New-York tribune., 1901-09-23
c. +. Z. 7O PROBE NAGLE.
CHARGE THAT THERE Is A SHAKE.
DOWN" SYSTEM IN THE STREET
CLEANING DEPARTMENT

The Central Federated Union is after Street
Cleaning Commissioner Nagle with sharp
stick. 1t appointed committee yesterday, after
denouncing him for his methods In running the
department to investigate charges made against
him. with the object of invoking the law if the
charges were true The whole question was
started by the reading of letter from Mr..
Nagle to the president of the Central Federated
Union, in which he assured that body of the
high esteem In which he regarded it.
All my relations with this organization" he
said, have been most cordial and whenever II
has been in my power to advance their interests
or comply with their requests without detriment
To the public service I have done so. When on
the contrary. / have not found it expedient in
the public interests to grant their requests l
have explained my objections fully to them, and
my objections have always been cheerfully
cepted."
The copy of a letter which he says he received
from James Keyes delegate of the Licensed
Masters and Pilots Association. in reference to
charges made against the Commissioner some
time ago by keyes follows. He says he has
never seen Keyes and does not know him. 1t is
charged in the letter of Reyes TO Commissioner
Nagle among other things that exOrbitant rates
were given contractors for the removal of the
street sweepngs. ashes, garbage etc. and that
a great deaf OF the city money was wasted,
Commissioner Nagle then goes OF to say in his
letter that he had learned that Keyss had lodged
a complaint against him resulting some time aso
in the Central Federated Union appointing a
committee 10 investigate the charges.
When the Commissioners letter was read
Keyes took the floor and said that the trouble
started with the discharge of seven hundred
men in the department on the plea Of the ap-
preparation being too small. although it was the
largest appropriation the department had ever
received.
"A committee Of this body at that time he
continued was appointed to investigate the
Department. Il was found. among other things
that contractor received S125 day for towing
and unloading a for sixty-two days we
have this out of the Controllers books MI
Nagle made private agreements with contrac-
tors from day to day, instead of regular con-
tracts The seven hundred discharged street
cleaners were reinstated after two months, nut
were required to sign paper relnqushing all
claims for wages while they laid off.
Twenty inspectors were paid $1,eO0 year each
for inspecting the scows. The city had only
twenty scows altogether. and | question II the
inspectors ever saw them"
Delegate T. j. McNulty. of the Hostlers and
Drivers Protective Union of the street Clean
ing Department. declared that there had never
been a worse commissioner than Mr. Magic as
far the men were concerned
There is a system of rhakinS down In the de-
partnent similar to that in the Police Depart
ment." continued McNulty. Resides all TINS,
the street cleaners are fined on every trivial
pretext and are charged exorbitant prices fof
uniforms One time seven affidavits were suo-
nlitted to Mr.. Nagle which gave the names oi
two inspectors who acted as collectors 1he
seven men afterward discharged Tor one
trivial thing or another an excuse. The street
cleaners are supposed TO work eight hours a
day but they oftener work sixteen. and often
work Sundays. too. -
Some of the men, he said lost from 81 TO ~
week by fines complaint was made by a
number of the men to Mr.. Croker about II, ne
said and the fning of the men was stopped
hut as soon as Mr.. Croker sailed for England II
was resumed.
committee consisting of Delegates Paiias
Barry Uealey Helm and Warner was appointed
against Mr. Nagle They were instructed If the
facts justified going to the courts, III thelr
opinion to lay the matter before the Dislrict
Attorney for action