New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-01
SUGGEST A COMMISSION.
AnOther PreseHtment By Grand Jury
on Street 4sphalting.
PENALTY CLAUSES ARE ADVISED.

PENALTY CLAUSES ARE ADVISED.
Before being discharged for the term yestsr-
day oy Judge Mcmahon. the grand jury OF tho
Court of General Sessions handed in an add
tiOnal presentment on the condition OF the as
phalt pavements in the city. In demanding inn
mediate action the grand jury. through it's fore
man. John p. Faure, says:
The experience Of the grand Jury during the last
two days has confirmed IN their judgment the
wisdom of the course adopted T. .. the hrg %
fore m e sS on an nnoI'aht puOnc subject pc
sentiment on the subject Of asphalt pavemegsts
value has reached US and further examination %
CITY othGials and citizens has resulted in con-
NlnclnS the Srand jury follows:
That official complexities causing serious con
dent and Commissioner of Public Works ard the
lnnumeraoie and long continued delays In making
repairs to asphalted streets follow matter OF
course
in T me '6g 5&fs5 FOR rePar work g5ay wary
pamies holding contracts with the city-
pirations of maintenance clauses in contracts
That many iustaable complaints viii IT is hoped
be Temedied by the operation OF a general repai-
contract, which was let on the 2ist instant, and
which rba Is NOV being executed .,-
srand Jury since Tuesday last confirms Their 5udS-
ment rs To the urgent necessity for the establish
ment of municipal asphalt repair plant. and We
spots can be made than through the very cIm-
The representatives OF some of the asphalt com
panies holding maintenance contracts say thar the
repairs reGjIirno numerous SIGNATURES in iirerent
departments The si,. also Thai when orier,: are
received by them repairs can be made very
on the other hand. city officials say that tho
asphalt companies do not make repairs promptly;
even when they have the necessary orders and
that in many cases they report repairs completed
which the CITY inspectors later report nave - neS
oeeh nlade me commissioner OF ruuhITT .NOLnS
says he is practically pOwerleSs TO compel the as
CdlSe ul lnt WoIuh6 OF Tue CuIs.stSls, MtSn -
not prepared by his department This Is remark
a
correspondence and cooperation between the
heads of the several municipal departments having
II seems incOnCeivable that with many thousanSs
0 TS co0sfaDtIv Loving there is no power on
the part of the city officials To compel repairs 20
be made by the companies whose contract oollga-
tions should require them 10 do the work or eisa
that the Department OF Public Works should not
be able itself to do the work promptly anu ehAIs'
the cost TO the delinquent companies. = s,-
We beIe that many eNiSDln6 ~, tbe abss,,cs
of penalty clauses in the contracts. and We recon
mend early measures 10 remedy TINS eNi 10 no
careful study OF the proper authorities
1t seems clear TO the grand jury that, wnsthe.
the charter or with the Interpretation OF 1Ss pt,
visions by some OF the officials ensTsso Stn
public service and public interests are sunetln 9
greatly from lack % promptitude in the treatnene
We are forced to believe that the principal dr.
fculties in faulty methods and therefore, after
the most careful and exhaustive consideration OF
the subject possible in the time at our disposs !:
with due attention 10 other demands upon US. :
recommend that his honor the Mayor appoint A
suitable comnission TO make eaIefHl ssHas OF ma
whole subject of the asphatng OF me st,s
riIy connecting topics and that the duties
tons as to ltions or amendments OF the char
ter as the public needs may seem to require
dent and the Commissioner of Public Works for
increased activities in remedying exisIng eona.-
test. \ few months more will bring rs TO the
continued asphalt work because OF cold weather.
Prompt acton seems 70 De a9souteiy necssSass
| accordingly