New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-17
"A DEAD CAT COMPLAINT,
1T E1fBITTERED CRAVEN.
But Washington Square Association
Got Carton RemOTed.

lnents These have all been printed in neat
pamphlet fitting burial. il is considered for the
subject-that Of dead cats Dead cats have cause'
trouble many a time before. but one departed
feline observed by members OF the association III
University Place, near pulling the chf' from
under one or two departmental heads
Marlborough Craven, before ne broke down uhoeI
the cares OF Office sent letter 10 the ASSOCIATION
on April L. showing that poor pussy had attracted
attention some time before. IN it he said;
have received several letters from your assqcla,
ton with reference TO the dead car WlCh ,5 - co on
referred 10 as decorating the streets, ana 50 IL
You have also suggested that If this dead cat IL
noI SIo ie3cSent and even worthless and that
your whole department may before long pe "e'
M should yerv much dislike put myself before
INV snbor1fnates as inefficient. hut If I gave them
~ 10 raTnoye dead animals they would wonder
why exceeded my authority as COMM ssloIleI VI
Mr. Biddle that the removal of dead animals does
9oe Gene qITr ~ Street Cleaning The first letter
in regard TO this cat was signed by MI ii9 ale anu
the second letter was signed by MI NJ hlrlose'
The president Of the association replied by mall
pn the following day that he had understood that
the Street Cleaning Department was bound TO re-
port the presence Of dead animals TO the Health
Department TO the scavengers- II wrote you
about your subordnates ! did, he continued,
because upon two occasions, when l have asked
an ordinary street cleaner why he did not report
something. have had the reply: The boss no lika
complaints Even though the matter is not within
the cognizance of your department, YOU will how
ever be glad to know that both the in Uni
versty Place and another 18th street concerning
which I wrote DR.. Darlington, have now been re-
moved"
About the time this letter was mailed another
from the offices Of the Health Depart
Fnent which the secretary to the Commissioner
informed the association that he had telephoned
10 the ofal dock, relative to the dead in 18TH
street opposite No a, and had found that the
18th Precinct police station had let them know at
$50 that day Of the presence OF the dead cat in
18th street THE offal dock also reports" con-
Tnued the letter that IT received notice on April
q to remove a dead cat opposite No. 4 University
Place. The could not be found on April S, but
m April the cat removed"
a fortnight or so later the association took an
other fall ont Of Commissioner Craven by sending
the preceding letter 10 him in proof that his men
and the police were neglectng their duties, since
the cat had stayed in University Place four
days before being reported. Mr.. Craven's secre-
taTy replied with apparent asperity that this de-
parment has nothing TO do whatever with dead
animals nor is IT its duty 10 inform the Board Of
Health Of dead animal in the streets" Then the
association asked Dr. Darlington to explain Just
how and when and where such reports should be
made. ITO this satisfactory reply was received"
says footnote to the printed letter. but in the in
terest Of good feeling and harmonious and hearty
cooperation among the appointees Of the Mayor il
will not be disclosed
. Another letter 10 Commissioner Bingham brought
Deputy Commissioner Bugher into the controversy
which now included IN its subject matter various
heaps Of refuse in the street This particular nu-
sance was abated by the police
The condition Of the streets about Washington
Square was also called to the attention Of Borough
President Ahearn who corrected the evils The
attention of Mr. Ellison was called to the torn-I1D
condition Of the streets by contractors lay
ing mains, and Captain Afyles O'RelIy was asked
10 look after people who dropped banana skins on
the sidewalk. Commissioner Bingham was also in
formed OF some trouble with Inspector McCluskey
over the unlicensed establishment Of street booth
for an express order Office by saIoonkeeper These
letters follow in full:
IT, cou.o-..,.- o.-, May 10 1907
On March II ana again on April 3 this association
wrote TO you asking you for copy OF the contract
mains in the middle sactio 81 certain SAT- water
whether any remedy had provided for the
aDon3lnabIe fashion in which the work had been
enforce that remedy 70 neither Of these 3ee9 le5er3
AT 4H5 you yet yet been able 10 make any reply.
contract many miles Of streets were opened last
have been in 9 Iiigths these streets
the opera tons Of the contractor under this CON
tract The Street Cleaning Commissioner viii
the streets in which these trenches We're laid and
re borough President will doubtless advise You
paYements of the streets in which these trenches
obTou IsT ta an9 both OF these statements would be
II appears to US 10 be a perfectly, r,ons+,ors
thing that the streets should be so turned over ~
contract such as any sensible and bonesf r J5
Ervoud have made, it must have been Violated bI.
ne contractor, and there must be some remedy for
ldhe scandalOus and abominabe condition In which
The streets have been left during ali these months
ana is the duty Of the city adnsr eaS II was
Feast endeavor TO act in the premises This asso-
ahat contract has conformed to and Who is
irresponsible for the condition which has prevailed
40 prevail we have already written Won ti
on this subject think that perhaps it is worm
Inquiries " ''e97
10 ,o,,oo c.a.o,- ,,..,--o May 10 1907.
So, your acton on the complaints of this association
k slas considerably improved the condition Of the
fstreets OF this neighbOrhood. but the whole state
fof mind Of the police force about the violation Of
tstreet ordinances seems TO US 10 be gtill yerv n1c
mistaken Apparently they suppose that tBeI are
not called upon TO do anything except after com
plant They regulate the traffic very we'll in cases
OF active disorder they generally admirable
fnlert Intelligent and efficienbut about streets
Eyitted and haf-bInd. person who throws paper
sr1it SKINS or rubbish or builds fires, yes or plays
and garbage cans the sidewalks or who Violates
tended by the police on their own Initiative lust
as much as person who drives the wrong side
thought it fair complain Of individual officers
nIaI ther sbPerSrs had been given a chance to
be much obliged therefore, if you would advise
fTour men accordingly. and we desire You to under
stand that il is The purpose this association To
do what it can 10 hereafter have all Of the street
ordinances obeyed.
~ --. May %, 1907
Sir: on February - we called your attention 70
nc iact Jhat saioon5eeper on the corner of 18th
souTishing express business on the sidewalk After
report by inspector Mccluskey which was ,.ie an
evasive rigmarole. concluding with his assurance
showed thai Insr..ctor NlcrI,'skn ala N , i4ereIS
his business for the power of the Board of Alder
men TO grant such permits abolished in 1901
attorney somebody in your department. two
detectives Were detailed for day two to watch
the business, which was about as sensible as it
would have been to detail two men to detect the