled to give up to hold
his place
Commissioner Nagle was confined to his bed
yesterday in consequence of the broken leg from
which he suffers He could not see anybody. but
his deputy, Captain Gibson, and his private
secretary, Jerome Reilly answered for him
The burden of their remarks were directed
against P. J. McNulty, who makes the
charges which. when brought focus amount
10 malfeasance of office.
ATTACKS MNULTY
"McNulty," said Mr. Reilly. rs a man who
represents the labor organizations OF the host
lers and sweepers of the department. At the
beginning of Commissioner Nagle's administra-
tion the chief admitted him freely, and gave
him the preference others who sought in
terviews. He got all he asked for until he be-
gan to think that the department should be
run according to his ideas and not according to
the ideas of Mr.. Nagle After that he was re-
fused admittance TO these offices, as he is
fused admittance now, and then he began to
vilify the department. Why should listen
a man who. informed good
authority-and quote Mr.. Kopp of the knights
Of Labor-has been thrown out Of that organza-
ton together with his crowd? The have
no grievance The system Of fines is as fair
anything be. and fine is imposed
except for just and adequate cause"
These words indorsed by Captain Glib
son, Deputy Commissioner of Street Cleaning,
and by DR.. J. w. c. Wallace. one of the super
intendents of the department
"It is humiliating,' said Captain Gibson, ito
be asked to answer charges made by a of
McNultys standing Who is he and where did
he get the standing among the men he now ap-
pears to have? 1t is true that men often
work more than eight hours a day, but this Is
a sanitary department. and the eight hour rule
does not apply here If it is necessary for the
men to work more than eight hours to keep the
streets clean they must work more than eight
hours. That is all there is TO it Every other
Sunday each is required TO work half a
day. This is not yreat hardship, and I have
not heard any Complaints. Our men-the sweep
ers-are paid, not by the day. but by the year.
They receive S720, and are supposed to do their
work regardless OF hours and the labor laws"
But" il was urged upon Captain Gibson, lit
is said that contractor received S125 a day
for towing and unloading "a scow for sixty-two
days, and that private agreements made
with contractors from DAY TO day instead of
regular contracts: also that twenty inspectors
received LOO year each for inspecting scows
although the city had only twenty scows alto
sether at the time. How about rhat?"
4 will not reply to the attacks of this man
McNulty," the captain replied. He is hannel-
mouth He drove cart for this department
several years ago. but is now worth 100000
Where did he get it? 1 won't answer such
man"
TN tell you where he got it," said DIR. Wal
lace. When judgment obtained against
the city for extra pay for the street cleaners he
bought up their claims. His plan was to go to
the men. after judgment had been given in their
favor. and buy their claims, without letting
them know that they could collect If a mans
claim was S475 he would tell him that he would
have TO fight hard for ii, employ counsel and
wait long time, and then probably not get his
money. All the time he would have the mans
warrant in his pocket Then he would tell the
man that he knew somebody who would buy
The claim for $50. which was more than the
poor fellow had at one time in his
life, and, with visions of farm in Italy, he
would close with the offer and accept the money
That's the way NcNulty made his money, and
you can quote me as saying He certainly
got 30 per cent of the claims of the street sweep
ers against the city. and il made him rich.
SAYS FINES ARE NOT OPPRESSIVE.
How about the system of fines? Are the fines
Dppressive?'' was asked of Captain Gibson
They are net We have to have some system
In order 10 keep the force in some kind of order
But there is nothing oppressive about them as
you may from an inspection of the list A
man is fined if he appears in torn uniform or
he appears without uniform. There are other
lines imposed or men for going into saloons
and being late rollcall and such matters as
that. But there complaints about the
lines. The reports come from the foremen, and
they have no object in making the men pay
other than that OF doing their duty. AS to the
'shakedowns' of which you speak, there are
none in this department"
Opposed to Captain Gibson's remarks are
some very startling statements made by a
foreman who was encountered by Tribune
reporter while he was in a communicative mood
IN Harlem
Shake downs?" he said THE department
rs well regulated on the question OF shake
nowns The game is small in the item.
out in the aggregate it amounts to a pretty
sum There are. so near come 10 1t,
@ooO men in the employ OF the Street Cleaning
department. Nearly. II not quite. every fore
man except myself expects 80 cents apiece
zach week from each of his men. This IS
tusive Of pay for the remission of fines. Per-
aps should not say the remission OF fines.
az rather for not reporting cases where fines
sloud be imposed. Obviously if a sweeper
aiould be reported for fine that would take
"oin him five days pay il is his interest
- pay the foreman 50 for not reporting it. This
the regular schedule. foreman Will tell
~eeper that such and such dereliction will