The New York Herald Newspaper, March 20, 1875, Page 5

THE CANALS. Governor Tilden’s Message to the Legislature. Fictitious Improvements and Profitable Jobs Exposed. THE «FRAUDS =X “UNBALANCED BIDS.” A Proposed Reduction of Taxes of a Million and Three-Quarters, THE STRATEGY OF CONTRACTORS. Details ofthe Extraordinary Waste and Corruption. CONTRACTORS PAID FOUR TIMES OVER. Remedial Measures Proposed in Detail. w YORE, EXECUTIVE OHAMBER, raza oF Ny Aunayy, March 19, 1875. TO THE LEGISLATURE :— I have received @ petition from forwarder, boatmen and otners engaved in transportation on the canals of this State, representing that the de- pressed state of their business calls for legisl: thon, and necessitates a reduction of tolls, and requesting me to look into the condition of the | canal commerce, and to make guch recommenda- tions to the Legislature as will lead to measures of relief. Respectful consideration ts aue toso large and Umportant a clags of cur busincss men. They are proprietors of about six thousand boats, which are said to give emplovment directly to thirty thousand persons, and indirectly to twenty thou- sand others, They are in the peculiar relation of partners of the State in a vast Internal commerce; | owning and managing the equipment while the State owns and manages the bowy of the canals. | The State, therefore, not only has @ common tn- terest in the preservation of the joint business, but has a distinct and special interest in the ability of 1ts partners to continue to perform their functions, without which the joint business could not be transacted. It cannot afford to suffer the equipment of the canals to be broken up; to allow a dispersion of the traMe, which, if once lost, wil not be easily regained, or to omit any Measures of re‘renchment tn expenditure or economy of administration which will enable it and its partners to meet successfully the increas- toz competition of the railways with each other and with water transportation, Impressed with the considerations which in- duce a liberal policy on the part of ‘the State towards its partners in the internal commerce it bas seen fit to undertake, I am, on the one hand, predisposed to every practical and just measure for eniranchising trade and industry and cheap- ening the interchange of commodities, and, on the other, to listen to the rightiul complaints of our people agai the extreme burden of our present taxation and the prodigal and wastciul expenditure in connection with the canals, which ig one of tue main causes of such taxatio T have, therelore, felt it my duty to devote the incervais of time I could command to a personal investigation of the subject, 1n order to be able to Fecommenc to you such specific measures as the exigency seems to require, in the direction mdi- eared in the following passage of tue Message [ had the honor to communicate at the beginning of your session :— A careful investigation whether the net incomes of the canals retained cannot ve increased ought to pi vede a surrender of what iittle now exists. Or omept a \- ng [ane ould be scrutinized with a view to retreuc’ heir cost and to obtuiuing the largest possible resuits from the outlay. * * * Ail improvements should he governed by a plan and purpose leading to definite re- sults, and. instead of scattering expenditures on imper- fect construcuons, should aim to complete and make available the specitic parts undertaken. Unity of ad- ministration and ol system, boch in respect to repairs and improvements, should be established. INCOME AND DECREASE OF THE TOLLS, Exhibit Aisa compurative mouthly statement Of the tolls on all the canals for the years 1873 and 1874. it shows that during the months of October and November and a few days of December, which fali within the present fiscal year, m wnica period about one-quarter of tne tolls of tne year were col- lected, the decrease of tolls 1s [rom $886,123 27 to $633,152 95, or $197,990 G1. ‘The decrease 13 about ne-fourth of that portion of the toils. nding decrease for the months of May, June, Jaiy, Augast aad September, i875, as compared with the same months of 1874, woulu amount to $600,000. That would leave the tolls for tne fiscal year of 1875 at $2,087,000, Assuming theiu to realize $2,250,000, we are hext tu find the probable edect o1 the reduction (n rates which 1s now proposed, EFFECT OF REDUCTION hibit Bisa starement of th duction in the rates proposed tolls of Ube calendar year of 1874. la similar computation be made on $2,250,000, Instead Oj $2,647,070, the reduction of receipts to be produced by the lowering of the rates would be $634,532. uals ior the fiscal year euding September 20, 1875, would be $1,715,163. Tis diminution oj toils presents in a strong light fect of the re- omputed on the fot only tae general depression of commerce, bat | particularly that of the speoctal business of the | ooutmen and forwarders. TAXATION FOR CANAL PURPOSES DURING FIVE YRARS FROM OCTOBER 1, 1869, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1874. The pupite wind 18 apt to be contased by the | Various Methods in wiuch the complex accounts of toe State are kept. A carefui analysis and comparison of those accounts enables the follow. ing resuits to be stated in a simple torm:— The total amount of the tolls on ail the ca. fals during the five fiseal years ending September 3), 1814, was... cevaseses ees $15,088,961 75 The augregate ot ordinary expenses and dinary repairs during’ the same period WAS. eee esse eebeesceeees The apparent surplus was... ‘ ‘The aggregate of extraordinary repairs dur- ing ile same five years was. $10,960,624 84 Deduct the appaient surplus... 6,855,727 52 Real deticiency, being excess of repairs, or- dinary aud extraordinar e whole : -+ 68,104,607 82 6 3% 31,736 00 21,238 49 + $2,903.617 » TBAB pur- 3,665,050 30 tunds.. 4,836,482 28 Contributions to general fund.. ow oO ‘Total... si rere oe +4. + $13,856, 239 90 The taxes levied for these purposes during the same period were... +++ 814,789,848 25 All these payments are directly for canal pur- poses, except $2,562,152 28, which isin reduction of the general imnd debi, tupplied to the general (und. these two payments aiso are indirectly of the fame character. ‘Iney nut replace tresh advances made by the gene! jund to the canals. lo the five years anterior tu the period under consideration, trom Gctober 1, 1864, to September 80, 1869, the taxes jevied to meet deficiencies in the sinking {tind were $1,875,030 64, and the taxes levied for eXtraordimary repairs, awards, Ac., Were $6,522,002 54, MAKI $4,199,609 Ob. The constitution (article 7, se tion 5) provides that “every contribution or advance to the canais or their ¢ irom any source, otner than their direct revenues, shal, with quarterly interest, at the rates then current, be repald into the tre: Ury. Jor the Use Of the State, out oF the canal revs enues as “oon as tt can be done consistently with the just nts of the creditors hoiding the said nal debt,” Iu citing (his mandate of the constitution it is not intended to revive the illusion that even the pont advances of the Slate for the use of the canais will ever be restored fo tne trease ‘There ts littic probavi that they cag be r garded Investmenis Capavie or producing a Feliable income, so far a8 these enormons outlays bave been usesuliy expended the state Will have to Hid Its Compensation for the taxes tb as 1D posed tivon the peopie 1a the indirect benelits of if enlorts Lo cheapen the interchange of commod- ies, EXTRAORDINARY REPAIRS. Exhibit C shows the expenditures for extraordi gary repairs, &e,, for eacu el the hve years, i KXP TURES FROM TAXATION. Exhibit D suows the expenditures trom taxation for the siuking tuars during tie same perivd, ss SURPLUS TOLLS. Exhibit E shows the specie application of the A corre- | ‘The gross tolls accruing irom all the | nd $200,000 whieh was | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1875—TRIPLE SHEET. 