The New York Herald Newspaper, March 10, 1868, Page 4

& z ee . tions ot . a y sidewalks? A. THE CARNIVAL OF MUD. | :trSuiotSfeptidirs Sm Sites fists | Yeast fave asoelt {havo faces tp tuocants ees <n, foreman flan comply | Q. Where are your principal 2 grounds ? such default, such oaioar saan ‘associate commis- | A, One in Roosevelt ve ‘meet, one Sr watiot natty Seutetiet| mee ee and never ie Joreey Conte Rahiae he rie vameval of <e | etce; some months ago we had $20,000 pub in the = e e remit : ; The Senate Committee om | fiiiccniaht'tadof e meaing feces | ean chats faba wabhihes Arne Conpoet: |. Sitae EMER en ee eee ee a a a Appropriation billto gean the Gutters and the bad pee git to be mentioned | | tion charge me $20,000 a for 1} willing to ‘in laces below Fourteenth atreet; we expended: some Streets in Session. such notice, which leaving ft at the resl- year for the manure, and is ir, Wnioe any serangemnen. for \e dence or place of, Business, the city Kew ‘ork, of | take and sell all I can, the cane mn of the contract that may be made; I 000 oF $8,000 on the gutters, these the contractor did i such contractors. after eariag ‘such Q. How mueh did = receive in the month of Feb- | think it would require $20,000 to keep Broadway “lean; but hé never claimed to me that he put that complaint, and the contract ore, if they appaar, ay ama- | ruary for cleaning streets? A. ‘The amount of my | clear in an ordinary winter from the snow and ice. | cons"Uctlon on the t; 1 believe that on a close ; sails the exeoution of this shctant ener ace eeas, Go EE: Nz. Whiting haa not as yet settled up with me; I | examphcation of the law, the Pollce. Commisaloners . . Yor as much in June and Au- | have only received $6,000 from him, do not know | con: no authority for $750,000 Required to Cleanse | Misia wuich dectartion cia eoate gts coutract ter | gust as in February and M ino! waster’ wins | weatiehowening me residents to clean the gutters: the law only went 80 cS the Comptroller and ac thereor aerved on the contractors mmnONns Se work Pr ther ary none’ A. Yes. Mr. Sheppard E. Ki one of the original con- | far as the Glswenres ey aed, iatig ig pncnece nd Uy sureti . The mone; " the Streets of the City. and upo goanner above provided for'| | Q ara yp cabment four differ: | tractors, testified substantially the same as the | it by insisting on P| upon bim and his #1 ondy unleas the said sore after such service uy Whiting Desires to Cancel His Contract. case they, or such said, shall be by this © per cent each year, contract #l as undertal Testimony of Mayor Hoffman, James R. Whiting, John L. Brown, Sheppard E. Knapp and Jackson J. Schultz. time which 6! tinuance of this contract In pursuance of the following resolution the Senate iret ticgs bindt gett Committee of Investigation, directed to examine the a herein stipulated, contract system and the condition of the streets and em. hat ae corporis thoroughfares of this city under it, assembled yester- day morning at the Metropolitan Hotel:— ‘Whereas the Legislature of 1865 appointed a com- mission to supervise and contract for the cleaning of the streets and avenues of the city of New York; and whereas the present condition of the streets and venues of said city, together with the universal complaints of the citizens thereof, furnishes sufi- cient grounds for the belief that the present contract System relative to the cleaning of said streets and avenues 1s substantially a failure and detrimental and injurious to the business interests of said city = the convenience of the citizens ; there- OR eaolved, That the Senate Committee on Municipal ‘and ma shall streets and performing the contract shall be made, shall re 4 to the eorporation tract shall not be terminated vided. | But it is stipulated and shall not be terminated by the merely technical ground ich whith would in law stantial, takin contract and Of the same. Alterations of the or a majority of them, and the id t] r-fifths? A, I have not ex- | by the patrolmen, that a record should be kept of the clear that Aflairs be and hereby is directed to immediately in. | ties, or fn.cass of the performance of the work by the said | JO1,04 "nd pooke, My bookkeeper, Whose Lalo is | Teports and the reports. themselves forwarded to we | yeved be Wa# bound to clear what he fcould for wan ir eed on eh mene, condition crs, and such sureties as are performing this contract, in | Pickard, can tell that, in order that I might report to the Board, Are there any tions you wonld wish to SSoort to the Senate wir logistation keegan tn th nd | such manner as, in the judgment of @ majority of the said | Q. Have you any objection to producing your . Reports to be made by the seargents at the sta- | make? A. Yes, I will state some general measures on sary to reniedy the evils complained of, aud’ that said | the sty of NewYork ia tue prosineas eee ot f books “A. ido not know what you have to do With | tion housest A. Yes, at; from these reports coming | the part of ihe contractor durimg all te tae he was . vate affairs, from Lit resent tim: m committee have power, to send for persons and | | I perhaps ought to stato when way Tdo not think | ™ Pitas question how far the committee have a | statement, ‘which | Iaid before the commission, 10 | (io nee ee ae eo roe that those a pares eared rf ee Lai con- | this contract or any others will aecomplish the result it to go into that department? A. I do not think | show them the condition of the streets; I soon found | gathering garbage shall ring @ beil in advance of the panes . desired that I think it is impossibie at any time te | that is part of the Inquiry the committee ought to | that there was a great confict of opinion and facts | cart; such bell not been uniformly rung now The committee is composed of Senators Crowley | define definitely just how much money will be re- | take, in reference to reports and the reports | nor has it been during this time; the consequence is (president), Kennedy, Palmer, Banks, Creamer and pies from year to to the city of New Q Will you produce the books kept by youinthe | which were made by the then contractors; | that ple bring out ashes and garbage in the J, H. Kemper (sergeant-at-arms), ork clean.” Such avwinter a2 the present requires | street business under this contract and in| I made several efforts to get them to act | mo) and it 18 allowed to stand on the street for % an extraordinary expendit and J sup) it | which you have entered the amounts which you|in harmony with us in making reports, | the greater part of the day, and when the cart does Senator CREAMER sald—The object of this resolu- aon be impossible to comply with the wishes of | have pitid out di and the contractors partially consented. For a time. ton ofr by mye tn the Sout, forthe par | He Pele curing Gs a eung he a Pose of investigating the fact whether or not the | the weather, contract made by the commission appointed by the | ¢ Legislature in 1865 has been fulfilled; if it has, whether it was sufficient to keep the streets of the if said contract had been complied with; and still, if the streets of the city of New York did not satisfy the wish of the citizens to see what further legisla- tion, if any, was necessary in order to remedy the evil. The resolution is simply for the purpose of haying an investigation in relation to this question which has been so universally demanded by the citi- gens of this city, and which evidently from the con- ition of the streets at the present time has Justified them in their protest against the present course of ‘the contractor, or those who have charge of the leaning of the streets and the avenues of our city. EXAMINATION.OF MAYOR HOFFMAN. Mayor Hoffman having been sworn, was examined ‘as follows:— Q You area member of the Street Cleaning Com- Mission appointed by the Legislature of 1865, Ueve? A. Yes, sir. Q. How often does the Commission meet? A. The the bills were paid on the cel Commissioner and Mayot the necessary money would be advantageous. I t) should be done to com utters in front of their in case of fi property. : lteve another has been since appolnted, ing Wal- garbage Jectionable; Dave special mectings manienany.