The New York Herald Newspaper, March 23, 1879, Page 7

“HEALTHFUL TENEMENTS The London Peabody Fund To Be Emulated in This City. A NOBLE SCHEME. Report of the Mayor’s Com- mittee of Nine. a The notice which has been drawn to the evils of tho tenement house system as it exists in New York by the public meoting held in the Cooper Institute. ,om February 28, and by the subsequent agitation of .the subject in the newspapers and the pulpit, seems likely to bear a beneficent fruitage to the thousands of poor who aro snfferers through the sordid in- iffyrence or selfishness of capitalists. The com- mittee of nine appointed by the Mayor on the occa- sion, mentioned to devise measures for effecting a tenement house reform have made a preliminary re- port, wherein they favor three methods of beginning the good work—viz., first, by moving the Legislature to take action enforcing a greater regard on the part of the landlords for the preservation of the health of their tenants; second, by the formation of a stock company under the Limited Liabilities act for the * erection of improved dwellings, and, third, for the creation of a trust fund for the construction and maintenance of model tencment houses, the net pro- eveds to be applied to the augmentation of the same object. . ANOTHER PEABODY FUND. ‘The formation of the stock company is now as- sured, and it is likely to be very successful, It will be managed in a manner similar to the London stock building companies, not with a view to. large profits, but for the greatest health and com- fort of the inmates comportable with a reason- able profit, The third proposition, that of a trust fund, is really the most important, and, if properly carried out, it will prove ® practical means of bestowing incalculable bless- ings. It is in the development of this scheme, in- deed, that the committee are most particularly in- terested. They mean that, if possible, it shall equal in extent and efficiency the famous Peabody fund in London. They rightly judge that there is no reason why, among the wealthy men of New York, o score or more may not be found whose gencrosity and loye of their kind shall prompt them to do together for this city what George Peabody did singly for London. The amount of the proposed fund 18 $1,000,000, Sub- scriptions are not to be lower than $5,000, but they will not be considered as irrevocable until the sum of $250,000 has been obtained. Already, before the publication of any of the details of the plan, a large percentage of the required capital is pledged, many prominent citizens coming forward with cheerful alacrity. When the merits of the project become more fully known there will probably be plenty of enthusiasm among the well-to-do classes in giving it countenance and support. Yesterday the first cirou- Jars were sent out numerous responses to them are expccted in a few days. THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following is the full report of the committee: — public meeting held at Cooper Union, on Friday, 28, 1870, the or in the chair, the following mn was Raa oes Tenested to appoint a com: of me Of devixing measures to carry’ teno- ment house reform inte cffect, such committee to have power to add to thefr nu: ” too appointed wader. this ‘resolution respect- ho committ fully submit the following preliminary report :— 4 ‘¥ anaele opinion the subject is broudly divided into three en 1. 1s Fs ‘As it affects existing tenement houses and their in- With reference to the erection of new and improved Min, 0 as to provide better accommodation than the pressnt tenement houses can give: and trill, Whether any relief can ve obtained from rapid it. 1. Tho first head involves the consideration of tho oxistin wi—how far they.nce sufficient to deal with the admit evils of the system, what additional leisiation ix neces- Bary to muppiement the powers of the Hoard of Health xnd iether the municipal nerangements for cleansing wud Gace te ae ei teat ip the wnoment house portions of the eity ure sut on 'these points the commit an utisfactor tee ate satisfied that the isting laws do not insure sufficient Hight, wir or ventilation; that ‘more open space ix required on ‘wach lot; that ne definite provision ix wade against overcrowding, and that furthor power is necessary to enforeo*the requirements of 10. Your committee accordingly have consulted on all those points with the Board of Health, and have’ rocetyod, from hat body numerous suggestions as to the necessity furtlior legislation. This lins afforded them the fullest op- nartunity for co-wperation and for providing thatall reagon- able requirements shall be cared for in « spectal bill on tho subject. Your committee hope that this ill will become law be- fore the dof the present Legislature. [thas been thought to include in its provi rhiddin le of spirituous liquo nse, although this is admitted to be th use at present, This object can be obtained, if thought desirable, by a sepa- rato bill, ‘The most important clauges in the proposed bill are those relating to introduction of the system of sanitar ‘and the licensing by the Board of Health of ail t houses. nei ‘ With respect to the last section of this head, which con- gerns the streets, a few remarks will Their condition, expecially int house immedia ment of the city. The for thousands of child: and garbage are not Wut entail direct a portanee to the i be in ‘place here, urgent and the govern: playground tions of filth iy is community, indirect evil Je gravest” inn habitants. The removal of ashes and garbage, a d. is performed in an irrega lar and inudequat ner, causing RuMoyance and dis comfort, while it prevents ail attempts at cleanliness and * in these localities, These facts, however, are the As- mur committee think that indenting with a ayatem of improved tenement houses the ordinars ould be put out of consideration. The recent com on for prize plans for a building on land X10 feet ms to show that such a "eo tistactory when four families must live on the sane thor. Jand, more capital and blocks of re necessary to enable those who depend on their daly wages for their living to find proper family aecom- modation at moderate prices. Your committeo, morvover, ings might be b ital, independ consider the present an excep undertaking an enterprise of this nature, r committee theretore recommend (1) the formation of one or more st companies, under the Lunived Liabilities et. for the erection uf such improved meted 01 are satisfied that such a ly favorable time for improved