1 adhd tolls over ordinary expenses and re rs. CHARACTER OF TRE EXPENDITUBB, Some items of the outlay attract attention. On canals, which the amendment o1 the constitution authorizes the Legisiature to abandon, there was expended for:— Extension of the Chenango Canal, 5,188 68 | xtension of eo hat y-% s eee eee . aordina: 5 iS Awards, & BOOTS 87 ae ond $2, 00L287 OF If the inability of these canals to mect their ordinary expenses, or indeed to make any respect- able contribution toward that purpose shall com- pel their abandonment, this great expenditure ‘will be a total waste of money, wrung from the puople by taxation, Ou the Erie Canal the following are two speci- mens: Work up to February 1. 1875, on contract on chat ‘of Erie” Canal contracted’ ‘at _ Le ogg ait wadaia 9458, Wearbors extended eee seme a.333 00 Engipeering expenses estimage: . T1733 00 Additional” appropriation “unex pended... cresneetsea’ 170,00) 00 ———— 959.066 00 $1,417,180) 72 eek esas OTRMT TO ‘This constitutes four millions of the eleven mil lions expended and the twelve millions appropri- atea jor canal improvements within the last five years. In the meantime the whole expenditure—at rates far foo costly—on tne Erie caual for doubling locks was ot $718,986 23 For taking out the wall benche: “2 1LU13,870 25 a soe1++$1, 789,894 98 it is impossible, in the limited time which the exigency allows, to thoroughly investigate the Vast mass Of various Outlays which have cost the people $11,000,000, But the necessity of determin- ing at Once the tolls and appropriations, a sense of how small a share ol this buriensome taxation hay attatued any real utility, and iow much of It has been wasted in unnecessary work or in the extravigant execution of improvements in tuem- selves uselul, and a clear perception of tue main sources Of tie evils of administration and of re forms attainable oy legislation without a chonge of the constitution, make it my duty now to recommend specific and: affirmative measures of redress, CAUSES. It 1s not: merely in the general laxity and demoralization of oMcial aud political lite that we are to jook for the causes of these evils. The interest which fatten on abuses of puodlic ex- penaittre is intelligent, energetic and persistent. Acting us @ unit It takes part \urougn its members in the organiz ion and the doings o! both politi- cal parties, secks to control nominations, rewards | friends and punishes enemies. aud it begins to | Operate by every iorm of seductive and coercive | influence upon puolic officers a» soou as they are | elected, pied | and iu their workshops, and cannot easily, and | do not, 1n tact, make a business of poiltics, In a | silent contest with the tux consumers they are | oiten prectically unrepresented. Ivis only when i ‘Poe vast wass of the taxpayers are occu- im their datly industries, on their farms they are arousea and organized, aud can find rep- resontatives wiom they trust, that they protect themselves and overwielm all resistance. Use- jess works in the specious garo of improvements ure undertaken, because of the imdiferencs of the puolic oMcers, the inertness of tne laxpayers, tue imdeiatigable efforts of an in. fluence seeking a benefit jor its locality, which costs it an insignificant share of the burden im- posed on the peopie, or the Cager activity of the class who seek proilt in contracts for coustruction Without reference to the utility of the work. Verucal walls are Made to provide wharves for private individuals, and bridges where no public interest requires them. Fictitious improvements are contrived to supviy profitable jous. Work of | real utility is made to cost greatly more tnan its | actual value, | In makiug these observations I do pot leave out of View those hovest citizens who, while employed upon the public Works, save sought and obtained only @ fulrand just return for their labor, skill and capital. Butta sraming laws we must guard against the influence of seil-iuterest upon the minds of honest men. QRDINARY EXPENSES AND REPAIRS, I renew the recommendation in respect to the canals which the recent amendments of tue cons stitution empowered the Legislature to ‘sell, lease or otherwise dispose oj,” that while the manner Of their disposition remains undeter- mined “no expenditures should be mace on those Works Ot strictiy mecessary tn view of their probable iuture.’” In order to carry out this policy tne appropriations ior ordinary expenses and repairs upon them shoula be spectfied, sepa- rated from the provisions for the canals which the constitutton requires to be retaimed; and should be reaueed to the lowest practicable amount. A In respect to ordinary expenses and repairs to the can‘ls which are to be retained as the prop- erty of the State, 1 recur to the suggestion which 1 bad the honor to suomit in the annual mes- sage :— Ordinary repairs should be scratinized with a view to retrenching their costs and to obtaining the largest pos- sible results irom the outlay. Inthe present state of the prices of materials and the Wayes Of labor, if the pablic officers can be inspired with a resolute purpose to make every expenditure lor these onjects effective, there ought to ve no difficulty in reducing the appropriations irom one-quarter to one-third below the amount provided for last year. ‘Ihe present standard of repair and efficiency Must ve tuily naintamed, kverything of good administration consists in the selection o1 the most becersary and useiul ob- | jects oi expenditure, aud in securing the greatest effectiveness 10 the application of iabor und the most advantageous purchase o; materi li a determination tu accomplixa this result and @ Sense 01 AcCOUDLADIIILY can be iiMfused through. out the agents employed iu the puolic service, this object will be easily and certainly attained. APPROPEIATIONS FOR EXTRAORDINARY REPAIRS. The wisdom o: abstaining from all new work, except that whicii 1s Not only useiul but absolutely nevessary, is ovvious, very item should be scrutinized with jealous care, 1ae aggreaate ougit to be Kept within $500,000, and as much below that maximum as possivie. A | thorouga retrenchment in ordinary and extraor- dinary repairs Will enable the State to remit ior toe present yeur, as compared witu the la-t, to the coarman aud trau-porters, trom $590,000 to $600,000 of toils, and at the sume time