* month, but we | | Q. No dumping grounds could be provided on the } not’a subject which I oughé to be questioned about, | ling one side of Broadway an Mie OMe npr | ee lee a eee ie Q. How often is the contractor paid? A. ‘As a | hire ae Re ne q@ k that is a question which we have a right the, others this api ointment was made, I believe, Metnen you complain that the streets are not general rule, twice a month. permitted; if has been ‘said by some people who to ask. A. I shall be perfectly willing to if, was a member of the board, but not present | fatthfully and thoroughly cleaned? A. They are.not; . Who is the contractor or contractors? A. | make that a large number of the pri- estimates that there are not horses and carts What streets and avenues did you clean in the That is the Inspector Adam Stout? K. raon't ve leaned Jamies H Waiting, af assignee of the original con: | enough in this ety and Brockisn to take the. snow moath of February? “A. The crosuwaike aud some of | Xnow his name; Twill state that T took thie iman.| Ween Tees, ore creamed | BY, private | cont Q. In your opinton has this contract been cofmplied out of the streets here, and there is this diMfculty— | the gutters, although that was not my business; I | Walling, the inspector, in my own wagon to certain | between Tenth and Forty- streets; these with? ‘A. ‘The “Commissioners charged. with the | that he must Dreak ap tte ice tn Hrostwns verre, | Opened some of the mouths of the sewers. | Cioan= nok One DETUSt, DUli@ doce Sieacerr Srtae | arias OF eer cone ciao eaten } (repeat ). cleanes jem al —I ut @ dozen is; af 1e uty of making contracts and taking charge of things | large number of men were put at work at once, and | oli* ive uses, and Keeping the sidewalka aid end of a fortnight he reported them alles clean; ‘he | thesemtroats ave completely and thoroughly cloned: incident thereto have supposed and acted upon that eo oa oe that the contractors have literally com- plied with their contract, or rather substantially com- ge with the contract as far as to time would permit. Q. What method has been adopted by the eommis- was icked up and thrown the si 4 upon the east. Q. State the condition tn which the streets have _ ets which Mr. Whiting contracts to peerlig — | foes fps ing. Lf ga the con- Q. In your judgment there would be no difficulty it Is there not @ large number of crosswalks — been this winter, 80 far ag they came within your | clean he thumotentl done? A. Yeshe cleans off A. They had two fispettors the cit th his contract? | in cleaning Broadway? A. No, sir; but the other whch the snow bas not been removed? A. I shot own observation, and as to whether they have been | merely the loose rubbish and straw ‘and leaves all intd tee auetriote: Pee city being divided | streets would then complain that we were spending | not think 80; there may be a few. kept in a conveniently *passable condition for ve- | the ‘altny part behind; I do not hesitate to say that visita of each insy me! " rict Me ing under the super- | all the money on one street; I think it would stop & Q. Suppose ashes and garbage are thrown upon | hicles? A. With regard to the winter, we have had | half as much is paid by private individuals to keep rej to the comttn “1 io make ozaminstiongand great deal of complaint if it were eleaned. the snow in the streota, do you not understand that | unusually severe weather and an unusual ac- | a certain portion of the city clean as is paid by the eitniaviveuceied tie ons from time to time, Q. Is there anything in this contract competing under your contract you have to take it up just ae if | cumulation of snow and ice; I do not betieve | contractor, Mr. Whiting, for the work he gets done. eS wb pol the condition of the streets was | the contractors to open culverts on the line of Broad- | there was no snow? A. I think not. that any reasonable could expect that Q. Would it not bé r to do away with the pa a as to warrant you in bel.eving that the con- | way and keep the crossings inorder? A. Yes, sir. Q. Was it not the fact last year that the Board of | the vast accumulation of snow could be carted aw: public contract system and leave the cleaning of the th ‘as not complied with, what was . In — opinion has he done so? A.J have | Health made repeated complaints that you did not | by the contractors, as they were obliged to level it | streets to private individuals ag is the case in @ course adopted by the commissioners? | noticed that very generally the culverts and the sew- | keep. the streets clean ‘and. that Mr. Schultz ex- f into the streets to keep them in a passable condition | Albany? z It was so here formerly, but a A. Permit me to add _ something. Until | ers have been kept free and clear; Mr. Whiting has | hibited maps to you showing what stxects were | for frames but I also that the contractor ‘at diMculty would occur in ‘out @ very recent riod, during most of the | told me that there Were obstructions inside which it | clean? A. No; 1 never heard of the Board of Health | has omitted entirely, as I think, his duty in cleaning is plan in the more populous pi of ume when Mr. Shults was President of the Board of | was the duty of the Croton Board to remove; he has making any complaints. the gutters and crossings of intersecting streets; the | the city; tak ‘for instance, the Fourth lealth it was the practice, at the request of the | only to clean them at the opening; the crosswalks to . What was your object in taking this contract? | contract requires that all the snow and ice shail be | and Sixth wards, where there’ are elght or treet Cleaning Commission, for the captains of the | some extent have been opt clea this contract re- | A, ¥arious police precincts to receive from their patrol- i wo body's business, en every day or Pa! week reports of what streets | passable for vehicles and passengers; there are some Q. Do-you think you succeoded? A. Ido; I have | Broadway. Lo Mesa es oe hs — ‘ad been cleaned by the contractor under the pro- | that are not in that condition now. been inal these plague spots myself and know the Q. Has he levelled the snow in the streets? Th Q. Why not make the owners doit? A. The own- ions of his contract, the contractor having been Q. What proportion are not passable? A. I can- | ditference from formerly. those streets through which railroads paas I hare | ers live, perhaps, in Europe, or Jersey, which is pe | ag by the Street Cleaning Commission to | not state any proportion; I think very een nearly Q. In case you have.succeeded in giving New York-j scen the citizens attempt to level them and the rail- | about the same thing, and beyond the reach of the ty fy the captains of the differext precincts from | all of the narrow streets are not convenient and | @ “salubrious atmosph ” why did you want to | road people have prevented them. In my Ju ent | law. e to time at what day he would take | passable; it would be almost impossible, I think, to | discontinue the good Wor ? A. Because { am com- § here is a great evil for which the contractor not Q. There are other portions “of the contract not &p particular streets, or, at the close of | drive a cart over them; at the time of the paaengs of lained of continually, and articles get to my family } responsible. complied with in your opinion? A. I finda t he Gay, what particular streets had been cleaned; | the last semi-annual payment we did not deem them eaded “Away with him,’’ “Whitney ought to be Q. This must be remedied by legislative action? | many difficulties in the way; one difficulty is in es- hese returns thus made to police headquarters were | in such a condition ag to refuse payment, but it | han; atthe next lamppost;” my family have got } 4.