dwellings. h oud of heli divided, wi accumulated to form her funds for employment in the same object. They have prepared the details of shove two plans, and t tiem herewith as the basis of further operations, our committee are Aware that much interest has been led the Philadelphia mode of building towel by workmen Tho x rooms can tie bate arlom River wards Twenty-three rige of B18) to 82,000, and i already been taken in such ree ILL That portion of the subject which deals with the movement of population to the npper parts of the elty, ax pe connected with the facilities for travel iiven by the rapid transit railronds, remains for consideration at a future day. But your committe must express their there first duty i al with the evil which ery duors in the shave of some twenty one thou inent hoases, of which a large proportion may be ered as ill sulted to their occupants and injurious to and morals. ASSOCIATION FOR THE ERECTION OF IMPROVED DWELLINGS IN NEW YORK (SUGURSTED TITLE), Firt—This association shall be eatled the Improved Dwellings Association of New York (limited), and organ. pod an det the Lamited Liability act of 187, of the State of ‘ow York, inion that at their ind tone Seromd—The capital to be $500,000, with power to increase bi) ~~ me oy ird—The Dench. Ore nt f the dwellin, encouraged tv invest thelr a savings in th agwociation to be tu stiietly com. merelal principles and confine it the ebjects almed a the erection of Improved dwellings in New to be rented at the lowest remanern: —The association to be conducted with the m rigid economs.°N jin ty to mifidence in the to be limit income wriking Ix to be 1 i government bonds antit this surpln eufficient amount to permit the erection of anutli ny AN bettdin, oubstantial, bat to five percent per an Mio invested. In tsof Wwatlde KH erected by the association to be Thoy are to be built in necordance cf] srory effort to bo made to for ench living nud 4 {ng rvom direct lyghe and ard lon bel th rivaey an i feds eyo rel tant rt 4 maiidings, when erected, to Inapocted, “y their condition {e'atinfactery, 90 as to ascertain th "Fighth—Kents to be paid weekly, neo payments, No rents be wold in the build nd an allowance made bo allowed tn arrears, new OF on the promt ‘The tenants to be subject to printed ri its to be selected with great ci will take a real interost in the ti CITY OF SEW YORK. y UR, sujoct 1g farther Of Hts Ineonn eo mi tweet i pei by gift or re ite income, | Re wal on to payable wr rh mn 5 ba reurcriptions tobe In sume of UR The money, jons become payable, to be depost Company, to the credit of the rmanent fund. '», by one vote to.esch $5,000 subscribed, NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 1879.-QUINTUPLE SHEET. to to choose a Loard of mine trugters. who shall have pow: fil vatenctes ie thalthneatse fund 1 be yested these trastoos, who shall expend rt in purebasing land w building improved dwellings in the ety of New York for the laboring classes, 4. All me derived from rent and other sources to be vested in a similar manner. No trustee to hold any paid office in connection with the trust; nor shall ans trustee receive payment for any agit any real estate or material to the trust, Sworn statement of the condition of the trust to be made public every year, 6, The buildings city, to be substantially built, to be pl decent and healthy homes, «ath sto be subject to printed rules and regula- ions. The janitors agents to be selected with great care from among those who will tuke a real interest in the ten- ant well as in the general prosperity of the association. &. No rent to be allowed to fall inte arrears, No liquor to be sold on the promises. 4. "The trustoee! to be capable of rocolving gifts and arious parts of the ned so us to afford 4 W. BAYARD COnTING, F. D. TAPPEN, Ww. AS’ ©. P. DALY. Ror atonmery, ‘New You, Marchi 21 THE VARIED GOOD WHICH MAY RESULT. Since their association together the commiltee have worked with the utmost harmony, and they express themselves as bound up, heart and soul, in the success of the scheme for a permanent building fund. “It will do good," remarked one of them, “in many different ways. Not only will the poor be prov! with good homes, but examples of the proper construction will be set whenever any D ts are built, and they of ot will, remain as Ce aaer ri ~models before the tyes of the capitalists. | When the people compare -with these the onesto which they have been accus- tomed they will forsake the latter as fast as they can tind better quarters, and it will cease to be profitable to put up such abomimable dwellings as now dis- grace our pretended civilization. A stock company, too, benevolently directed can do a vast deal of good, bunt only to the extent of its capital, whereas the permanent fund will be constantly increased, the proceeds being invested as rapidly ax it acernes. The abody Fund in London has already doubled, I believe, since 1862. There is no reason why New York shonld not have the manufacture ot all the articles de Paris which are used here; but some time ago, when an effort was made to induce a number of artisans at Worcester, Mass., to come to the city, they refused because of their dread of tenement house life. They said that they could not stand it. This illustrates the fact that the tenement house system has driven and kept away from New York a good many extensive and lucrative manufactures. We have here all the facilities sor manufacturing, but the provincial towns are preferred for this in- dustry, vecause under the conditions there existing workmen and workwomen can afford to accept smaller wages, being assured of pleasanter homes at Jess expense, “T think,” continued the committeeman, “that tho houses ot the fund ought to b> as widely ' separated as possible. Among other reasons, a popular move- ment might render some ot them inferior as prop- erty, butcould not affect them all in that way at the same time. Each of them will have a front of 100 feet, ax it has been conclusively shown that 9 large tenement house czunot be built to advantage on a single lot, No architectural plans haye yet been per- fected for us,’’ VIEWS OF AN ENGINEER WHO HAS STUDIED THE SUBJECT OF TENEMENT HOUSE REFORM—PLAN OF AN IMPROVED HOUSE—LIGHT, AIR, VENTI- LATION AND PRIVACY SECURED. At the present time many minds are busy seeking asolution of the tenement house problem. The re- cent meetings at the Cooper Institute and elsewhere have aroused a public interest in the subject that promises to be fruitful in