to give relief to our over burdened taxpayers, in are iuction of taxes, to the extent of more than $1,750,000, ii the restoring ot the Erie Canal to its proper diiuen-ions and the deepening oi the waterway, which ts by lar the Most uselul improvement con- templated, can be deferred till next year, after its present condition shail be accurately ascertained, and then ve proceeded little else waich cannot walt. Justice to the people and to the canals demands | that ail extraordinary repairs beyond what are ciearly necessary to etlicient navigation should be suspended until @ thorougo investigation saail snow that every improvement proposed is really necessary and that the Wo kK is to be conducted under fair lettings and contracts and is to be 1atthe | fully executed. ERIE CANAL, At the opening of navigation the present season the double locks will be completed. ‘The capacity of tne Brie Canal to co an aggregate business mil be several times the requirements of tue largest tonnage it has ever had, the removal of the wall benches will be so Nearly completed that the advantages of that cha will bs practicaily secured. On September e Which 12 45-100 miles moved, and 46 91-1 7 50-100 are contra’ are contracted to be re+ on the berm side, of wiicn «t_ to be miles on the berm side, where the obsiracuion 13 much less important, or equivalest in alt to 26 miles on both sic that is less than seven per cent oj tne Whele tengih of the canal. ‘The engineer's estimate of the cost of removing the remaining wal: benches was in January, 1574, $711,140; and an appropriation of $360,000 was | Mado by the Legisiature of 1874, whica will be availuble 1or expenditure during the present year. AS the only efleet 0 | Maaiving ts that they contract the caual at its bot tom irom fitty-six feet to lorty-two feet, ana, In that proportion, the lower part of the prism, jorming @ section four feet avove the bottom of | the waterway—thus lessening the boay o water in which the boat moves ‘or & lourtecuth part of the length of the channel, and out one-tita ot that on the towing path side=the incunvenience of their existence, to this limited extent, is not very arcat or emergent, HOW 10 IMPROVE THE CANA In my judgment a tar more important improve- | Ment of the Kric Canal would be effected by a thorough system of ord.aary iepatrs which snould give waterway its proper and lawfal dimen: | sions; and by progressively deepening it, wher- ever reasonably practicavle, irom seven to eight tect. Ag tne ubject Would be merely to cn- | abic the submerged section of the peat to move ina larger area of water, 80 the dispiaced uid could pass Ube boat in @ Jarger space, it would not be necessary to aster the culvert | other structures, or to Gurcy the walls of th | below the preseit votre: and the ben i | be rewitzed tp each portion ol the canal improved, | Without reierence to any other part of the chan: nel, Which should remain unchanged. In facilitat- lig the movement Of Lie boat and quickening its speed 1 Woud increase the aimouat o1 service rendered im a given time, and would thereby din nish every element he cost of transporta- It would benefit the boatmen and tion, ers more, even, Lian one cent & vusnei remission of tolls, 16 would be O° more real utility to navigue tion than five or ten tiaies 18 cost expended in the averave manner or su-cahed improvements on the public works. Hut 1b 1s Loo simple, too practi- Cally Hseiul, to enlist tee maginacion ot projectors | Who seek the in ® oO} Magninoent constructions | and of enyimeers who budd Inomaments for exile bition to (heir Fivaig, or Lo @Waken the rapacity of cormorants Who fatten on jova, I renew the recommendation of my annual Mes- sage Wy i aad particuluriy “that Provisions be made by law tO enable the State | Engineer, svop atter navigation is opened, to | measure the deptn of water tn the canal by cross | sections 8 vlfen as every ioWr rods Ot its iongth, | and on the upper ana lower mitre-stit of each | lock." CANAL. LEPTIN The constitution of the state provide: that “all contracts (or Work or Materials on wuy canal sifali | be mace with the person Who shall Offer to door with gradually, there 1s | ), 1874, there remained of wall | bencties 24 45-100 miles on the Lowing path side, of | removed, leaving | 12 28-100 miles on tue towing patn Side and 3) 41-100 | the wall benches now re- — or | provide the same at the lowest price, wi quate seourity tor their periormance.’ nis deteat the very end had in view by ita autuors. I Bave examined more than ove hundred contracts, and | find that most are So contrived that not | only does the State im the end pay from two to | four tunes the amount of the contract, but that the Work 18 not given to the lowest bidder in fuct, although it may be in form, This result 1s | brought about by the following contrivance :— | When @ contract ig to be let the engineer | makes out an estimate of the quantity and kinas of work to be doue, Those who make bids staie | at what prices they will do cach kind of work or lurnish each ‘kind of material. ‘These prices are jooted up, anu the bid which amounts to the smallest Sum is accepted. The sum thus agreed Upon averages but little more than one-hail amounts mated by the cngieer, and appar ently the State makes advantageous contracts. Onexamination it will be found that the prices for the several items bear no relation to their real value, In some instances excavation of earth is put at one cent per cubic yard and in others eighty-five cents are asked. Excavation of rock blasteu at one cent in some cases and $2in others. Slope wall is bia lor in some cases at twenty cents and In Others at $2, Hemlock timber, wnich is Worth at least $12 per 1,000, ts in some contracts put at less than $3 per 1,000 and in others at $30 per 1,000, Ouk timber in one instance 1s put at $1 per 1,000 aud in others at $70, Some items are absurdly low, others unreasonably higo. in some 1astauces @ contractor Wil) put in pro- posais on the same day for different jops, but prices Jor the sume kind of work or materials will vary 1D his several proposals several nundred per cent. It 18 clear upon the face of such propessie that | some iraud is designed, but the Commissioners have been in the babit of accepting them. | am happy to say that Commissioner Thayer at arecent Jetting rejected this class of proposals, which are kuowD as “unbalanced vids.” Heretoiore they | have been accepted, and not only has the State | paid unreasonable prices, but more than one-nalt | of the work on iarge contracts has been done and | paid for without being advertised or offered to the lowest bidders. ‘rhe contractor gains these results by the follow- ing strategy :— | When the engineer’s estimate of quantities and kinds o| material are published by the Commis- sioners the contractor will find out, by collusion or in some other way, What quantities of eacn kind of work or material will, in fact, be required, or he will see what influence he can exert to change the contract after it is made. If it 18 changed no new letting is had, but he claims the Job as his right. He then puts tn his bid, offering to do such work or to furnish such material as be Auds will not ve required at all, or in small quantities, at absurdly low prices—at a quarter OF In some instances at a twentieth part of its cost, be required in full, and probably in extra quanti- ties, Be Wilk put ab unreasouadiy Ligh rates, and it ttirns out that what the contractor offers at low | prices 13 calied for im small quantities, Mf av all | Whue toose whlch are put at high prices are no | only required in full, but In most cases in extraor- dinary quantities, An example will more clearly illustrate how the State ts delrauded by these devices, The eugineer having estimated certain work and material as follows:— 100 cubic yards of vertical bry a 855 cubic yards of slope wall at $1 20) teet B, M. white oak ar $ 60,000 feet B. M. hemlock at $15. Total estimate.... A’s bid for the job ai B's bid Jor the same was, for 100 cubic yards vertical wall at $6. 