“yes; for no one can make a narrow street passa- | tablishing a proper ‘standal \d aay what is falth- nsmitted to us at our seml-monthly meeting, and | always happens every winter that these streets are frightened at this, and ior their peace 1 wané to give thoroughly cleaned; itis dificult to say ipon these we acted, ade by our inspect urns seems to have been abandoned lately, they ving — us no returns for some weeks, per- 8 months. k Since then you have two inspectors only? A. ‘ince then two inspectors only. Q. What generally has been this report? A. The ort generally has been that the contractor has bwept the streets, with the exceptions I will after- ES) mention; that the ashes and garbage have 8 well as upon the returns | in a bad condition; it is no done, thing to be done ts for the m removed, as required by the contract, except ince tle snow has been upon the ground this winter; | Mayor, to expend suc! that during that time the contractor has kept the | sary to do that which not require to be done, fewer mouths open, and to some extent the street ,o Who are the inspectors? A. Messrs. Charles H. ‘Wayland and Adam Stock. r & Are these reports sworn to? A. X . You saw the coi Trond ded, or not a greater sum certainly, will cl |. How often do the inspectors report? A. The re- | certificate of the department authorized to do the | summer months are in ® iiithy condition, rhicinet seats dcctenen niin of Sarcacy oe. be pes thoroughly and completely. ¥ er eaeg are nted to the commission at the regular | work; We have supposed that Mr. Whiting was do- | and have been so since you have taken — you state whether they were kept in conveniently Q. That wonld depend on the emiclency and hon- mi-mon' meetings; and each report, I think, | ing as well ander this contract as any one could do | this contract. In these st ts the people are assable condition? A. 1 think they might have | esty of the police? A. They would do honest and ers a week, there being two reports handed tn | with the présent machinery on harm, and it would | compelled to leave their asises and garbage on | heen Improved by a little labor, but, as I said before, | eficient work for all the money that would be drawn om each inspector at every semi-monthly meeting. | be dificult to find any one else; further, if | the sidewalk, as they caunot trust their pails and | we fad an unusually severe winter. ’ | for their service out of the public treasury; I say }.@, And the Commissioners have no way of asei we were to stop his pay, the removal of ures out, fearing they may bestolen, This arises | — Q, ‘Have not some streets been utterly impassable? | further as to the personnel of the mode of doing the ashes, garbage, &c., would great inj taining as to whether this contract has been complic ‘with from time to time? A. None, except in respect to alleged omissions—general complaints from citi- gens, which are made to the Mayer. . Aremany made? A. Daring this winter very few complaints haye been received for the non- Temoval of ashes and garbage—tess than at any other time; in regard to the condition of the streets no fpecial complaints have been made, but complaints have been general through the press. Q. That does not argue that the condition of the Streets is not worse now than it lias been he: A. Ido not know that we have ever receive formal complaint that the contractor had not swept the streets or kept the snow from them, but ‘elation to garbage of New than befé jon. city in the U tract? jon Counsel, ng ita istons have not bee saw ac in a suit the service of @ notice upon bim; and this cont ry pon mM respectivel ‘assume and undertake the performance of thie sit; much thereof as shall then remain haperformed, in which | am ashamed of either in or out of doors; of them us #0 assume to perf tled to receive the compensation prov her with the entire reserved ten Comptroller at the end of fivon upon the execution of this all be applicable and apply to such suretics to perform the work aa aforesai manner and to the same extent as though they had been the origin: contractora under this contract, id sureties sball assume to ‘oresuld, the said work shall relet on’ account of the contractors, for the it remafa of the period provided for the cone e amount agreed to be pald 3 nar: the uew contract for said work, during {te dod ay | Seen’ oar weuin ive ce chee ‘under it, in excess of the such other costs and ex- ion h all cost and expense herein mentioned incurred by the Mayo: Commonality of New York afc work aforesaid, be the amount be paid by the contractors and their sureties, for lation of or default In, exeouting this contract, by the contractdr. otherwise tha agreed. id commissioners on any Ror for any cause other than Tegarded as reasonable and sub- into consideration the scope and object of the \e genergl manner of executing the provisi terms of this contract may be from time to time by the consent of the said forse contractors and their sure- and, as far as experience goes, I think, as a general principle, thebontenetone do as lit- tle work as possible outside of the contract. You have got this contract upon the city. I think the Com- missioners have endeavored to do their duty. If the city of New York clean and in a proper condition; and | Street Department were authorized to expend mone; to remove the snow from the Bi hei a tear: an treet — supervisors to raise | utterly im) ible" for vehicles? A. None, except kK, also, something | narrow streets which I have not seen; in all places'| :%8 to what was to be considered a thorough cleaning | unable fo lift the barrels of ashes from the and reel People to keep the | that came to my knowledge where snew was I gave | within the meaning of the words of the contract; | and dump them at once into the cart; instead of ice; the orders in this respect are not effectual; I have tried to have them amended, and I have not been successfal; I think that the Legislature should | from enact some Se requiring that to be done, and ure the person chai the streets should do it and charge it as a lien on the Q. The Legislature, I belleve, has passed such a law as to placing ashes and garba; but it has not been enforced? A, BY rests have been made under it. Q. Then, in your opinion, the present contract sys- tem is a failure, and not what the citizens require to have the avenues and streets cleaned? A. Yes; I think the present contract system is. Ibe- Q. Do you think it practicable to remove snow sheet the —s Soe city of yas cont A. It is 7 ether jon of expense; it wou! we to be off and sunk in the river. they cleaned some considerable et, supposing it would thaw; within twenty- circumstances from | four hours the mercury went down to zero, and ne 4 had a street filled with big lumps and boulders, to go over as rocks would be. quires that the streets shal! be kept conveniently | brious atmosphere. ; the practice of police re- | keep the snow and ice out of the Street Cleaning Commission are not responsible for making this contract; in order that I ay, be understood in respect to what I ‘ode I destre to observe now that if this contract is to be continued, if there is no power to terminate it, so that a general system can ferent from the contract system, I think the best Legislature to authorize some department of the city government in case of emergency, upon the requisition and direction of the jum as may be neces- the in order to make the streets as clean as they should be, and to meet the expenses incurred for that work the Supervisors should be authorized and directed to raise, from time to Nme, the necessary money by tax, upon the ry might ensue; in my judgment during the last suiumer and fall, and up to the commence- ment of the severe weather this winter, the streets ork under contract have been kept c , and, as far as I know, as clean as i any | have been th jo