The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-21


/, put forth that Mr.. Cassidy has used his
fund for II rect maintenance to look after the
highways Of other portions OF his borough
a1d has come back 10 the Far Rockaway
people with the statement that he has left
available for them some $4,000 Of un-
expended bonds for new pavements which
he W uld be glad 10 use for their benefi,
but that tho Comptroller will not permit him
T. use that money for repairing their streets.
For a few hours this looked little as
though Mr.. Cassidy had put it up" to the
Conpt roller. and that he had thrown upon
Mr.. Circuit the burden Of the complaint that
the Tax Payers Protective Association was
charging up to him. But when the associa-
ton went to see the Comptroller. they found
out that it was the la" that they were up
against" and not the option Of the Comp
trpller.
They learned that il they had once ns
property owners paid an assessment for
paving their streets the city would pay
for their repaving if it was decided to re-
pave them. but that the city could not pay
with bonds for the resurfacing Of their
streets. a. that was not repaving. There
fore theycity could not pay with bonds for
the repairs on their macadam roads that
they wished. That was work for which
Mr.. Cassidy must find payment out OF his
fund for the maintenance of strects-a
fund which, II APPEARED, had been eX-
hausted by drafts for work in other parts OF
the borough, that work being for the most
To material for the laborcrs TO work upon.
Out of these discoveries grew charges
that Mr.. Cassidy was spending money Tor
salaries, to the detrrnent of impro' ements.
The Comptroller undertook an investiga-
ton of the Queens administration with
before the Mayor. The Queens delegat ion
wanted Mr.. Cassidy removed from office,
The negot iations between the borough
delegations and the Mayor and Comp
troller are still continued. but up to date
no announcement of action has been made
bv the Mayor, and none Of discoveries
has been made by the Comptroller.
The Tax Payers Protective Association,
a. result Of conferences with the Comp
trolcr's department, however, made public
the discovery that on, of s3ii ,4ig appro-
priated for labor, maint enance and sup-
plies in the thorough Of Queens, $235 $50
had been expended 10y warrant, of which
sum $3.50, 3O2 was expended for labor and
salaries.
AZ to he S5i2s remaining. there was no
item recording an expenditure for material
for paving or reeurfacing, except an
entry of t3i2 for repairing an asphalt pave
ment, unless such item or items were ia
Guided in an expenditure for sundrics
amounting to 81, t29.
In the budget for 1909 tho Board Of Es'i
mate gave Mr.. Cassidy $50 200 increase over
his 1892 apportioument, out Of the modest
$500. 900 increase he asked. OF the increased
allowance, $25 900 Is for sewers and s25 900
for street cleaning. The Improvement
association wants to know now and want =
to see what the Borough President is going
to do for them out of this increase, as well
as what he will do for them in the matter
Of general highway repair and improve
ment.
The association finds eloquence in the
demand made by Mr.. Cassidy in his 1903
budget for an increase in his allowance for
labor to operate the garbage disposal plant,
he having jumped his demand $40 $50 above
the previous years figures. Last year the
sum was Sl2 600, and he asked for the coming
year 81 $50 The board allowed him Sl4,V
The prevailing rate of wages and the eight
hour day requirements under the city adj
ministration are no small items in the list OF
troubles out OF which the association
complaint grows, although the compliant
Is not against those requirements. The
cost, for instance, Of running this disposal
plant under the old village system was about
81. 600 as against the &l2 90 or 2li 900 of Mr..
Cassidy's administration.
In a report made by the association 10
the Comptroller, setting forth the desires Of
Items In the estimated cost Of the disposal
plant properly run for their territ DRY are
these: THREE engineers at so per day
81 277 80 each. or s. 49, 80 per year; and five
iaOorers. to act as stokers and cleaners, 5!
per day. or 81 $50 yer year
Against this total for wages OF 81 ,4S2 50 a
year stood the total Of 81 20 year for
wages under the village system divided as
follows: One engineer $500. two hremcr
81. 800 and four laborers who received
abou, s., 600
But with all the increased expenditure
| the Far Rockaway people complain that
their garbage Is neglected and the system
Of caring for II is offensive as conducted. and
| that the sewers are neglected, offensive anc
| dangerous.
What consolidation has done for us ir
| a nutshell, is this" said Mr.. Curtis: 1T ha,
| trebled our taxes and given Us nothing"
A committee 81 the association accom-
panied Mr.. Cassidy on an inspection of III,
| rs a result Of which inspection the Borough
| President conceded that the roads were IL
| poor condition. We're full Of holes and needed
| repair Mr.. Cassidy then promised o make
| up his budget for 1903 Iy wards, and thu
association charges that he failed to keel
| this promise. As to the electric light
| being out. complaint Of which was made
| Mr.. cassidy Informed the committee tina
| h. did not know whether the police reporte,
| lights that were out, and that in no othe
way could check upon the light compan,
| he kept.
| Attempts to force payment from tenant
| for the removal Of garhage were com
| pla ined Of. and Mr.. tassidy told the com
mittee that he understood this practice
| continued because II had previously ex
sted and was difficult to break up.
| In their representations to the Board o
| Est innate the taxpayers association ox
pressed It's position in part in this way;
What have we got for the years ls9
| to 1902, inclusive, IN which the create
| city exercised the power OF assessment
| and taxation, in which the real est ate of III
| Fifth ward has paid 81 600 900 in taxes. no
| including railroad real estate and fran
! chises, about one-half Of which am INT wa
| paid by Far Rockaway?
Our taxes three-fod what they were
| our streets neglected, worn down am
| offensive. Our sewers neglected danger
GUS and offensive, Our garbage neglect,
and offensive. Our lights fewer on prin
cipal thoroughfarcs and often not lighted
No water supply, except that furnished J.,
private corporation, which costs tax
payers double what 1t does in Manhatta
or Brooklyn.
We have not asked for any improve
mcnts since being in Greater New York
and what we want now Is to be put in tn
same condition as when We went into tn
greater city. One Of the things ahso
lutely necessary, and what we require, |
to resurface our roads. and this will tax
about five hundred yards to the mile, whicl
can be placed on the roads in finished con
dit ion at a cost Of s? 30 ger yard
The association noted that in 1902
budget The Bronx received an allowance
of $3.50 600 for its roads, which on it's 40
miles was 81 $50 n mile, while for the 20
miles in Queens there was allowed in tina
budget $500 900. or SSH per mile.
When President c. ID, Curnen of the asso
citation was asked some questions befor,
the board, h raid that he believed on