The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-05
THE BOARD OF APP0R IEONMENT.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The economical administration OF municipal
affairs Is desirable consumnaton to every tax
payer To eject that result parties have been or
ganized and whole volumes written. But the neces-
slties of the public the safety OF life and property,
In a great metropolis require efficiency as well as
economy. The Board OF Apportlonment, to meet
an unexpected emergency have 1naugurated plan
by which they propose to make reduction OF fifty
per cent the appropriations for certain branches
or departments OF the city government and re-
duction OF twenty per cent on oil salaries OF $4,000
aud upwards. III the city government can be con-
Quoted on this reduced basis 1t Is wen. The tax
payer Will ind reiief IN the burden imposed
q tine when many branches OF business
and trade are inactive ana appreciate -
the deduction Of salaries VIII find their principal
consolation in mutual sympathy. But II the CITY
annual expense OF former years, Notwithstanding
It's rapid growth, 1t affords evidence That IL has
been extravagaatiy aasaedea ~ .e ps1, anu
Apportionment TO the highest credit. IL has been
claimed however, that under the metropolitan sys.
TEN OF commissions economy was exercised, and
the expenses reduced US far as practicable IN the
various departments, with view TO relieve those
entrusted with them from the constant attacks TO
which they were subject by large pronorton OF
the citizens and OF the press who were opposed to
the system OF State appointments. The comns-
sioners holding Office in hostile constituency were
many of them men OF character and position, seek
Ing the good OPINION OF their Fellow citizens, and
having a claim TO the business and social
respect of those from whom they were
selected, and being conscious that they neld Their
positions for u short period only, endeavored to
popuarlze both their administration ana that under
which they held olce. by touching the pubic purse
as lightly as possible. The Citizens Association,
those stern censors OF the public expenditures had
often investigated the working OF the departments
and advised the public N their reports that all was
well and economically done, and the people be-
eved those trusty sentinels who, conscious OF pu.
rity IN themselves watched over the stewardship IT
others The year that has elapsed since the appoint
| ment of the Commissioners by the Mayor mas deve-
oped no evidence OF largely increased expenditure,
and, where has occurred 1t has been attributed
TO the over-economy OF the state commissioners, en-
taing'larger repairs ana supplies lban would cave
been necessary where less caution their disOur5e
ments, whether from necessity or Tor political
eject, had been heretofore exercised. suddenly
We are startled by q bulletin from the Board OF
Apportiontment, which marShals an array or figures
TO be reduced, as we have stated hlty per cent.
Everybody gratifed at this healthy return to an
old fashioned budget and everybody Is Interested TO
know now Is to be done. the following items are
from the list Of present expenses, exclusive oI saa
res ana of the deductions to be made:--
rs Lnated needei. Appropriations.
Health Department. Sl63 900 $4,000
Dept OF pub. Charities l,24d,5i5 623,27
Police Departmental. 2eL433 i4s, t54
Fire Department 236,00J $4,000
Board VI Education. !, l25.500 b62, 100
| These large deductions from the estimated ey-
! penses made by the officers Ia charge, Ii practical
bic VIII lead TO heavy saving In our CITY expenses
and each OF the departments affected Is best ca
| paDle OF deciding what amount oil service caa pc
| reference TO one OF these departments we venture
to express doubt the feasibility OF the reduc-
|
| year Sg5700o or thIs amount $4,000 was Tor
pay OF officers, and employees which Is the rea-
| Board oi Apportionment the other reduction OF
| s13s.000 falling on its other items OF outlay. The
number OF men and OF companies Is admitted to be
OF present too small. Above Flty-ninth street the
| island, with population OF ST. s26. besides the pub
lie institutions the city islands requiring protec
| ton is covered by eight nalf paid companies only
| five engine and three hook and Understanding
but thirty full paid o.Hcers ana men, with hfty-
three other men receiving $500 per annum each for
their service at fires, whe the increase o! popuia-
ton, OF residences, values and places OF business IN
that section mas oech me cause Oh an urIehe pres.
sure on the part OF the citizens for additional and
full paid companies which we know II mas been the
intention OF the Board to afford ut an early day.