every Gay. ary s os no rail track through wea the snow has been ermanent es oper fe od mM , zens have cr to Make com- | thrown from the butldings and sidewalks. horses, &c.; now, I say thas these contractors have . low would this commission Proceed to annul use it does not accomplish anything. . What is your opinion, from your exporience | entirely failed in bringing about that promised re- A. For that I will refer you to the act, Which isa Som promise between those ant observation, as to the cleaning Of the streets and | sult; the same agents only are employed to clean the it and those Who took it, is ‘0 - ve} y cot or ow 2 e formerly ¢ yed, . fo Bee aces nein cichlids oe u gross out- | avenues by contract? A. All the narrow streets | streets that were formerly employed, with the ex. tract to in@uence you in favor of admit that some part of its complied with? A. If I Iition of things that led me to believe that ween the contractor and city there would NEW YORK HERALD, TUKSDAY, MARCH ¥, 1868—TRIPLE Suir think there is law ree the penalty. Not by any ordinance of the Common Council? A. TI believe not. Can you show by the reports and front the mane what streets were not cleaned by the contractor? The réports were made up at the office from Walling’s reports and from the reports of the sergeants of dis- tricts; on this map the streets that were cleaned are marked tn blue, the streets omitted to be cleaned are all marked in red, Q. Do these maps cover the nine months you were President of the Board? A. They do, Q. For the week ending 14th December, 1866, I see one map is nearly co’ with red lines showing the streets were not cleaned af all during that week? A. Yes. ‘ Q. Also fora week In October? A. Yes, that wad an unusually bad week, ne Were these reports made from week to week? . Yea. 'Q. They receding wituess, He thought that $200,000 would be required to clean Broadway from the snow nice such @ winter as present; has received $1,' under his contract; was willing to relieve the cit) from the contract so far as he was concerned; thought that dumping the snow from a pier head would be proper and practicable, The committee adjourned to three P, M. Afternoon Session. EXAMINATION OF JACKSON 8, SCHULTZ. Jackson 8. Schultz examined by the chairman—Q. You are a resident of New York? A. Yes. Q. Were you at any time, and if so when did you become and how long did you continue to be, Prest- dent of the Health Board of this city? A. Substan- tially for about one year, commencing in the Spring of 1866 till abont two months ago, a State in detail and as fully as you are able what action you took, while President of the Board of Health, in reference to the streets and avenues of the tract aha be" ai within twenty-four hovrs ‘ly, shall, in writing, contract, or 90 an policemen watching me, and two inspectors; all the be | Deople in the city watcHing mes Pers & Did you pay the inspectors for watching you? A. No, J am not inthe habit of doing soyening : id not want the contract for any other purpose except to show, that Uus city could have a galubrious at- mosphere, : & When did yon take the assignment of the four- fifths of this contract? A. I think some time in Sep- hemes, 1866, but to take effect from the Ist of ugus' . Do you know a gentleman by the name of Sands, Haring an interest in this contract? A, No, sir, nel- ther directly nor indirectly; my motive was, as soon as | could get things in a proper condition, to give purposes to serve, and I would like to give it up to-day if the State will return me my money and if the city be benefitted in any way, which I hope it will; I form ag afore- ided ter in the same In case form the sald fmmediately there its existence and the would take these reports in evi-- be put to in the prem id th wrote to the President of the Board of Health that I | city under the present contract for cleaning—what | dence as correct, and make out {he maps accord- or, he "contract Wisied him to furnish me with suggestions as to the | action¥on took in the matter, and In what condition | {ugiy? “a. Yess they would thke tuo report of. the 1, in cleaning locations where the cholera was to be most | you found the streets, &c, A. Immediately after | foreman of a district who would positively swear e & until such new | gevere, and I received no communications except as | the organization of the Board I took my that the sti his district were cieaned durin, gd gee {2 | to one or two places; every possible obstacie has been | Seat as one of the Cos ipimioniand by virtue of my that io ny y . ‘and shall be | thrown in my way, but J think 1 prevented the | office of President I undertook to make myself ac- en the police would Q apart that they were not? A. Yos; in reference to shi P head docks, pier and wharves they would report that they could not be swept on account of encumbrances on the dock—machinery or cat I around; the contractor has taken this of the matter— wrongfully, as I think—not to clean the docks, piers, &c., unless the whole space was clear; that if encumbered only in with cargo or other encumbrance he was not ob! to clear any portion of that slip or dock at all, whereas I always be- ‘Thiscon- | cholera here. If it cost me more than the amount of is herein pro- | my confract I would perform it in regard to its very that this contract | letter, as I did in respect to those ue spots in this city. I superinteaded and helped wash out the gutters in the Sixth ward, and took away the de- composed matter, both vegetable and animal, that jong | Was in Baxter street, and it was, so far as atmos- phere is concerned, as pure a8 Broadway. Q. 1 want to know from your books, or from you, how much it cost to do what you have done since quainted withthe matter; I found there were no sys- tematic reports made of the condition of the streets that were any way reliable; I thereupon applied to the police authorities for ald to gather such facts as I could rely on in reference to the condition of the streets; it was then made the duty of sergeante in each district of the elty to report to tho several sta tion houses as to the condition of the streets in the various precincts, and especially that all omissions in compliance with the contract should be reported the time you have held the con- tract for the inspection of this committee? A. I am he can as to | not prepsred to answer.at this moment; as ope of these Senators has said I have not complied with the contract I do not want to lose my money; as‘l said before, 1 am ready to give up the contract. Q ce you held this contract have all the streets, in all the ‘sessons of this year, been kept conve- niently passable erence? A. So far as I under- stand they have Qa "Are share not mi streets in. this city now come round the contents of the boxes or barrels are scattered on the eromne in a general mass of stuff, mal the streets look very bad and much encumbered with this offal and debris; we labored to show Mr. Whiting the impropriety of thrughoettaln districts of the city at certain times rough certain distric e clty ai cleaned as represented; but through the action of | go that the citizens of the districts might know abou! the contractors this course fell into disuse and we | what time the carts would come round; but he neg- were thrown back on our own resources and to | lected to do this; I think he refused to establis! our own reports and we continued them most of the such system; Mr. Whiting has neglected, as time that I was in office; I found that there was a Tintnk to properly remove ashes and garbage; he ¢onstant conflict of statement of fact and of opinion | sends round a cart with one man, and he is totall this went on. The inspectors of the wards under the street contractors were to make written returns to the station houses every night setting forth the num- be Gol gt a if was, ete receipt - these ‘ors? re e duty of the sergeant to and ins) tito strbute and to