8,869 cubic yards of siope wall at 30 cents. . 2.400 teet B. M. white oak at $70. 408 GO ext feet B. M. hemlock at $5. 130 Ou and aggregated... +eoee $2,104 50 The proposal of B., apparently so advantageous to the State, was accepted, and the contract awarded to him as the “lowest bidder.” But af terward, by some infuence, it was decided to make only vertical, and no slope wall, and to use only oak and no hemlock timber. There was no Teletting, although the agreement had been in Jact revamped into @ ew and different contract, which enapied B. to collect from the State jor 955 cubic yards of vertical wall, at $6. obs feet BM. white oak, at ou ue —the sum of. It will be seen that in such transactions—and they are bumerous—in violation of the constitu- tion, the contractor gets the work without there having beew im fact any public letting or any chance tor competition by others, For the purpose of showing actual results of this system | state the lollowing ten cases, which git the amount the State has paid on certain co. tracts im comparison with tue sum for which the contractor agreed to do the work atthe lettings made by the Commissioners:— Amt, of Contract Upon Exhitited Quaititien ut Contract Prices, 74. 18S. Contract No. Contract No. Contract No. Contract No. Contract No. Contract No. Contract No. Conur 0. soutract No. Contract No. i Tot ery $1,560,769 84 These show tat the State has already paid Dearly four times the amount which was involved by the terms or the contracts, aud though this ex. céss amounts to More than ainillion of dollars some 01 the expenaitures aré still going on, with no prospect of completion. It also appears th: of the expenuitures Of $1,560,769 84, only $4: 735 91, lesS than one-third, Was submitted to a pudtic letting. By Manceuvres Of this character the cost of pub- lic Works 1s ran up to extravagant sums, Ap- propriations are absorbed, deficiencies are created to be paid by new appropriations, and the people are loaded down by taxes. REMEDIAL MEASURES. Desiring to co-operate wita you in a reform of existing abuses, and of the systems which nave | conduced to tuem, | suvmit to your consideration | such suggestions lor new legisiauion as seem to | me adapted to meet the arises and protect the interests of our common cousutuents, ENGINEERS’ ESTIMATES, Methods ougat to ve devised to make the esti- mates o! the Kinds and quautities of work, exhio- ited on the quantity sheet tor lei tings o1 contracts, to coniorm 40 the actual work to be done, change of a plan or specifica'luns of a contract the work under tue ola contract should be clused aad a new letting snouid take place, BIDDING. The law authorizes the Canal Board to make regulations as to the biddiogs, aud one of those regulations provided for discarding bids waich show bad faith upon their faces, As the officers who let the Contracts have not enforced this regu- lation, except in a recent case, a law should ve | pussed defining their rights and duties in tnis re- spect. 1 recommend (hat hereaiter the bids be | opeued and the awards of contracts be maue by tne Canal Board, It 18 a larger body, aua con- | tains the officer who is charged with tue fiscal j administration of tue State, and also the Stace ; EMNgimeer. It was tormerly vested witu these duties, and the change was only made to serve a temporary party ovject. OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY. In the organization of governmental powers two conditions seem essential to the well working o1 the machinery Oo: admiuistration :—First, wane undue concentration oj powers should be avoided, aud checks and balances in the requirement of | the concurrent action of several persuns are pre- | Served, @ certain unity of function and of or- g@anization is necessary to emable the people to enlorce any real responsibility. An issue in regard to the conduct of public officers, or In regard to a policy 01 administration, should be submitted to the p. opie wita the sim- | plictty of au issue to a jury to commun law. The | million of voters in the State cannot resoive them- | Selves into acommitice of investigation to punt out by jovg and tedious search the particular wrongdoer. They cannot convert theimseives | into # court to go through a complicated aud pro- tracted trial, Amid numerous and changing ob- jects of iuterest which attract their attention, anuot devote tuemsecives to a singie specific ure Of ordinury importance lor three succes- 1 2. 8. 4 5. 6 7, 8 9. 0. volve suca tmpracticable demands for thy ation of such vast numbers of inatviduals rd | the idea of representation in government. They compel the whole voting mass to conduct the com- piex ailaira of human society in person. They are snares Inveuted to destroy the dower of the peo- ple in their own government, to neutralize the slave principle and to create oMiciai irresponsi- ry. THE CANAL BOARD. The members of :ie Canal Board, other than the Canal Commissioners and Lieutenant Gov- enor, are all chosen at one ciection. The clecuve | powet of the peopie ts effectual to make a change of persons or policy. But the Canal Commission- ers are elected one eaco year, and tt takes taree | years to make a complete change. ‘They have practically ceased to act as a Board, hone carries on bis administration over his division of the canuls as tf he were a totally independent au- ‘They make three separate reports, Bach or tuture | thority. | one prepares a separate annual estima expenditures, ‘they formeriy sat as members 01 # Board of Canal Commissioners, whu cousulted, decided and acted as one integral body. Thetr most Important functions were perormed as members of the Cana! Board or im concert with the Canal Bourd, which embraced the great om. | cers oft State, including its fiscal representa tative, who is under an ever active presstre to make both ends meet im the financial affairs of the State, They were practicatly suoordinate to the fiscal members of the adminisiratio | Secondly—It 18 tundamental that the spending officers mast be subject to che iufnence and con- trol ol tue ofivers whose duty is to provide tne Ways and means, No great corporate pasiness, | no private afairs, could be conducted successinily Loe experience oF tae Stat | on any