Year: 1874

THE RUMoR THAT THE MAYOR WILL PRESENT AFFT-
DAvITs TO THE ALDERMEN IN OPPOSITION TO
POLICE COMMISSIONERS DURYEE AND DIsBECKER
THE ACCUSED INDIGNANT.


rumor spread through political circles yes


day that Mayor Havemeyer intended soon to submit to
the Board of Aldermen aiidavits in which Police
Commissioners Disbecker and Duryee are accused
OF resisting the removal OF certain persons


who held sinecures in the Street-cleaDing De
partment. The report obtained credenee In


OF the opinion prevalent for two months


past among politicians that the Mayor would willingly
listen to any complaint which might be made against
the Commissioners named out Of resentment for their


course at the time Commissioners Gardner aud Char
lick were reappoined. In regard to the truth OF the
ohsrges there were few persons who expressed any


The mode Of manag Of the Streetceanng


Department being unknown. The Mayor, when ques-


toned by TRIBUNE reporter in regard to the rumor,


said: "All that to say about that is that you


must ask those who got up the report what authority
they had for doing So"


Commissioner Dsbecker said that he did not fear any
investigation that might be made concerning his course
he became member Of the Board OF Police nor


any inquiry might be specially made about his part


in the management OF the StreetceanlnR Department
He had been told that the atidayits submit
ted 10 the Mayor In regard 10 the department


to by two men who were dismissed by Com
missioner Duryee and himself during the week between
the conviction OF Gardner and Charck aud the appoint


ment of Commissioners voorhs aud MatseL The
causes OF the removal Of the two men were stated to
the last named Commissioners upon their assumption
Of office. and the action of Commissioner Duryee
and himself was approved by them. Whatever
charges the two men might make, there could be NO
evidence submitted OF intentional doing by either
himself or his fellow-Commissoner Mr.. Duryee and
himself had co0perated with the other Commissioners in
the measures which had been taken TO decrease the
number OF employees in the street-ceaning Bureau,
and increase the efficiency OF the force. The
minutes of the meetings Of the Committee
Street-cleaning would show that they had as
frequently offered motions for the dismissal OF useless
or aborers the other two Commissioners
In fact. the Committee had been unit from the first
day OF its meeting. All the measures 1t took were
adopted by unanimous vote. There had been no
resistance offered. no adverse vote given by
either Commissioner Duryee or himself to
the removal OF any person attached to the
Department None OF the Commissioners


aware of there being any person in their employ who
held sinecure. Certainly neither Commissioner


Duryee nor himself would resist the removal Of such


person. nor would they keep the knowledge OF such
fact secret. The books Of that Department were
not kept secret like the books Of the Police De-


partment. They could be inspected by any citi-


zen and II there were any abuses the Commissioners


would be much obliged the person Informing them Of
the fact, The Committee consisted of Commissioners
yoorhis Duryee, and himself; and Commissioner Mat


SELL as exocio member, always attended Its meetings


The full Board Of Police was consequently present ss
held responsible II there was any wrongdong. As


duty Of inspecting the character done by the


aborers Of the Department than the other members,
ken laborer He and Commissioner yoorhis made
| tours through the city daily to discover the


had been passed over by aborers and the vigor
with which the gangs worked. on several occasions %
Commissioner YoOrhs and himself had called the rolls
of the discover II the number OF names
| the lists corresPonded with the number at


TUrs' tas that ie' the la6orers had been paid Of


to prevent any chance Of the Department being de-


frauded. reproach which might formerly have been


uttered regard the favorsm shown in dividing the


could no longer be urged Nc person was now per


mitted have than cart In the employ OF the
Department, and An effort was made to employ all an


eqIS Commissloner Daryee said that he thought the
| charges made in the anidavits absurd. Any person


would take the trouble to look through the minutes


that there WAS NO opposition made by himself 70 the


any vote ever given against the removal Of men
| charged with holding sinecures. he was not


held such position. lie and the rest Of the COmmis


sioners eager to reduce the number Of persons


OF rSsn shs Boafd nS OF Police Would away: be sup


IN Sy IT'S % nS Sss


OF the sreetceaning Department and there never had


pspartSent The adaviis were doubtless the fret Of


many attacks which would be made upon himself and





their course the time the legality OF commissioners
Gardner and Charlicks reappontment was In doubt
Commissioner Yoorhis sadthat he was not acquainted


with the contents OF the adavs, nor did he know the


names of the who had made them. The minutes


of the Committee Sreetcleanng, showed that at the


first meeting Of the Committee July TO- on motion OF
Commissioner Disbecker, two men were dismissed
from the Department. One Of these men. George


Deukemeye dump inspector at tho pier at the foot


OF Thirty ST., b. r. was accused VI drunkenness


the other Patrick Salmon dump Inspector OF the foot


OF Twenty -seconds, Il. r.. declared by Inspector
| Thorne 10 be incompetent Several foremen OF
gangs OF streetsaeepers had since been


dismissed, all for sufficient cause,
he was convinced having heard the testimony In the


Complaints could IN regard TO his accused


ciaes that they had offered any oppoEon to the


removal OF whose services were found not to be
neoded. They had co6perated with Commissioner Mat


sell and himself IN every measure which Was proposed


for the Improvement OF the system Of sreetcleanins


regard TO increased economy or increased EN-


ciepcy He had not discerned any indication that they
deaired TO check the contamination Of the plans
for ACQUIRING better force and better methods
of cleaning the thoroughfares. He believed that
Commissioner Disbecker aud himself worked harder,
Inspected more streets, made the gangs Of labor
ers cleanse the streets thoroughly and. time
would show saved the city moro money than any Police
Commissioners who had preceded them In ONCE.
The gangs of laborers had been inspected. and
all feeble or lazy men had been dlsmissed.


Of kborsrs vp0 would wQSk WIN energy ana a0I0uxa