good results. A great deal of talk and discussion on the evil and demoralizing influences of the tenement house system has been had, yet so far few really practicable schemes have been brought forward to remedy the abuses com- plained of. No doubt in time these will be forth- coming, as the subject is one that demands a great deal of time, thought and investigation. It is no new topic, for twenty years ago the subject of reforma- tion in the structure of tenement houses was as earnestly agitated as it is to-day. All along, however, no scientific solution of the question has been reached. General Egbert L. Viele, the engineer, has given the puzziing theme considerable study, andin a talk yesterday with a Hxratp reporter put forth some points on a new style of tenem&nt cunstruc- tion and a method of improving the existing tene- ments that must prove of interest to all who concern: themselves in this great social question. “This work of reforming the tenement houses,” said General Viele, ‘was begun as far back as the year,1859, At that time the New York Sanitary As- sociation was formed, and Professor M. Wetmore, Robert H. McCurdy, Frederick K. Mather, Frederick S.* Winston, Stephen Smith and myself were mem- Bers of the council, Wecontinued our labors from ‘that time until four years after, when we secured the pasange of an act by the Legislature constituting the present Board of Health. In the meantime we set to work to secure a thorough inspection of all the tenement houses in the city. This was a long and laborious undertaking. We employed Mr. Halliday, an earnest and intrepid sanitarian, and a corps of assistants to visit every house ia the entire city containing more than one family, and to, report upon the condition, architecture and personal characteristics of the people residing in them, That report was published about 1860 and contained much valuable statistical-information.”” Have you observed any improvements sinco then in tenement houses ?”” Well, the traditional tenement house, lacking every sanitary safeguard, still abounds, but there have been many improvements made through tho efforts of philanthropic and practical men, and in some instances, especially in London, the problem has met with a successful solution.” What do you expect from the present agitation?” it will undoubtedly help along the work of se- curing the erection of a better class of houses for the poor, but it seems to me very little practical in- formation has been added to the knowledge already possessed. A CITY IN WHICH ARCHITECTS ARE NEEDED. “It is very possible in the popular agitation of any subject to exaggerate unimportant points and over- look those that require most consideration, and that appears to have been the difficulty so far in the dis- cussion of this matter, We must not overlook the fact that tho very existence of a large city necessarily involves a dense population. People come together in large cities because of the advantages that accrue to them from the presence of great numbers, and it is absolutely necessary to their purposes that they should be in as close proximity to their business and labor as possible. Out of this has grown tho tenc- ment house system, which is not really bad in itself. but only in the way in which it is conducted. The original fault is with the so-called architect. The greater portion of this class are mere draughts men, with little’or no knowledge of their vocation. A few of them have common sense ideas, but most of them have no original conceptions at all, or havo yery extravagant and oufré fancies, The whole ar- chitecture of New York shows this, where splendid opportunities have been literally wasted on every side. Recently a number of persons were appointed to examine and pass upon 200 plans of as many different architects for a tenement houre to be built on a twenty-five foot lot, and like the three Scotch philosophers who undertook to determine why a fish did not dis place an amount of water equal to its bulk, they forgot the important factor that 2,000 square fect could not possibly be used as a home for four fam- ilies under any circumstances of decency or con- venience. This matter is under consideration by the recently organized Society of Municipal Engineers, and I can assurs-you that the plans they propose = have something more than imaginary ventila- EMEA FOR AN IMPROVED STYLE OF TENEMENT, “What might be your proposition for an improved style of tenement dwelling ?”* “It is very possible, in my opinion, to erect uy ‘8 lot 345x100 fect, or ‘say three houses on four lots 100x100, which will accommodate four families on one floor with conifort, privacy, air, ventilation and all the convent at may omwenwect by the most fortunate. On such a lot a building, according to location costing say including the land from $25,000 to $0,000, could be constructed after this plan. Tt shonid have an interior court in the of the lot lighted from above with a glass dome hav- ing proper ventilating appliances. Here the stair- case would be placed and made to connect with each floor by platforms and stand. ing independent of the surrounding walls. The building would be divided longitudinally through the centre by a partition wall extending as far ax the interior court trom front and rear. his partition wall would create two independent hall- ways, ito which the rooms of the several tant! would open and still be perfectly aeciided and free from observation, The entrance to each hallway opening on the landing of the interior staircase would be furnished with an iron grated door, closing with a cateh, and thus securing to each family the greatest privacy possible. In this hallway the children could be turned out to play when the mother is working at her domestic chores without coming in contact with other children or giving annoyance to anybody. Windows arc placed at the ends of the halls; and itis uite evident that acurrent of air, it any is to be ad, will be conetantiy passing through. Even in stunmer, when there is little oir optim outside, the at in temperature on cach side of the house will produce the necessary draught, while stronger currents will pass through theve hells when there is ; flues in which the cold air is more likely to desc | any wind, The following diagram gives an idea of the kind of teuément house I propose :"— MODEL OF A TENEMENT HOUSE. FRONT HAL! BALCONY BAY BAY WINDOWS WINDOWS SITTING SITTING ROOM ROOM BEDROOM 12 PAP’ TION WALL DINING ROOM & DINING ROOM & KITCHEN KITCHEN gate | cate | Pe STAIRCASE “Taare GAT! DINING ROOM EXPL “This diagram sents the tloor of atonement house on a lor 35x leaving space for a yard at the rear of 14 feet. first or ;round floor 18 devoted to busmess stores and janitor’s quarters, and, by the way, I don't think any tenement house should be allowed to exist without « janitor, who can produce a_ certificate from the Board of Health and Police Board as to his qnalltications., ‘This floor is arranged tor four fam- ilies, allowing three rooms 12x12 tect to each. The middle room is lighte1 with a window on both sides andatransom over the door. ‘The window in the rear room opens into the court, in which are located the water closets, coal bins and a lift for elevating the coal. The front rooms are lighted by bay windows, thus receiving air and light trom three different directions, and the balconies at the end of the hall give opportunity for placing lants there in the summer. The halls are divided ¥ a solid petition. Allowing six floors to a house and four families to a floor at an average a mouth the landlord would be in the yearly of $2,880,aaum equal to the rent of a first class house up town costing double as much to build. So that capital has every inducement to go into a specu- lation of this kind, which will not only prove a pecniary success, but a most exsential enetit to the moral and physicia! health of the cit IMPROVING THE EXISTING TENF MENTS, “What plan would you devise, General, for improy- ing thy condition ot the existing tenement houses ?”” “Where ventilation has been attempted in the tenement houses already constructed the result has Deen a failures because the effort was made to get Yerticul currents ot air to ascend through narrow A DINING ROOM & i KITCHEN sarokiene H BEDROOM BEDROOM PARTITION WALL SITTING SITTING ROOM ROOM BAY WINDOWS BALCONY continued General Viele, than the fon air'in the rooms to rise, and, as a matter of course, the tenonts shut off these descend- ing currents of coldmir, resulting in no ventilation atall, In those houses where there are no hallways runing through from front to rear horizontal enr- rents of air can be carried through on a line with the cellings in galvanised iron pipes, having openings tn every room through which they pass, and emerging on the tront and rear walls with grated openings.” HOUSES THAT SHOULD BE RYBUILT. “Would any amount of improvement rectify the radical defects in most ot these tenement houses?” ‘Many of these tenement houses, especially on the sere as, should. be aes Re is no doubt ¢ plastering used in most of. t) ements Sbsothe the infection inat shay’ ave Ban ae an time inthe rooms, and most of the tenements that have been built a number of years are unfit to be ocenp‘ed for the reason that the atmosphere of the rooms is constantly in contact with what the walls have absorbed from long occupancy by unclean ten- ants, It the walls were coverc cite acid it would form a coating impervious to the impurities of the air, and could be cleaned like « marble tablet. York Hospital some of the workmen were taken ill with typhoid tever,and several died, the infection emanating from the walls they were engaged in pull- ing down. though the rooms hed not been occupied for a long time previously.” “Where lies the great difflenlty in securing @ re- | form in tenement house constrnetion “Well, you sce the extreme value of land in New York makes tenement houses a necessity. They have sprang up within acomparatively short time, and have now become so numerous, and the amount of capital invested in them is 40 enormous, and the in- terest paid to owners in the shape ot rent is so great, that it seems almost an impossibility to accomplish y reform. ‘These tenements are almost imvarmbly coustructed as to make even tolerable ventilation entirely out of the question. If this city were not more favorably located for health than almost any other city on earth nobody could live here, Let the’ saine state of things exist in New Orleans and it would be decimated at once, and so would London, The tilth and odor of some of the tenement houses in this city are un- imagine i by respectable folks, and it is ne wonder that more people die in New York thau in almost any other city on the face of the globe. Our tene- ments for the masses are so constructed as to shut out the light and make ventilation an impossibility while the » dings withou bine the very elements of deat “Who are the men to undertake this reform?” “Well, it won't do to depend for the agitation of this subject on consulting plumbers with patent traps, It must be taken in hand by men of broad views and ample means, who can sec & good imvest- ment uristed to a philanthropic object.” are made to eom- A REPENTANT EMIGRANT, Among the steerage passengers who arrived on tho steamship Adriatic from Liverpool, on Friday last, was an Irishman, forty-two years of age, named James Gleeson, who, while under the intluence of liquor, deserted his wife iva five children on the other side, leaving them without a penny. Ho was exceedingly penitent over this action on his ,part, and in piteous terms begged to be sent back to his family. His story was as follows:—He occupied a small farm in the county Waterford, Ireland, and by means of it managed to earn subsistence tor his wite and httle ones. Times were so hard that he did not have money enough to buy seed to plant on his ground, and, with the consent of his | wife, he determined to dispose ot two cow! of his stock, About three weeks ago. he st the animuls for the fair ot Clonmel, where he dis- posed of them to a farmer for the sum of £20, Un- fortunately for himself he went on a spree, and did not remember any of his wanderings until he woke up one morning and found that he was in Queens- the last od with town. He started to make a tour ot the city, and, during his ramble, came across | an acquaintance irom the same part of the country as himself. Together they went on a gloriows drunk and Glecson was persuaded to come to America, He purchased two steerage tickets—ou for his friend and the other for himselt. th » in the oy, Adriatic. U ‘was thoroughly saturated with whiskey at the time, and during the voyage was attacked with delirium tremens, becoming #0 violent tnat the officers of the hay 4 were forced to put him in a straitjacket. Before his arrival ho was brought back to his proper senses, and remorse over the desertion of his family made him almost crazy. His £20 were all gone, hav- ing paid €12 12s, for the passage tickets and spent the rest in drink. Superintendent Jackson will send Gleeson back to Ircland without delay. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT. Commissioner Campbell, of the Department of Public Works, requests that the people of the city will not waste the Croton water, The reservoirs are at present pretty low, and an economical use of the Croton will help to ineroase the volume, CALIFORNIA MINING STOCKS, SAN Francisco, March 22, 1879. ‘Tho following were the official closing prices of mining stocks to-day: Hale & Noreros: Julia Con ; Tustice . i Mexican 4 Northern oy Ophir, 254 Overn mond & Crown Point. Eureka Con. ion Con Exchequer. 4" Yellow Jacket... Gould & Curry TM Bodie vive, Grand Prize. 4 ‘ with a wash of sili- | In the tearing down of the old New | ALARMED OFFICIALS, Cooper’s Proposed Action. THREATENED REMOVALS. | What the Municipal Society Say | About Street Cleaning Abuses. GRORGE TICKNOR CURTIS’ CRITICISM. ‘The Right To Be Heard by Counsel Guar- anteed by the Constitution. Yesterday was a comparatively dull day at the City Hall. The batch of rumors started on Friday last, by which it was made to appear that various Tam- many off including even the head of the organt- zation, Comptroller Kelly, were to be removed by Mayor Cooper, excited universal comment. Other official decapitations wore to follow Mr. Kelly's re- moval, and the entire patronage of the city, so far as it could be, was to be placed at the disposal of the combination city government, But these rumors were all set at rest by the positive devial of Mayor Cooper. In consequence of this the frequenters of the Mayor's office found but little to occupy themselves about yesterday, except the fact that Mayor Cooper had not taken action upon the charges made against Police Commissioners Smith, Erhardt and Nichols. Various constructions were put upon the delay of the Mayor. It was said that His Honor was afraid to send the documents to Governor Robin- son for many reasons. It was said that chief among | these was the fact that certain prominent lawyers claimed that nothing that was not part of the record, and was contained in the charges made against the three’ Commissioners, could be transmitted to Albany. All of the memoranda of His Honor was intended to be placed before the Governor, but, in view of the fact that there appears to be some doubt as to the legality of this action, Mr. Cooper, it is said, has preferred to wait a while before teking decided | measures to remoye the three Commissioners. Those who claimed to be in possessl: {all the facts gave as an additional reason for the Mayor's delay his | fear of the lawyers going before the Supreme Court and obtaining a writ of certiorari to review the pro- ceedings at the public hearing given by the Mayor on Wednesday last. By many it was thought that General Smith, President of the Police Board, will escape the Execu- tive guillotine. It was urged in sustaining this | point that it will be shown that General Smith has | been, for instance, opposed to the course of Captain Williams, and that his efforts at reform were de- feated in the Hoard; further, that he was months | ago in favor of cleaning the streets by contract, but that his desire in this respect lacked co-operation not only among his colleagues, but also on the part of the’ Mayor, to whom Genoral Smith made the suggestion. Mr. Willard Bartlett, the counsel of General Smith, informed a Hxrratb reporter that his client's atten- tion had been called to the statement in the news- papers emanating from the Muyor’s office to the | effect that in his tours of observation for material to | be used against the Commissioners the Mayor had been accompanied by Mr, Henry E. Pellew and Mr. - William E. Dodge, Jr. These gentlemen, he said, had beon considerably annoyed by the use of their names in this connection. Their object, he stated, in gecompanying Mayor Cooper in his pilgrimages was to ¢xamine into the abuses of the tenement | house system as developed at the recent meeting | held at the Cooper Institute, and not to collect data about the filthy streets to be used against the Police | Commissioners, Commissioners Smith and Nichols were at the Central Office early in the di had no news to impart. Later in the Smith had an interview with his counsel at the lat- ter’s downtown office. Late last evening the Mayor said that the papers | in the removal cases had not ‘been sent to Albany, Me refused to say when they would go or whether Wild Rumors Circulating About Mayor | ‘ | pointment in’ hie place of ex-Assembiyman James | arrested, but he had not yet seen the warrant. | books of the offi they would be sent at all, on the ground that he never made “prediction: Among the many methods adopted by Mayor Cooper to make himself | thoroughly acquainted with the management of the | Street Cleaning Bureau was to examine all reports or documents that had becn prepared bearing on the subject. The principal evidence against the bureau’ was obtained trom an ably prepared report of a committe » New York Municipal ‘ Society, read before that body on Jan IsTx, It was gotten up by Messrs. Thatcher M ms and Jackson 8. Schultz, | Mr. Adams is a treq aller | on Mr. Cooper, and has supplied him, it is said, with | much valuable informatio: AN ABSURD EXCUSE. | One of the many ‘uses offered by the Street | Cleaning Bureau for their neglect to properly clean | the streets has to the effect that the stutl could | not be taken to sea; that if they attempted to do so they would be arrested and punished by a State ofi- cer, known as the Shore Inspector, who had complete | jurisdiction over the matter. This excuse is treated in the following manner in the report to the Muni- cipal Society Hos and stroot matter within sare tite, and nood t from the city daily, itarall, Much of it is available for filling | | low lands. The street swe: a certain value as | | manure, and were forn for that | purpose, bringing in someth ke contd be fi at fixe then The garbage, taken when fresh an com! ere din quanti ortain known places and prices a market would soon be established for without admixture, former screened supplying him with all the fuel for his machinery), and re- | thom this long distance between nine and twelve | k each night | frotttedt with the Pattee ommixsie ors he pros all the i a xponse all the garbage ¢ offered, and his offer rey nbor 26, INT7, to collect z a 3 : 3 z = 3 Police Hoard have no power to make, and, therefore, no on was taken im regard to it doubt HOW IT COULD BR