other plan. nodera system im which the officers who inthate | eXponditure and coutrol the application of the puole money and the execurion of public work have neen independent and practiealiy ircespon- sible Aas been fruity of irreguiarines, extrova- gance, Waste ana corruption, There have been | several futile lmpeaciments, but no real remedy, lt docs hut seem erpedient to Wait for a change Which mvolves ap amendment Of tue Constitution, and Wil, therefore, take several years, There are | Measures Within tue competency of the Legisia- tne | Tequircwent was intended to protect the State from extravagant contracts; but by | artiul bid an, im some casi by [rauduient combinations, it 1s made ap instrument to | 1 The items which will | On 4 | | | | } R: ture which can be put into Immediate operation, ph, which will have Great eficiency to remedy the Among these the tion has occurred that an Inspector of lio Works can be cri by jaw, who shall be invested with full powers of investigation and shall report to the Governor and Legislature, and who shall derive tis appoint- ment irom a source completely independent of the canal officers, Avocher expedient worthy of your consiaera- Uon 1s to entorce the accountability of the officers charged with the disbursement of the public eas @ lability to summary removai or sus- The constitution (article 10, section 7) com- mands :— mises: shad be reds ey law for a sempowal for c versation in office o = cept Tualelan whose owe! ° reine not local oF legislative and who shail be elected at geueral elections, tor supplying vacancies created by such re- At tne close of the session of the Convention of 1846, op the day before ita final adjournment, it was discovered that. except in the cage of the treasurer, bo provision had been made for the removal vl State officers having charge of public junds Who had been made elective by the people of tne Whole State. ‘he Cunvention, not under- taking v1 so late @ perivd to devise a aystem, de- Yolve { Guty on the Legisiature. this power Das remained twenty-nine years unexecuted, It is @ duty of the Legislature whica ought no longer to remain unperiormed. Applied to the Canal Commissione:s, Wa0 are agents bot only tn tae application, but in the custody and disoursement of the public moveys, and to the State Engiveer, who, with his Sudurdinates, exereises great power over the expenditure by his estimate of the cost and certiticates of the performance of work, it would be an tprovement upon our administrative system, in accord With tue intenuon of the con- Wutlon, wita sound principles of government and with the indications of experience, Provision ought also to be made by law for Teguiating the tormation of the aunual estimate for vuture expenditures, It ought not only to be the result of consultation between, the Vandal Com. inissioners, but should have the written approvai Of the State Engineer as to tie necessity and cost ot the work, and of the Vompirolier as to its pro- priety, considered in connection with the fnan- cial admunistration, it would doubtiess ve a valuable improvement to create & paymaster appointed by the Commis- sioners oi the Canal iund. who should be account- able to the Auditor, and should make all payments on the certifluates of the Canal Commissioners and State Engineer. With tuese provisions tne hates might properly be enlarged. ‘AN EXAMINATION OF THE WORKS, I have deemeu It my duty to look beyond the abuses practised in the iptting of contracts, aud to see 11 the materials bave been delivered and the work has been dove ior which so many tmullhons have beet paid vut by the Siace, and also to kearn I the locks, walis und otner structures | Mave been built im a taitbiul way and i com- | pliance with the contracts, 1 am sutistied, froin | information 1 have already gamed, thac tnere should be un investigation of these subjects, | 1s my purpose, wita the aid of the members of of our public Works and to learn their condition. It may be to late to vetect all irauds, but many may be exposed and puuished and @ cneck put upon practices so destructive to morals as weil as to the public Interests o1 the peuple o! the State. “OUR DUTY IS CLEAR,” It is clear that under the present system of canal Management tue people will not be relieved from taxation, tae boatmen from high tolls, or tue needed improvements of the Erie and Champlain canals be finished. It is in our power to gain these great objects by @ Wise and honest boliog oO retrenchment, reform and official responsipility. Uniortunatery the abuses nuw practised against our canals and their commerce are exciting strong prejudices avaimst these yreat public works rather than against the wrongdoers and the wroogdoing which tend to destruy them. Our duty is clear. Let us cat off the expenses which divert revenues from general improvement of the canals to local or individual purposes, make every oflicial, very empluyé, every coutrac- tor feel that the laws you have just passed against fraud will be entorceu, and our canals will be fin- igned, their commerce revived, und taxation will be lessened not only as it oppresses the boatmen bat also a}! Otuer Classes Of Our citizens, ‘here is no real antagonism between the boat- men ana torwarders who seek a fair compensa- ton for their services, the public who desire cheap transportation and the peoyle who justly claim some reliet trom the present iutolerabie pressure Ol taxation. Their interests are joint. Whenever tuese Classes are brougat into a Iulse position of apparent hostility it is sure proof either ofa bad state Of laws or un untaithtul per- formance o/f official duties. Whoever, jor illicit gain, despoils or wastes the resources applicable to these objects, 13 common enemy of the boat- men and the taxpayers, Wio must unite to en- force measures Oo! reform and redress. SAMUEL J. TILDEN. APPENDIX. EXHIBIT A. MONTHLY STATEMENT OF THB A COMPARATIVE Huy graTneEn TOLLS FOR 1878. 174 $361,893 96 303,709 10 iiie) 243,569 38 December... . Wwe 75 Totals ...... ja tn cvvel SAUTETIS 57| 82,687,070 8 EXHIBIT B. STATEMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF REDUCTION OF TOLLS WHICH ‘WOULD RESULT FROM THE PLAN PROPOSED BY THE COMMIT- TSE OF THE CANAL BOARD, COMPUTED ON THE BUSINESS OF 1874. THE REDUCTION PROPOSED 18 4S FOLLOWS :—ON WHEAT, CORN, BYE, BARLEY AND OATS, ONE-THIRD; ON PRODUCTS OF WOOD, ONL-QUARTER; ON MERCHANDISE, ONE HALT. 3 2 & Tolls at Rates| eit | Tolls at Proponea| Lose by the Ratea jor 1875. | Reduction. (| $331,003 to 168705 00 vo] 15.3 on 83 2059 00] Prod'ts ot wood. Merchandise . 821 00) | 3 ale Ra =98]2 & E ‘Ss Lae 8 Fst, ae 1 goes (8 3st 32) 2 gy skas \* ee Ess Mf B°!Sg 7] 58 B8iye ell se. | 82 88 |8 jb] G6? | GR SS 1g ofa) Fe | ye! SS cS geslaes 32 se lg Heulseiy| S& BS | ¢|Ss~ H 3 Bel ae | BE ESE G E ze] ER | 88 82818 2 5 | gs | $a S881 3 ie: E 5 ae a ae as é BY? yes 183 |2 $ = s | st | 8 288 3 if: y g | gf | ae 8G) 2 F f jt |e Foes § i |oow.