mee if ther eee really estimate cates of the these bills, it | those which have & railroad track and two or three m snow or | directions to have it cleared out. pes Are there not to-day @ large number of streets hi e city the gutters of which are not- kept free Mr. Hoffman, rags if and others of the cleaning com- ieston agreed cS Page an se pector of our own, an doing so he dumps the barrels in the street and who should be under our direction and a sworn shovels ft into the cart, to the great annoyance of the citizens; and so great is this nuisance in snow and ‘ce? A. That is not in my.contract. | officer of the board; we appointed Mr. Walling | the summer time that people are compelled to Q@ Go outside of your contract. Yes,sir. 1as- | as uch inspector, and for a few weeks | cross from one side of the street'to the other while the with cleaning | certain the condition of the atreets from my inspect- | the reports that came from him were so unfavorable | ash man is going through this practice; this prac- ors; I have one in each ward, excepting in'one, two to the contractors that on several occasions we or three wards in the upper part of the city. complaint an omaitted to pay the contractors, and in consequence tice has been a subject of great monstrance; stnce it has been complajned of directly Te- Q. Has Broadway during this winter been kepi | a great diMiculty ensued; I kept up my reports, how- | Mr, Whiting has had to remedy it by sending out two on the streets, | conveniently passable for vehtcles and in the condi. | ever, all the time; I compared them with Waliing’s, | carts, but {t would be more reasonable to mind es; and a few ar- | tio in which it should be for the true interests of | but’ we soon | nto find a difference be- oe to send out two men _ with one cart, as the barrels ought to be lifted and emptied into the cart at once; I submit that Mr. Whiting did not take'these facta Into consideration and did not exert himself to remove the ashes and garbage as he was bound to do in tight carta; the men come with open wagons through which the liquid stuff rans into the streets, the eMuvia from-which collects myriads of fies tt infest the streets all day; the theclty? A. For a reasonable number of velicles in my judgment it has, Q. Can you tell about the amount of money you expended during the month of February in cleaning the streets and avenues? A, I cannot, % Did you spend $10,000? A. Yes. 000 Yes. Q 30,000? ‘A. I cannot say whether it wos $30,000; {t may amount to more; that, I think, i bega: tween'them; Walling after a' while got making report quite different, and quite in harmony with, as I thought, the interests of the street contractor— 80 much go that I lost all confidence in his reports; and I have reason to suppose I then took eficlent means of rapier whether the streets were being cleaned or not; at the time I left the commis- sion this one inspector only was appointed, but I be- upon consultation with Mr. Brown, he approves at the time of the appointment, these streets are completely and thoroughly cleaned, and the difference between the condition of these: streets and those for the cleaning of which Mr. Whiting contracts is seen in this, that the private pind thoroughly cleaned and the other streets are not. rtion of it; the ice lear. into the middle of nirlgnetst Q. During the week of February. in which the 224 came was there not a large number of crosswalks in Brosdway from which snow and ice were not re- a8} moved? A. On the west side it was clear, but not. Pare the streets irrvariably as clean, and seeing this I found it was in vain to expect from hima truthful report. Q. You supposed, then, he was in the interest of the contractor? A. That ts the only inference, sir. [y object was to give the city of New York a salu- | removed from the crosswalks; that has not been at- ten families in each house, what ou; tended to except, perhaps, on the sidewalks on | pedy'a ’ to be every- ble when there is a great accumulation of snow thrown upon either side for the purpose of clearing “the railroad track. é Q. Is there not a city ordinance: providing for this, that the railroad companies are eon oy to keep streets clear? A. I don’t know of such; there is an ordinance to prevent salt beiag put on the track, but none to prevent them throwing the snow into large heaps on either side of the track. Q. Is there any law Pena the owners of pro- erty on either side of the street throwing the snow ck on to the street? A. That is a question; it has been tried, however, only by brute force; in several instances the occupants of the houses have resisted in throwing the snow back on the track, and fights have ensued and the police have arrested all the parties; I can only state that great inconvenience arises to the street cleaners from the action of the railroad companies in this matter. fully an what would be right. Q. Turning to the seventh specification of the con- tract what do you say as to its fulfilment? A. I say that with the exception of the streets named the terms of the contract might have been complied with and the streets rendered passable for vehicles; I mean the streets back of Broadway. I say that all the crosswalks and all the gutters should have been kept clear of snow and ice; that I say Mr. Whiting has not done; -with the exception of the main ave- nues, like Broadway and intersect streets, I have not seen but with rare exceptions this work done. + This system of putting the streets and avenues under the control of the police contemplates going on from year to year keeping them thoroughly clean, and at the end of each year sending in an estimate of the outlay to §°, to the Tax Levy for the year? A. Yes; my impression is that a less sum than is now of the contract to | this thing up. gutters; the present Q. Are you losing money by this contract? A. I do not think that is a fair question, I stated to you before that all | want is to get my money back. Q. I think it is a falr question to ask whether money is to-be made by giving this “salubrious mosphere?’ A. | think that by performing that con- tract to the letter money may be made. Q. Have the streets and avenues been kept ina proper condition’ A. In my judgment they have een kept ina goed condition; thgre may be some exceptions; from the first I have removed 1,000,000 lots of stuif from the city of New York, and it now has the most salubrious atmosptiere in the world, Q. There is a difference of opinion about “salubri- ous atmosphere.” It may exist a Yonkers, but cer- tainly it does not in this cityy A. I ditier with you. Mr. Creamer—There are certian streets here, par- ticularly cn the east side of the «city, that during the sald ought inaugurated dif- contract does be suspended, and lect of the contrag tor to have his carts A. Yes; I saw two especially, Hague and Ferry streets, to-day, that not a vehicle had passed through in five or six weeks, The snow has been lying on them to the depth of from four to five feet. Q. They were not levelled through? A. There ts it at present—I say the horses and. carts em- ployed are all inadequate, under the present system particuiarly; when the city made this contract for ten years it was distinctly understood that we were to have a permanent organization, ton street, Second and ‘Third streets aud many others Mr. Whiting—I will prove by ner “my men that the carts rage upon the people t to be abated, be f tits city,’ a nuisance that sq it does not provide for } at least it leaves doubts Wactor, of which he takes , and the result 18 citizens here have to through which the railroads run are impassable ex- cept upon the tracks. ¢. What about those streets where there are no railroad cars running? A. I can name_ two streets which I saw to- , and both of these streets are tm- ception of a few ash carts and a thoroaghiy inade- quate class of persons to attend to the work. Q. What betier means can be adopted, in