DONE. The report then goes on and recites various ways in which the separation might be made without much, it any troubh king on the subject, the establishment of a force charged with the collec: tion of garbage alone is advocated, As this constitates but ten per cent of the city refuse, ontinge Messrs, Adams and Wt is idle te elaine double the present nre fis rem 5 a tight bb Vd, amber pas Any default to com: i be promptly reported—it Police Commidsioners td the eartmen, the whole police for ‘ upon the | foreed tnt 0 to seurbayo was $79) from sales, making the net cost #4 A SERONG ARRATONMENT., After giving the resnits of the operation of the contract system in clot ning the streets, as practised in Philadelphia, the report rurther says A more As cuse of and when, | h | pers about a desire on th | Mayor | lawyer is liable to be | counsel is past transaction and it is a public ques- | itv”? and honestly and Yr | moval is in conte: Eng forward wu of the pops rest idle thonsel v work to simply availin ings wud of th por and business-like method. GRAVE CHARGES, Among the other matters that wi brought to the notice of His Houor, the effect that the Street Cleaning Bu is managed rather in the interests of party than of cleau streets ; that its chief office is to provide sinecures for ward | ns and those of ligher grade behind them in hat mach of the public moneys disbursed by its managers goes to men who yield little, if any, ‘alue in return, and that the money so diverted trom its legitimate object should, if rightly and properly expended, suffice not only to keep’ this city abun- dautly clean and purchase all necessary material for so doing, but yield a snrplus for return to the city fis at the end of the year. The report con- nues ?— Wo further charge that the wages paid laborers are excessive, munch above the merit of employes, than laborers Wt command that such w ipl potit ¢ Coomissioners are ut peril of their ow obedient eur places, in euse | thi res, but hen the ca rd one n ins iden the fac the only duty members of the ion of the officers by patrolmen of ° he reports, is the report pets which i the The report then gives comparative statements of the cost of cleaning the streets in various large cities and closes by publishing a list of the employes of the Street Cleanii RW. At the Register's and ‘lerk’s offices there was a throng of ward politicians who. stood on guard until the deors were closed — late in the afternoon, anxiously awaiting news of the latest developments in what the politicians call “the cireus.” At the office of the County Clerk there was a throng of Mr. Thoinpson’s: personal and political friends, all of whom seemet in @ fever of nervous expectancy respecting the rumors that a warrant of arrest against the newly appointed official would be served during the day, and the presence of half a dozen policemen guarding the portals ot the office did not have the effect ot allaying the disqmetude felt on this score. Late in the afternoon Mr. Thompson drove up to the Court House after an absence of an hour or two, and promulgated three changes in the personnel ot the office. ‘These were the removal of John E. Wade, Mechanics’ Lien Clerk, and the ap- Fitzgerald, ot the Sixteenth Assembly district; Jobn A. Slevin, a brother of Alderman Slevin, of the Four- teenth ward, was removed from the position of Re- cording Clerk, and ex-Assistant Alderman Thomas Mulhgan, of the Eleventh Assembly district, substi- tuted, aud James Kearney, Recording Clerk, removed. In place of the latter the new appointee is ex-Assem- blyman Cotonet Michael C. Murphy, of the First As- sembly district. MM, THOMPSCN SPEAKS, Mr. Thompson told a reporter of the Hrrarp that he had heard rumors that he was to be arrested, but he had not yet been served with a warrant, nor was he advised whether one was forthcoming. He added that the business of the office was proceeding regularly. He will make no changes at present’ among the court clerks, but it is unotiicially learned that a clean sweep in this direction will be made within a short time. ‘The counsel of the new incumbent was busily engaged in examining the fee lists befided diby the clerks attached to the office and comparing them with the statutes, The list, it is expected, will be completed early ‘next’ week. Mr. Henry J. Ford, the new Deputy County Clerk, said the clerks, with bat one or two exceptions, were disposed to work harmoniously. He had heard that he was to bo | In fact, he was rather anxious to be arrested, so as to | have the matter speedily settled, A request made by Mr. Gumbleton for certain met with an answer by letter, to the cffect that the books in question were the prop- erty of the County Clerk’s ofhce, and not the personal property of Mr. Gumbleton. ALSO MR, GUMBLETON, A reporter of the Hrmaty met Mr. Gumbicton, with Mr. McLoughlin, his tormer deputy, at the office of Mr, Beach in the course of the after- noon. “Lhere aro a good many wild rumors, said ho, “but this you can say by my au- No steps have n taken looking to my re- gaining possession of the office io which I was elected. And in reference to the story about a war- rant having been issued at my request for M Thompson's arrest you may be equally certain tl no warrant has been applied for by anybod Mr. Gumbleton was very courteous and. self-pos. sessed, but there was a certain mental reservation about his manner that lett grounds ‘to assume that, legally, the end is not yet. Mr. William A. Beach, his connsel, will leave the city for Rochester to-night, where he will probably be detained tor several days. Upon his return, there is reasott to believe, proceed: ings will begin inthe courts to test the lega ity ot Mr. Thompson's occupancy of the office. REGISTER LOEW. Register Loew was at his office all day, rd nothin He had except what had appeared in the pa- rt of some of the inem- bers of the Bar Association's committee to endeavor to bring his case to the attention of the Grand Jury. "Mr. Loew left his office for home about four o'clock, and up to that hour nothing had occurred to give him concern on the subject. Among the attachés of the office the idea scemed gencral that the dismissal of the charges | against the Register by the Governor had put an end e matter and that the Bar Association would before proceeding turther. | ritmors flew thick and fast, with many rs. Corporation Counsel Whitney left his office | . and those who sought i nation as to whether FE. D. Gale had already or would soon be removed from the