| Ba BBE 7 R22 ® EXHIBIT D. STATRNBNT SHOWING THE SUMS DERIVED FROM TAXES TO SUPTLY DEFICIENCIES IN THK SINKING FUNDS FOR PAY- MENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST OF THE CANAL DEBT AND TO PAY PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST OF THE FLOATING DEBT ONSTI EXHIBIT E. AL REVENUES FOR Rach w 1870, 7 Sinking | sintin pport of Yeare, | Surplus. Fund, Fund Gorern- Articie 7, Article 7, ment, Section %* | ‘Section | Section 3, «| $664,978 G1] $509,974 61) - - Sy Tombs 68) “ORT. 5as 3 = Bs 1.04, 97 L385) 202,07 1 80) - - Ligeasé st] SSu0.CO) 0] $123,285 89 = “| MaFsvbn8 « | 2786068 Os] $202,co0 0 L sealnnata wi lba aban al hao, Sinking 1nd. Article 7, se a ing fund. Article 7, sect Fund for support ot gover nm DOOR rss ccsvescergers Total. * Thy final contripati 792 88} $200,000 \OTURE! The next lecture im the Cooper Union Free UNDER ae e ITUTION (ARTICLE VI1., SECTION LZ.) ig si) i Fen Sink’ Fund,|Sink'g Fund.) Date.| Article 7, || Article 7, rivele 7, Total, Section 1. Section 3. Sertio i =| paar a 79) 9 - a] "26,087 Uh 5 | ia. —| $913,866 65) +459 90) 174..] $195,000) 575,339 69 $196,000 $1,459,906 34 control of the State Engineer over his subordi- | It | 179,685 vo | Wwe Canal Board, to have an examination made | others | | 30.085 09 | trom the sert acs nn | gtrects, uo 431,950 00) $641,144 00 | York, has been reported to me as unsate and d Totals Total tolls. $2,637.071 00 Total tolls, 160,328 00 Tolls on freight 2,476,143 00 | Total tolis collected at the tide water off es in 1874, on Freight going west aud north. 233,200 72 Course will be delivered wis (Saturday) evening | in the great hall, at eight o'ctock, by Professor | Wiliam H. Goodyear, on tlon,” illustrated by the stereopticon, “the, Vi Cosnola Conec | fun down iu two day 6. RAPID TRANSIT. ACTIVITY OF THE GREENWICH STREET ELEVATED BOAD—ACTION OF THE NEW YORK ASSOCIA- TION. It is surely one of the strangest evidences of the short-sightedness of the people who desire the means to travel speedily irom end to end of this city that they do not put into use those things Which lie at their disposal, They look over a wide field to see what elements they can find to combine into a harmonious system of rapid transit railways, but seem to throw their glances beyona what ought to be the initial line of that system. That initial line is the Greenwich Strect Elevated Rail- way, and there 1s no one who has studied the probe lem of rapid transit but must say that this rallway is the most important factor of its solution. It is certainly not @ perfect railway and its trains carry passengers by no means as fast as people ought to travelin New York; yet it 1s a beginoing. and to make it very near akin to @ first cla: Tapid transit railway would cost, in time and money, very much less than the value of the time which willbe lost by our citizens ere a new ele- vated railway can be fnishea or even begun. Those anxious citizens of the upper west side of the city, who deplore the lack of tactlities to go Tapidly to and from their homes and business places, appear to have the providing of suc facili- Wes at theircommand; yet they throw their op- portunity to one side and come down town to talk about rapid transit. Certainly if they talk long enough they will spur on sumebody to effect some- thing which wiil be an tmpuise to the completion of a thorough rapid transit railway; but would it not be better fur them to act instead of talking? THE GREENWICH STREET ELEVATED RAILWAY now runs its trains to Thirty-fourtn street, Dut If it can procure the means to constroct and equip its roadway 1t can extend that to the Hariem River. For some time past the stockholders ot this company have been intent upon extending its roadway to Fifty-niuth street, and tor that purpose they have been making up a necessary suin of $600,000, That amount is now nearly sub- scribed, and itis expected to begin the work of extending the railway in about two weeks. About the same time the core will commence the coustructio: of turnouts at different points along the line of its roadway 01 such length thata train may rug upon each while another train is passing it onthe main line. By means of these turnouts tue trains will be enabled to rua faster, and hence at more trequent intervals than they do at present. tt is expected that when these im- provements have been Made to the railway the trains will ran with ten minutes’ headway from each of its ends, The work of strengthening the roadway with truss rods and braces ts now nearly completed, and that of replacing the present iron rails with of steel will be pushed on with vigor. ‘The railway will be completed, 60 the om. Is of the company say, from the Battery ro Fittv-ninth street, bythe Ist of July. Atter that ah appeal will be wade to the residents o1 the ups Permost sections of the city to subscribe to the capital stock of the company énough money to permit 16 ta exiend the Elevated Railway to the fariem River. If that appeal 1s successful tt is likely that there will be @ rapid transit railway Tunaing along the west side of tae city belore the discussion now going on decides as to the Means to construct railways in other sections. It was expected thats meeting would be held yesterday ait-rnoon ig the rooms of the METROPOLITAN TRANSIT COMPANY, No. 152 Broadway, at which Mayor Wickham, other elty oflicials aud imterestea citizens would be present to inspect the moaeis for the roadway of that company. ‘The meeting did not occur, however, because the Mayor Was unabie to at- tend it. . ‘The Committee on Nominations of the New York Rapid Transit Association met yesterday after- noon in the office of Drake Brothers, No. 66 Broadway. Their qeitberations were private, of course, but their sélections of men to be the officers of the agsgovlation will be reported on Tuesday next, at the meeting to be held then, in the rooms ot the Board of Insurance. A CRUMBLING HOSPITAL THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT CONDEMN THE PARK HOSPITAL—THIRTY LIVES IN DANGER— WHY 18 IT NOT INSTANTLY CLEARED OF ITS INMATES AND A GREAT DISASTER AVERTED? Some four years ago, under the old Commission- ers of Uharities and Correction, the Mayor and Commonaity of the city set apart a building on the Centre street side of the City Hall Park for tbe re- ception of sunstruck patients, and it has been oc. cupied as a hospital ever since. Daily for nearly three years persons have scrutinized the walls, and, Onding them cracked and bulged, wondered why it was not vacated or ordered to be torn down by the Department of Buildings to guard against the killing of sick and disabled patients, Time and again hints have been thrown out that the inmates were sleeping NIGHTLY IN THE PRESENCE OF DEATH, and whev, during the past winter, the hospital was temporarily closed for repairs, the curious Were anxious to know the cause. At last they are likely to be gratified. Since the St. Andrew's church aisaster the Inspeccors of Bulidings, who must iong bave been aware of the dangerous char- acter Of the structure, have inspected tuts buud- ing, and ou Wednesday last it was OFFICIALLY REPOKTED DANGEROUS. The following 1s the record o! such report:— Derartwest or Butupines, City or New York, urrick. No, 2 Fourth AvENcE, New York, March 17, 18/5, In the matter of the unsate building