ascertain- ing the condition of the streets undey: the contract system from your reports or by qalling on the the complaints were mostly tit tr passable except W er and d ity; in Fei captains and sergeants of the diffrent precincts find ashes; that does not relate to the ashes and ground to suppose that @ jury would . Whiting—I deny: tating advantage of any- | Brest 1 saw aie ov watt Rinses Gounit Ronee ak whose duty. tt Would: be "to travel on estab. ‘arbage thrown into the street, bnt as to that put Let fe t, the city and against the con- | thing. | not draw above 600 pounds through {t without great | shed beats? A. I think the ‘police are the into boxes to be removed by the contractors daily, as in favor of stopping the contract, Mr. Creamer—Proalwfay itself, without gotng out | diMonity; it is one of the principal business streets | best Judges you can possibly have. I think §uentioned in the contract. Q. Do yon not think that there are hundreds of | of it, is sutticieut to show that some reform is neces- | of the city. they have a pride in keeping; thelr districts Q. Has the contractor received his semi-monthly | Jurymen who do not know that the streets ere in a@ | sary, ane that this contract should be annulled, If Q. Is not that the general condition of all the | in order, and they are and alwayg have been, very ent for the last half of February? A. It has | bad condition? A, Yes, and there areagood many | vou think, M Wilting, that you, as contractor, have | streeta on cither aide of Broadway? A. I think so. anxious to give all possible inforsyations I think they m audited. courts which would set aside the verdic t. i performed I Go hot believe the citizens Q. Has not that been the condition generally, all | have been kindly disposed toward the contractors b; } Q@ Doyou know the amount? A. 1 cannot give i your opinion would be suMictent | think you tia throngh the winter, since the fall of snow? “A, I | aiding them in every way; by anything I have said dhe precise figures; it would be one-twenty-fourth sof New York clean In ordinary . Whi make general allegations, When | cannot say as to all winter, but for a great portion of | do not wish to be understood ‘as saying that Mr. part of the contract, less ten per cent. A. Tam unable to name any sum. you make sp mes they can be answered. the winter. Whiting has not been as energeste tn he Work as his Q He has been paid the same amount th Q. Assuming that you had the power to enforce Mr. Cre © only in ‘Q. For the last six woeks? A. Yes, for tho last | predecessors; I think he has: jnst as energetic as month as for an er previous half? A. Yea, your orders? 4. 1 think in ordinary years the money | Broadws re. Ashes | four or six weeks, 2 | pang perhaps, who have chedted him. Q Did the inspectors for the month of February | provided by tt et is suMcient; [think in the ause they are not removed Q. What do you say as to keeping the streets and Q. Was there not universal complaint, withont to- certify that the work was performed, the streets rat winter it would require an enditure of for puryose have not | gvennes clean by the contract system? A. In my | gard to any party or clique or to the complaints of kept ‘in @ cleanly condition and the contract com- T $200,000 more. 5, and stages | judgment no contract can be drawn; no specifle use | the press, that the streets and ayenues of the city ied with? A. I think {t would be better for you to t practicable to make some legis- on account of | of words is possible to draw up avontract under | Were ia a very bad condition? 4. I saw a good deal ave the written reporta of the ins ors; but the allroad companies to remove the which the streets of New York can be | of unjust complaint in the public press in regard to substance of them was that the ashes and garbage racks? A. Yes, sir, and it ought to Q. You heve acquired con- | kept satisfactorily clean under ali cireum- | this matter; we have had a very severe had been removed, the mouths had n kept dl nd not as itis now at the expense of the | siderable kne a4 to cleaning streets since you | stances; when we have cholera or sickness | winter, and I do not believe that the open, and I think the phraseology was substantially vet to say that in the fran anted by | have taken your contract? A. Thave some; I think | we want one condition of things, which | Whole’ amount of Whiting’s eontract would that the streets were In as good a condition as the | the Leg ature that has not been ¢ it would co $25,000 0 $50,000 to clear Broadway | might be omitted uncer other circumstances, and | cart oi the snow; I do not think he could be ex- ‘weather aud pecullar character of the winter would | thing else been provided whieh pr from the Battery to Union squ when We have a very severe and inclement winter we posted by his contract to attempt tt; I do not think permit. : the citizens, no knowledge tat any of the « want an extra amount of services rendered, and no | that $2,000,600 would have carted off all the snow What is your opinion with reference to the con- TESTIMONY OF JAMES R, WITTING. rested in this cont he time it was | contract can contemplate those various states of | tint has fallen in the city this winter; besides there éitlon of the streets of New York, of h you are Mr. Whittng having been sworn deposed as fol. | made; I am willing to surrender the contract on | things; in my judgment ft is next to impossible to | is no piace to put the snow; I don't think there were the head? Is there, in your opinion, any necessity | jow: 1 reside in South Yonkers, Westchester | being retmbureed, have a contract so drawn up and so executed as togive | carts enoagh in (he United States to cart it all off in for any farther legisiation; if 80, In what direction? | county; 1 wish to say in the beginning that If Q. Will you state what, If any, profit has necrued | satisfaction to the citizens under all cirenmstances; | & week. A. L think the streets of tho city arc in a very bad | the State will pay me back tuis money they shall | to you since you made the purchese and patd | Ihave a distinct idea of what should be done; we Q. What about the propriety of carting the snow condition, and, as a general rule, I think there 18) have the contract that they paid four-fifths of | $200,000? A. That is @ question Which I think im- | have in this city, tn every district, two or more’ po- | from iwayf A. I think thas couldbe done; F beceasity for further legislation, 9 | $200,000 for, and there will be no litigation about tt; | Pé inent. licemen over the required number; ten per cent of | think one avenue couid be kept clear. Q. What would you suggest as Mayor of the otty during the term of the con f expect to be retun- Q. My question 1s whether you will state to the } the force are fit for actual duty at ail times, and these Q. Take the snow in Broadway, what in an orai- A. I am hardly prepared to suggest any plan, as | pursed; I had a higher and better motive than to | Coinmittee how much profit sou have realized | are assigned to certain squads for temporary duty; | Nary season would it cost to keep the street clear of treet cleaning is so dis'iact from any plan of the | make doliars and cents out of it, but | want to get | from this contract since you became tts assignee? | these men could be made to perform all the inspec- |,snow? A. Withont the use of Croton water it would bry / Dosh t. Ihave been opposed for along time | my money back If! can; 1 do not wish to fatl inthe | A. I prefer to answer that question to-morrow, after | tion duties performed by the subordinates of the | cost more than $100,000, to this piecemeal legislation which has been applied | performance of any part of that contract; I say to- | 1 shail have consulted my copartuers on the subject. | Street Department, and conld relieve the city Q. Would you syate what in your Judgment was the to the city of New York; this system ts