office of Attorney for the Collection of Arrears of Personal Taxes and Assessments, had too seek it elsewhere, Among those supposed to be well in- formed in the matter of the crusade against the Tammany officials it was generally believed that not only would Mr. Gale be remo’ but that | the work of decapitation woul extend tion Attorney boyd, both whose came trom’ Mr. Whitney, whieh now understood, to be in open warfare Cooper against Mr. Kelly and his | followers. The rumors of the day connected the Coroners’ office with an carly overhauling, and con- siderable uneasiness seemed to be felt in the Mul- berry street office in consequence, and it was also | ispered that tite management of the Fire Depart- | ment will not escape the general serutiny that every- | body seems to assume is now about to be made over | Corpora- appointments official, is ‘with “all the departments where abuses are believed to | exist. | A WEIGHTY LEGAL OPINION. Areporter of the Hrnatp last evening called upon Mr. George Ticknor Curtis at his residence, and asked him to give his views regarding the proceed- ings against the Police Commissioners. Mr. Curtis, who satin his library, surrounded by a pyramid of | legal authorities, felt reluctant about expressing his opmion, but when urged the following conversation | . OCurtis, do you think that the Mayor has the — power to appoint 4 successor to Mr, Erhardt without the consent of the Board of Alderi “Leannot answer that vestigation, and, as it touches a matter on whieh any | onsulted by parties concerned, r to say nothing about it. | nduct of the Mayor in refusing to al- missioners to be heard by their | 1 should pret “Well, the low the Police tion, ‘Yes; I regard the conduct of the Mayor as ex- ceedingly objectionable, and I have wen with regret nt to the effect that he acted under the 1 do not know t; but Leannot concur in ority that was taken by It has Are you willing to express an opinion upon | i} tever advice he acted. been Suggested that this removal of public off is a executive act, and not at all a judicial proceeding. In my opinion the distinction | is not well taken in the sense and with the conse- quences claimed for it, It must be remembered that under the charter of this city the heads of depart- the Mayor, under wh: z ments may be removed by the Mayor for cause and after opportunity to be heard, subject, however, such removal | take effect to the approval of — the = | ernor ¢ order that | pining in ail cases whether sufticient cw Mayor is re- | quired to lay his reasons for the removal before the Governor in writing. These provisions in. effect tablish a tribunal of two. branches. In the first justance the Mayor is to find the existence of « cause, and in finding it he is to give the officer y to be heard, ‘The finding having » the Governor he is to-approve the Governor before it can take — effect. Now, the act of removal a public officer is undoubtedly an executive act; but the pro» coedings before the Mayor in ascertaining the cause upon ah is beyond all question in my Judgment of a judicial nature. He is not to | act 1 policy, or uy is to find a cause. caprice, he is not to act upon political 1 any outside policy whatever, but he This cause can be none other than unfitness for the discharge of the dutics, and in finding the existence of such a cause the Mayor must exercise judgment, uly certify the results of his to be t of the person whose te- plation shall be alowed to adduteo anything whatever that p at to ® tee and sound Judgment upon the evideuce of the atleged cause, ment. Op y that the accused off portnni A CONSTITUTIONAL BIGUT. The sixth section of the iret article of the consti- T tution of the State, which article contains what is commonty catled the Bill of Rights, embraces the ‘And in auy trial im apy court party accused shall be allowed to ap pear and deteud in persou and with counsel as in civil actions,” This provision is found in company with those other great seenrities of per- sonal rights which the constitution bas establisued for all persons whatever, who dwell or are present within the limits of the State. I cannot doubt that the proceeding b »the Muyor by which he is to as ertain as a preliminary step for the action of the Thor the existence of a cause for removing a heii of one of the city departments is a trial in @ court within the me sin: stitutionad provision. The Legis! opinion, bas not made and a law which will authorize one exe officer to remove another tor , Without allowing such officer to be heard by counsel if he shall elect to be so heard, The constitutional provision is too broad and peremptory to allow of the exercise of such power, It is to be observed that the language of the constitutional grovision does not confine it to pro- eodings usually called criminal or to proceedings in minal courts. The langnage is, in any trial’ in any, court whatever.” A court martial, for example, or a military court of inquiry, is not necessariiy a criminal court. The proceeding may be instituted for something less than punishment for crime, yet no one would probably claim that an aceused person cam be made to detend = in a court: imartial ‘or military court of: im quiry, without being allowed, in seme form, the “ aid of counsel. Wherever there is @ party accused of anything stwhding — before any kindof tribunal which has the power to intliet upon him any penalty, whether it be a loss of liberty or of property or of ottice, he must be allowed to de- fend by counsel or the constitution wiil be violated. Ido not know whether the public properly appreei- ates the nature of the privilege whet the law secures to the members ot the legal profession. It is net a privilege ot a merely personal nature, bestowed for their own advantage, but it is a trust with which they are clothed ior the security aud safety of their jow-men. The order of meu who are described in the bill of rights as “connrel” are persons who are set apart by the law to detend their fellow-citizens against every kind of public aceusa- tion that may be brought against them in any tribunal whatever, and in all tribunals where there is a public accusation of any kind to be heard and determined, counsel have the same rights of speech and action that they have in all civil tribunals in which they appear to claim or defend any civil right. ‘Lo pre- tend that this privileze can be withheld or ied in a proceeding which ix exsen- ly judicial in its nature, because that pro- ding when perfected may result in the executive