west side ot Centre street, 14) leet south of Caambers. To tas Mayor, ALDERMEN aND CoMMONALTY OF THE CITY ov New Youd :— You will please take notice that the building situated on the front ct the wesi side of Centre, about 140 feet soutuwest corner of Chamiers and Centre nd Kuown 2s Park Hospital, i the city ot New ngerous s to Wit—in that the front and ng are vadly settled and cracked. ce that unless you immediately certify to this Department your willingness to make the sad building sate and secure a survey will be ordered to be Feld thereon, as the law directs, ‘and all costs and expenses, Incurred therein Decome a lion on, sali build- ing. W. W. ADAMS, Superintendent ot Buildings. Superintendent Adams was not satisfled with the report upon which this communication was based, and on the following dav caused A SPECIAL REPORE to be made by Inspectors Hughes and Bi These gentlemen officially reported ti centre pier of the Centre street front was badly settied and bulged at the second and third stories in the fo lowing respec rear walls of siid builu You will also take 1 +| aad the centre of the rear wall was buiged and They recommended | split avove the jouudation, that the centre pier be taken down from the roof | to joundation and reoutit on solid bottom; also that portion of the rear wall that is split be taken out from the line of the first story lintels to foun- dation, and that the same be properly rebuilt, These recominendatious were yesterday ap- proved by Andrew Owens, Chie of the Inspection Bureau. — It will thereiore be seen that the saiety of the building requires almost the entire rebutld- ing of its walls. ACTION OF THE CHARITY COMMISSION, The notification of Superintendent Adams was acted upou yesterday by the Commissioners of Charities und Correction, who instructed Prest- dent Balle, to notify the Mayor ot the tact taat the structure had been reputed uusate, and to ask the autnorities to set apart 8»me other building jor the care of sick and destitute in the ,lower part of the city. THR NUMBER OF LIVES ENDANGERED, A reporter oi the HERALD, on learning the above facts, yesterday visited the Purk Hospital, and, making an inspecuon of tbe exterior, found the facts to be as reported by Messrs. Heatue and Hughes. He called upon the Warden and the physician In are, who report that there were | Yesterday as inmaies fourteen patients and six- teen attachés of the hospital, making the total number of inmates thirty. The sooner the building is vacated the greater will be the se- curity offered to the sick Wo are confined there. Prompt action should be taken to empty the build ing, or the public may at any time be startied by the intelligence that tne whole structure has | fallen and buried in its rums more or less of ite inmates. The Commissiouers of Charities, who must have long been aware of its daugerous con- dition, cannot atlord to rest their action ona mere notification to the Mayor. i hours, ) that direction other than tuose recorded arove. THE SCHOOLSHIP BOYS. | THEY ARE THE GUESTS OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ROYALTY. The youngsters of the Schoolsbip Mercury, now on @ cruise in the West Indies, scem to be enjoying the tropical winter. Alcw days ago the Heratp contained an account of their reception vy the authorities at Barbados, Yesterday Prestdent Isaac Batley received a letter trom Commander Frank F. Gregory, from which 1t appears that Queen Victoria’s representative ou the island has taken @ Geep interest in the boys, Captain Gregory’s letter is dated Bridgetown, Barpados, 4, and he saya:— selt of the opportunity offered by the de- rig britannia to. New York to report to the Depa. tent that the ship was visited today by His Exeeieney Governor Kawson, who was received with Une etisto ry honor, Atter inspecting Uhe ship throuchout he addressed the Dey giving some sound diviee and expressing his grat fication at the manner iu whieh they performed tele wave th is rotesettin at interost xprenepd Hie gtent nection We made. Wo shall ight tor triutdad, and | hope to Yours, very respecttully, ¥. F, GREGURY, Captain. Hh gatle leave tomorrow or to The builaing | should be cleared of its lomates within twenty- As yet they have taken. no stepsin | - | trom jail, the Board of © 5 THE CITY DEBT. Comptroller Green’s Memorial to the Legislature. WHAT HE WANTS DONE. A Reduction of Expenses and a Prohibition of Expenditures. The following memorial has been sent to the State Legisiature by Andrew H. Green, Comp- troller for the City of New York. In it he gives his idea of economy and the methods for securing the same :— COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE, CITY OF New YORK, March 18, 1875. To THE HONORABLE THE LEGISLATURE OF THB Stag or New Yore The Comptroller of the City of New York re- spectfully represents to your honorable body that the bonded debt of that city bas reached such am Amount as to become the subject of general and Serious attention. It 1s still ipcreasing, under laws passed several years since. The interests of the city demand that immediate measures be taken not only to prevent the further increase of the debt, but to provide ior 1ts gradual reduction. Through the agency of dishonest officials, con- Spiring with jobbers, the whule tendency of legis: lation jor this city bus for years been in the direc- tion of extravagant expenditures and multiplied Irresponsible powers to contract cebt. As it waa Impossible to force from taxpayers amounts sum- cient to satisfy the rapacity of these conspirators, they proceeded to mortgaze we city, its franchises and its property to an extent that hus laid a very beavy burden upon its industries aud ita people. Laws framed in these interests have tavored Jobbery and extravagance, and have stimulated expensive and il-timed public 3 On & Vast scale, the expenses of which are only met by a constantly increasing deot. These works, in- augurated severai years ago, have been contin- uvously prosecuted by substantially the same agencies by the means of laws still operative on the statute book. Ivis in vain to look tor any diminution of the public debt or the arrest of 10s inciease unless the powers of various depart- net debt are properly restricted tenforced In ali brauches of the city government. There ure three fundamental couditions essential to the establishment of the fmancial and administrative anairs of the city on 4 basis that will alone be satisfactory to the sub- stantial portion of the citizens of New York, ana these dertve added force irom the fact that most of the material business interests of the countre are depressed und suffering embarrassment. ‘These conditions are:— First—The continued reduction of admintstra- tive expenses, Including @ diminution of clerical and bureaus forces und the modification of salaries to the reduced figures that have already been Teached in several of the departments. Second--An absolute provibition, not only of expenditures to be had trom taxation, but of power to contrac: liabilliies in excess of the umount set apart aod appropriated for them for the current year, The language of the iaw to effect this