far from | day, notwithstanding all the clamor that has been | 1 think it would be impracticable to remove the | of much expense by their employment in | amount of work,done ander this contract since you What it ought to be; there onght to be some system | raised against me, tiat my object was not to make | Snow from Broadway in such a winter as we have | that way without any additional expense; one | were President of the Board of Hesith, and what the adopted to place the thing under some responsible | money, but to improve, as I have done, the salubrity | had. My opinion is that the city of New York could | hundred and fifty men could be spared from actual | work could be done for? A. I made ‘a fair estimate head, either the Mayor, or somebody else, to whom | of the city. be cleaned three times a week, from Fourtéenth street | police duties to do that work; then I submit this | to myself; I went to every ward and got the value of the people could look in case of failure to carry out Q. Do you think you have complied with your con- | to the Battery, if we could have sufficient Croton or lice acting In co-operation with the Board of | the service rendered for several weeks, and I made anyt ing if the matter of cieaning the stretts is to | tract? A. 4 do, to the best of my ability; I think 1 | river water to wash after sweeping. Health, but working principally under the Pol!ce Com | vp my mind, from all the information I conid gather, be kept distinct from the general organizavion of the | have fj Hy performed it, andi Know T have done Q. How much would be necessary, in your judg- | missioners, are the proper sons to clean the | that Mr, Whiting was making $140,000 or $150,000 city government {t is better for this committee to | work Ree and above the contract. amounting to | ment, for remuneration for doing all thatia necessary | city, and can dott for much less money than now, | net profi. report some plan than me to express an individual | ¢3,900; I have not seen auy complaint from any indi- | to be done to keep the streets clean? A. I think nos | and do it thoronghly and Company, .,& Is that your belief? A. Yes; T took as the basis opinion, vidual not attended to. jess than $750,000, and under such a winter as now I Q. Would you give the control of the cleaning of | Of my estimates the three months of May, June and G. In your opinion this prosent, contract ts not |g, citizens now think that {t is usotess to make | do not think if could be done for that the city to the Pollce Commissioners? A. I think I made every effort to find out the cost, and evhicient? A. Ido not think it is; } Zo further than complaints? A, A citizen has never made a com- Q, That $760,000 would keep the strects of New | should sir; there are other considerations; the | that is my estimate of the net profit. ‘ I do not think any cgP%act ever made Will | piaint that has not been ettended to, nor have I had | York in a proper condition? A. Yes slr. station houses are located in portions of the city Q. Why was not a notice served upon Mr. Whiting é npiish the result, any excepting verbal ones, which have been at+ ‘The further examination of ex-Judge ‘q@niting was | where complaints oan be readily made; the captains | that his contract had terminated through nou- 4. What power is res*fyed in this present stréet | tended to. o# of the proviston® of this contract are to this city ant proteot the public healthy et & of en as regards the cleaning of Bré diture m y, for the period of work hall be performed under the im- i medias eipervinion Ohty If the City In- spret ) at any time, con tere eee tcetare | began to snow, as my books will show. have (asied id any reapect 0 comply with any of the Obliga- Q. Have you not failed to com jndginent; I have cleaned three thousand two hun- Gred loads of snow and ice out of Broadway sinc Q, Are you not at all times required to gather the postponed till to-day, to enable him t produce the | would then be held responsible for thé condition of | performance of the conditions of the con © caning contract to *nnul it, in case it is not com- Wit- | books of the Street Cleaning Departm’-nt, the contract | thelr precincta, and thus an agcountability can be | tract? A. We did not give him formal notices plied with? A, 1 will refer to the section of the con- t; | with Mr, Johnson, and the assigr,mont of this con- | established that yon cannot get in any other | we, gave him frequent notices of his omla- traets it 1s Stefed in the ninth section of the contract, i | tract to him, department of the city goyormment; I think for the | eons, ond ihese are matiers of record; we Which is 28 follows: am willing to get out of The contract to-morre Mr. John L. Brown, being sworn, testified na fol- im now expended, $494,000, the work could be | gaceriained from Corporation Counsel O'Gorman Jows:—I own two-fifths of on .nfth of the atreet con- tract—myself, Knapp & De'voe and the original con- tractors, and they own ‘che balance of the fifth; I sold to J. KR. Whiting I, September, 1804; I sold the whole out for $260,0.9; 1 have no power or contro} in it now; | think, gecording to the season, that the ly with the contract thoroughly and completely performed; my impres- way? A. Not in my sion is that for $150,740 less the same Work as ia now done ean be done. Q. Have yon any knowledge whether the Police Commiasioners do not now compel the oevinpants houses to CLean and keep the gutters clear’ A, No, we could not make ® new contract if wo dis- this, and for thig reason the commisstonérs juded hot judicions to go further, a the examination of the witn?s<, nintitee Adjourned til ten o'olock ,¢hia inotalags CITY POLITICS. —~ ‘The Presidential Question—Tho Siate of Partiee—Division in the Republican Ranks Tammany Triawphant—The Gubernatoriul Election. The all-absorbing question of impeachment and the daily recurring themes of fresh interest cons nected with the coming trial of the President for high crimes and misdemeanors to s great extent keep local politics in the background, But as in the grandest epochs and most thrilling events there will be those who turn from the great drama enaoct- ing before them to ply their petty avocations—Ther- nadiers, who hang on the edge of battle to strip the wounded; so even in this moment, when for the firas time in the history of the country the President of the republic stands impeached before the world, the petty game of local politics has its peculiar interest for the few. But this, no doubt, is as It ought to be. There can be no cessation of any of the parte of the great machine; each plece must work tu {ts allotted groove and perform its destined work; and though great occasions will arise, attract- ing from their usual course of life tens of thousands of apeople, yet will thelr place and the former services in the work of life be filled and performed by others. Local politics, it is true, presents buts limited field for operations. at present. The lead ers are for a time at rest, but weaving quietly thefy plans for the future. With them it is Just now as with Senators in Congress, they are keeping matters im abeyance until after the result of the impeachment question, The aspirants for office, however, are looking eagerly forward to the opening of the politi cal campaign, and counting their chances of victory ordefeat. It is true the spoils to be contended for are not of the greatest value, nor are they such as fall generally to the share of the rank and file. There are no-county offices to fill, and no transferences from any of the city cribs to make, by which a number of present “dns” will have to vacate tm favor of a number of present “oute” There is, however, @ great attraction in polities, and-no matter how little the stake to be played fos may be, or how distant the day of contest, the inter est inthe result never flags. Tothe outside or casuat observer the prize at times would hardly