act of removmg a public otiicer, seems to be a posi- tion entirely untenable. Mayor Cooper, perhaps un- consciously, has done a great wrong. I ought to add, however, that I know nothing of the merits or de- merits of the Police Commissioners, and that I have no personal acquaintance with any one of them.” POLICE COMMISSIONER WHEELER IN WASHING- TON—DECLINES TO SAY ANYTHING ADOUT THE ACCUSED POLICE COMMISSIONERS—SAYS HE IS NOT INCLUDED IN MAYOR COOPER'S CHARGES, [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1 Wasuineton, March 22, 1879. Police Commissioner Wheeler is staying in Wash- ington fora short time, having come here on his way to Aiken, S. C., seeking rest and intending to remain South until his health is improved. He says he informed Mayor Cooper of his intention to leave New York several weeks ago and told him his address was at Police Head- quarters if he wanted him. At the time he left New York he says nothing was known to him of the pend- ing difficulty, and no charges having been mado against him he has nothing to say on the subject of the removal ot his associates, He has no doubt that it is the intention of the Mayor to remove the Commissioners, but whether he is to be included is not known to him. Mr. Wheeler does not question the authority of Mayor Cooper to carry out his determination. The parties removed will undoubtedly protest, and the question whether they are to remain out of office will be for the courts HAS NOTHING To say. ™ In reply to the questicn whether he had anything to say in explanation to the alleged troubles, he said he did not wish to express any opiniou now. ‘The gentlemen arraigned were fully competent to take care ot. their side, and as he was not one of the parties accused he did ‘not see why he should make any statement ut this time. “Do you intend to visit Aiken before returning to New York?” i “I cannot tell you now whether I shall carry out my purpose in leaving New York. My health is not good, and when I lett New York it was my inten- tion to yo direct to South Carolina. I tound the weather very agreeable here im Washington, and shall remain for a while anyhow. At least I shall not go back to New York until the spring is further ad- vanced and the cold weather at an end. TAMMANY’S SOLACE, THE HEROES OF THE WIGWAM CONDOLING WITH THE EX-COUNTY CLERK--CONDEMNING GOY- ERNOR ROBINSON AND MAYOR COOPER, ‘The Tammany Committee on Organization held a long session last evening in the Wigwam on Four- teenth street. All the prominent members were | present, it having been whispered abont that busi- | ness of more than usual importance was to be trans acted, After some routine matters had been acted upon the following series of preambles and resolu- tions were adopted Whereas we are now upon. the hose ixsne will in all | ir government in t again dem: i the State of New York are absolutely cess of the democratic party in the that the triumph of democracy in ve of a hoe th e can only be secured when by presenting a united front to, our opponents the full vote of the party in ‘the city ork is polled : snd wherems the full di ork cannot be po e party, and while a seltish agra the city ti violence to a ty and reply to its calls must of necessity fo retaliation und perpetuate y passion, prov fatal diss ry therefore, Resolved, That this orgdnization hereby st against the ee of ti solemn pro wartare wh oeratic vo this city, whe the banner of Tammany Hall, republicans and'fu WSR Necessary conseq ts, to in- irretriovable disaster thi ¥ in the State and nation, olved, That it deprecates and condemns the course of ror Lucins Robinson in removing from offies, with- se, County Clerk Henry A. Gumbleton, a faith and eiicicnt public oficer of trained abitit est erity, recent by the Jority text ot reform, but with the Few d, of putting inhis place » the position than hts yzation in this city, = pai ar rh of the oppo EA p vse wm Clork’s Office for the benefit, of the petty fac- ch, for the time being, he yields bts allegiance. Resolved, That we condemn the action of the Gover Foferenee to the charges preferred against erick W. Loew in suspending over his ben official decapitation with the transparent pa yorizing that official int the views of his perseeu Resolved, That it di Mayor Cooper during the the Coanty wh ose of ter- & self-debasing compliance with rs. wunces the despotic conduct of dings against the Police in orderive under arrest the counsel who. in had the courage to read their clic subordinate ambition of ne . and bility. for the fatal consequence r ast inevitably ro- suit from @ continnation of the present condition of affairs KID GLOVE REAPPRAISEMENTS. It will be rememtered that a fow weeks ago some extensive invoices of kid gloves, consigned to A. T. Stewart & Co., were advanced in price by the Ap- praiser’s oxaminers, through tho instrumentality of the spectal agents of the Treasury. The importers sought the only remedy available to them, that ot a reappraisement. Tuis was granted, and the mor- chant appraisers appointed by the Collector wero Messrs. Horace B. Claftin, of H. B. Claflin & Co., and W. H. Halstead, ot Halstead, Hines & Co., who acted The the and four signed a on three former invoices respectively. report advancing gloves from forty-two frances to forty. francs, while Mr, Malstead’s report advanced these ‘goods from forty-two francs to forty-six francs per dozen, with an increase of three francs for each additional button. General Ketchum made o | report on this subject to the Collector as far back as February 1, but it was not acted upon by the latter until within the past week, General Ketchum ad- vanced the price of the gloves from forty-two to of five francs for wach additio This re ‘nap. proved by © erritt, and there is, therefore, no appeal from it, ‘The advance being more than 10 per vent carries with it a penalty of 20 per cent on the invoice price of the goods, This de cision will affect many more inveices of the same kind of merchandise, involving probably several hundred thousand dollars, The report of General Ketchum covered fifty-two pages ot closely written matter, embracing the testimony of a large number of witnesses as well as the Treasury agents’ nade from investigation into the trade, as . The decision of the 1s created great oxsitement unless © “an obtain no res among the inp os to theit relief they ¢ Tess CO! Hires. The fact of their asking fot « reaypraisemeut is a waiver of subsequent advances, whieh pres 4 cludes the t from taking bis cage into court.