But assuming that tnat Increase with the attendant
expense OF buildings apparatus and horses Is acan
| doned from the want. oil means, ana, looking at
! the present force and Its expenses, there are
In the city thirty engine companies and fifteen
/ hook and ladder companies with lj1 horses. TO TIC
Kept in condition. renewed aud led and snod; eighty
! buildings, including nine bell towers, hfty-two mp
paratus houses eigEt Tael depots hospital stables,
| repair and work shops TO be kept In order, In a
vice III which they are subject 10 co instant depreca-
| ton all to be supplied with material ana necessa
/ RES IN which gas and fuel alone form larre Item
the most extensive system OF city tcleg aph In the
world 10 he supplied valuable apparatus to be CON
| santantly watched, repaired and renewed; hose, Il
| very expensive and pcrlshaDle article. To be pur
! chased; quarters 10 be furnished. with necessary
| bedding &C., for the men, and lnnumerL5le other
| items. Including other material supplies, printing,
stationery, &c, to be met, Tor all OF which the Fire
past Xperience Tor S25G 0O0 whicn reduced by
Board or Apportloament To Si3,ooo. This sum is all
aoout $780, 000 find by reference to the report
| OF the commemorative additional amount now
| required beng, rs we are informed, Intanded 10
meet heavy repairs TO buildings and renewals OF bed
dng &C. &C., and other items not included III tho last
| year, but rendered the more necessary from past
! economy II The Fire Commissioners can carry
| the department on the amount awarded they VIII
be wortny OF great praise, but instead Of the mag,
nIiicent aud encient department they now control
we fear we must look for a dtapidated and feeble
| successor Horses must be well led To be eflcient-
| IL was no fault OF Eosnante that Don Qulxote was
| not more effective horseback, but the want OF
provender that shone through her RIBS. Coal at It's
present nigh rates, must be had. TO dry the fremen
| and keen them warm TO generate the steam and TO
Keep the water OF the engines heated; gas, TO hight
the quarters and the men when preparing for duty:
| apparatus aud horses must constantly cared for
and repaired or renewed, and any undue economy In
the details covered by the $3.50 asked will
only reduce the safety or the citizens from fire. but
leave the property OF the depart nent In such con-
dtion at the end OF the year as To require the outlay
| OF many times the amount saved in the next TO re-
store to Its present efficiency, which mas cone TO
be necessity az well as suoJect OF PRIDE TO the
citizens Of New York. If the reduction IS intended
merely as "shot across the bow" 10 warn the de-
partments against extravaganza 1t Is well but II II
IL really TO be enforced we rear thai IL VIII require
closer study OF their real necessities than time has
allowed the Board OF ApporIlonment 10 bestow, ana
that they may feel called upon on nearing the facts
to modify their Of reform while pursuing their
prasew0rthy determination 10 cheek all unnecessary
expenditure. The paid Fire Department was Gre
afed in the winter OF 1855. The expenses OF the Vol
unteer Department for The item OF Fire machines
aud apparatus" for the year 1864 as appears IN the
Couptroler's report for that yearl Including eleven
engines and seven new tenders, was a. follows
ls63-DecemDer 81, balance oil former APP
Nay q appropriated by ordinance ........ $4,000
SCOOPS
Expended. Observation-Disclosures. l5.,35T
1SGi-Dccember 81, balance $l,657
The amount expended Tor this ilem alone being
$35,357 within that year than u proposed To
be allowed for the entire expenses of the present
department, including that item and excepting only
Its paw roll rs fixed by law and only .642 less
than the estimate OF the Commissioners as necessary
fowl n nnf WI
Will be seen by this how largely the Of the
department had already been reduced before the
action OF the Board OF Apportonment There
may DC other departments IN which similar obsta-
cles TO this sweeping reform exist; but from
some experience ana knowledge OF the paic Fire
Department., We are convinced that In the proposed
economy the greatest should be taken, as ~
% ,lofA Ann or