should be so plain, clear and expltctt thatit cannot be construed otherwise than ac- curding to its intent, If eaca year pears its own expenses no floating debt will be incurred. Third—A repeal Ot certain existing laws that authorize the uatimited is-ue of bonds and tae creation Of devs by various bodies, and the posi+ tive limitation of power to incur debt,except tn cases of actual exigency and exceps the debt Which 18 to be entirely paid by the property ben- efired by the improvement for which it Is in- curred. By keepmg the funded debt within a Nixed limit its redemption at maturity will be pro- vided for, aud taxation will be reduced by judt. ciously increasipg the revenues of the sinking jund. ‘rhe issue of assessment bonds should also be limitea to 9 fixed amount, ample for conducting the local imprevements of the city, the cost of which 1s payabie irom assessments on property benefited. ‘he amount of assessment bonds now outstanding is $21,351,000, It is much greater than it should be, and measures shoul! also be taken Jor its reduction to the amount xed upon as a permanent maximum. Toe city now 1s the factor whica raises tie money on its Own credit to pay for works executed for private benetit. The laws ae they now stand iavor the contractor. It is nos unirequently the case that, after a work is finally and fully paid for as required by law, complaints O! property owpers are justly made of the tusul ficient performance of the work, when it 18 toa late to retain the money from the contzactor, The laws ou this subject reqaire amendment, Your memoralist believes that powers to do work otherwise than by giving It out by contract to the lowest bidder at public letting, after due notice, Should be repesled, and that this metiod of dog public work, by giving it to the lowest bidder, after due com; etition, should be tne rule with but here and there an exceptional case where the work is of an unusual character bot readily ad- milting of specifications oelug maae for it. Tole Will cut of ail privete contracts for the benefit of lavorites, and more stringent regulations should be adopted ‘o secure a proper supervision of work done by conti act. Tne completion of public works in the city io progress, such as the extension of the water sup- ply 0s required, tne improvement ol the docks aud Piers, the repaving of streets and the completion of the two museum buildings, or other actually useiul works, need vot be deiayed, but some dis- crimination should now be exeicised between wor .s that are necessary and timely and yielding an income or some immediate beneft and those that are premature and ill-advised; aud measures should be established to insure some degree of efliciency and intelligence im their management, and to prevent the squaudering of the puolia moneys in their prosecution. ‘ihe laws aod ordi Naaces which govern the administration of the Finance Department, not oniy with respect FINANCE DEPARTMENT, i to its own internal operation, but also with respect to 38 relations with otner de. partments and bodies are the iil-con- (rived aud disjointed product of @ series of flity years of local and State legislation. Their machine: y 1s 80 cumbrous, roundabout and come plicated as to occasion great embarrassment tn the transaction of the public business, Tne de- partment, im the execution of ity .unctions, is to- day, with transactions of hearly $100,000,000 per annum, and in a metropolis wita 1,000,000 people, struggling in the garments fitted ior # city of 76,000 péople and aunual business of less thar $1,000,000, Judicious amendments and readjust ments are very necessary to adapt legislation t¢ the capacity and necessities of tne time. The laws constituting tac sinking fund spread their salutary provisions over less than one-hal of the debt of the city. It is respectfully submitted tuat, preserving the present priority of the sinking fand contract 1n favor of its existing series of bonds its provisions alter that should also be cx- tended to the whole funded debt, The work of retrenchment and reform has in the past three years moved steadily forward in the Jace ot the most serious embarrassment. Many public oMcials and many private persons and as sociations have renderea most valuable service 10 Scattering the malign influences that formerly controiled the city, Wasted its substance, mort gaged its property and staimed tts name. Much remains to be done to rectify abuses, to elevate the official standard, to retrench expenses and to systematize and simpiily the administra tion of atfairs. The substantial people of this city are determined that the work shall continue mm spite of all misrepresentation and opposition, and in spite o1 political schemers, Who are already looking backward, until sinecares and corrup- tionists are no longer oilieted upon the scanty earnings of honest industry; until uptown corner+ lot speculators can no longer mortgage the sun stance of the commautty in atd ot visionary scnemes of sell-interest, and unul the affairs of this city are again fixed on the solid foundations of order and imtegrity, irom whence alone can proceed the upbutlding of substantial prosperity. Your memorialist respectfully requests that such consideration may be given to these subjects as in the judgment of your honorable body they are entitied to receive at the hands of the Legislature of the State, With great respect, ANDREW fH. GREEN, Comptroller, MEETING OF THE POLICE BOARD. The fall Board of Police Commissioners met at twelve o'clock yesterday, Mr. Matsell presiding. A communication from the Superintendent of Unsate Buildings relative to the insecure condt- tion of a large telograpn pote at the northwest | corner of Bond street and the Bowery was re- ferred to the Comimittee on Repairs and Supphes. A petition from the Commisstoners of Cnartites and Correction for_an additional patrolman or Blackwell’s Island was rejerred to the Committed op Rules and Discipline. Commissioner Duryee offered an amendment te Police Rules and Regulations No. 73, providing for the employment of any vatlor by members of the force to make the regulation untiorm, the same t¢ | be made tn sitict accordance with the eustomery Specidcations, to be mspected and approved by the Driil Captain deiore worn. Referred to the Committee on Rules and Discipine. Patrolman Edward Wood, of the Seventecnts precinet, and Moses W, Cortwright, of the Broad: Way squad, were appointed roundsmen. The !ol lowing cttizens were appoimted patroime ‘Thomas H. Povts, Charles tt. Prillips, David Fitz patrick, Hdward Buras, Wiliam £. Frink, Michaet Mevonata, Alexander Noble and Frederick Munger. No decision was rendered in the cases of Super intendent Walling or Capiain Riliaica. THE BERGEN CUT SLAUGHTER John f, McCielland, the telegraph operator whe was convicted of criminal neghgence, in allowing two trains tocollide atthe Bergen Cut of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was discharged yesterday Shosen Freeholders having remitted the @ne of $250 imposed on him. ie counse) paid the cost or the proszention. Br tne cojlision two men Were instantly killed and om | Berlously injured,