seem wort all the energy of purpose and untiring zeal spent ti» its attainment; but it is the sequences which follow even the most trivial success in politics that give zest and value to’ the efforts of party leaders, Members of Congress, after their great impeachment feat, have left the capital and scattered themselves over the Eastern States, turning themselves into politicaP “drummers” and stump agitators in endeavoring te turn the doubtful scale in favor of republican or democrat. The Presidential campaign overshadows all others just now, even that of impesehment, New and unexpected occurrences are making an@ unmaking Presidents, in the minds of party leaders, to an extent never dreamed of before. Thechanos of the favorite of yesterday pales its ineffectual fires in the rising prospects of the favorite of to-day. Im the certainty of the impeachment and remoyat of President Johnson, Ben Wade is the loadstar that at- tracts the aspirants for Presidential favon A new Gabinet, of course, cry embryo Secretaries of State, of the Navy, of the Interior, &c. New Commissioners ofthe Revenue, new Custom House Collectors, Post- masters and‘ Marshals, ejacalate a host of place’ hunters, whose only chance for office Hes in the very ‘uncertainty of the pursuit after it. It is often the’ race of the hare and the tortoise, the slow and sure game winning in the end—the result of the race ia the fable being a wonderful eneouragement to the politicat tortoises who are entering the course. One thing is certain—that there never. was a cleanee sweep ever made bya new Executive than is ex- pected to follow the succession of Ben Wade, of Ohio, to Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, in the White House, and the aspirants fer ofMfce are proportionably numerous and elated, ‘The Chase star has risen considerably ithe horizon, and the radicals are beginning to have revived hope in their first favorite for the fall campaign. The Congressional stumpers sre out in the fleld full of the Chase idea, and are moving heaven and earth for the success of the republican ticket in Maine and New Hampshire and other Eastern States. The Grant star has waned in the radical firmament in propor- tion as that of Chase has brightened. This has given hope in a quarter where hope in the result of ang Presidential contest seemed to have died out, The great mass of the democratic body, who for a tind were ready to follow their leaders after any will o* the wisp candidate for the Presidency, whether he was & one star man or a thirty-seven star man, have taken @ short turn, and now stand resolved to go for Grant, no matter whose nominee he inay be. They reckon on him a3 @ conserva- tive man who will stay the further encroachments of Con; upon the constitutional authority of the Executive before they go too far or become a source of danger in the future. They fear a day of retaliation or reprisal on the part of some dent, with the prestige of military successes and the devotion of an army and navy at his service, who may contend with - a future Congress for his just powers, and thereby lead to disastrous consequences to the re | Aten ‘This dread issue they judge may be averted in time by the election of Grant, whose patriotism and devotion to the constitution will blend safely with his no-surrender principles should Congress further encroachments while he occupied the Pros dential chair, THE STATE OF PARTIES.” The democratic leaders are themselves without @ head. They look in vain among their own ranks for an acceptable man, and can find not one whom they could select as their standard bearer. Tho Vallan- dighams and Pendietons, the Seymours and Doolit tles, are completely out of the question. woulda’ touch them with length of a pole. They might ipe to them, but they could not dance, and there 5 no use at this late day in bringing them forward or trytng to press them upon the ae In this city and State the most acceptable man at present to all parties is General Grant. In one of - these articles a few weeks ago it waa stated that the “ary goods” party of this city were dissatisfied with General Grant, and that further aiiitation with the radicals in Congress would cost. the General the sup- ort of that party. This has come to the ry is politicians don’t know where to turn for @ cand . Commodore Vanderbiit declines to fra ternize with them, the only ambition he hes to rival Grant being centred in a competition witty him as to their relative knowledge and love of horse flesh on the road. If the’Generai would only concede this hobby to the Commodore, the former Taay be President and live forever for anything the Commo- dore cares. The Tammany leaders are inclined ta with the rank and file this time. They can’t h themselves, and will make choice of a necessity. In State and city politics, however, the party is rapidly increasing in strength fast over~ shadowing all other party organizations. The republican, party in this city is divided and broken up into factions that can never be made to unite and harmonize again. In any political con- test that may arise they will never again be able successfully to compete with their democratic breth~ ren, or, With the aid of the State vote, to defeat the democratic ticket, Fithian, chairman of one repub- lican committee, and Spencer, president of another, are engaged in deadly conflict. The former is charged with being a mere tool in the hands of a Fenton clique that doeires to rule the republcan party for Ita purposes, the chief operator in the case Being Waldo Hutchings. This branch composes @ good many of the weak-kneed republicans, who are more anxious to be officcholders wader any party than to be the exponents of republican yirtne aa represented in their persons out of office. The Tam- many ring controls everything outside of the Prest- dential question, It is now she only live party ib the city. Mozert is gone back once more into a state of decadence, from which tt can never revive—not even ander the fostering care of Fernando himself, though trusting to it as @ means to compel Tammany to cede to hin the rents of bis Nassau street building. When Tammany makes this concession to Fei lo, then the Mozart organization will disappear among the things of the past. THR DEMOCRATIC UNION PARTY. The democratic Union party was sold over by tte. leaders—Miles O'Reilly, Waterbury and others—last, fall to Tammany. Theae leaders stha claim to belong to the party, but they are not recognized by the rank gnd file. ‘The great body of the party know tliat these men made these bargains, and that they are looking to Tammany for the fulfilment. Water- bury i to be a Taanmany candidate for a jadgoship. Other offices ate promised to others as the price of their disloyalty to the democratic Union brethren. Within the organization, however, there are some ood, honest, sterling men, and they are determined to get rid @f the evil induence yt which still clings around the party and they intend to still continue the fight against the ring and ail ita corrupt associations, plots and schemes. Tammany is insidiously @xtending its power; it has got Bron- nan on the Police Commission Board, This was one of Its baygains at the last Mayoralty elegtion. Bill Tweed i again to take his place as chairman of the Board of, Supervisors; and go the ring ts extending _ wid encircling Within it all the offices iu the citys THE GURERNATORIAL CONTEST is Inning to assume new igty— Itis said that the democratic nomination will be tendered to John T. asin (complimentary), he, aa the programme 1s laid down, to decline in favor of Geo! G. Bar- nard, It 1s also said that that virtu men, Mayor Hoffman, ts to be quietly sh ae republican side there are several kpoken of, Jolin A. Griswold, of Troy, favorable mention, All immediate action, is in abeyance, and little stir will be made political arena till after the excitement peachment question at Washington lulls