The New York herald., 1873-11-08

the employment OF several thousand laooring men
during the winter, has led the sufferers to turn
their eyes toward this department OF the municipal
government. Day alter day the doors and obbes
OF the offices on Union square are thronged with
anxious faces asking, even heseeching, employ
ment. The homes OF the members OF the Board are
visited nearly every evening by these same labor
ing men asking that something be done to keep
them from the verge OF starvation. The coun-
tenances OF these men show the burden
OF their hearts. one man who now
has Just been thrown out OF work by the reduction
of the number OF employees in an east side factory.
The next his present critical position TO the
shutting down OF machine shop in which he has
been employed. Even tradesmen are threatened
with like Distress for in these times OF stress and
storm to lose place is to be cast upon the mercy
OF the world The most hopeful reports which
newspaper man receives at any place are, I'VE
are not discharging any men, but we are not en-
ploying any additional force"
PLACES ARE NOT TO BE FOUND
even by the most deserving workmen in some Oh
the trades. This being the case, there is no way
out OF absolute distress but to seek, anu II pos
sble, obtain employment in the service OF the city.
The plainly printed notices to workmen are passed
unheeded at the door, and each prospective suf-
ferer Is convinced that he can impress the Board
with the necessities OF his particular case. The
President OF the Department regrets his inability
to give the aid to the needy which his
heart would prompt: but the inability OF the Board
to employ men whom there is not any money In
the treasury to pay renders them powerless 70
anard any relief
reporter OF the HERALD called upon President
Salem H. Wales yesterday afternoon to learn the
intention Of the Park Commission regarding the
employment OF laborers during the coming winter
"wlll the stringency in the money market affect
the progress OF the work In your departmentW
asked the reporter.
Yes; the panic affects US very materially y re-
department Of the city government In August
last we made requisition on the Board OF Award
for $500 600, to maintain the condition OF the
parks. 1t was promptly voted and paid over TO us.
This amount viii be barely sufficient to run US
through the year, on decreased basis OF employ
ment We shall be compelled TO reduce the force
on the maintenance OF the parks and to transfer
the men to the construction gang on Morningside
Park.n
WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM
What Is the object OF this transfer, may askS"
inquired the HERALD man.
Wales. Were the transfer not made the men
would certainly have to be discharged or work for
reduced 1t certainly cannot be increased. No one
Is more sorry than that the department Is power
less TO help the poor; but we have no money!
'Where does the fund which maintains tho
ParE Commission come from2 How is the money
raised w asked the reporter.
~ am glad TO explain this, y said Mr.. Wales, "aa
the people DO not generally understand how II il
that we are really more crippled than any other
department IN the city. There are two funds from
which the moneys used by this Board drawn,
The construction fund comes from the Legis
lature and accrues from the sale OF bonds.
The negotiation OF these bonds rests with
the Comptroller, and while he Is bound by law ID
furnish the money, he cannot do so unless the
bonds are negotiable. That Comptroller Green has
had great trouble in raising money on these bonds
there is no doubt This does not help us out any,
however, and we must look to the Comptroller for
the money. Thus you see that when we take men
OF the maintenance force and put them on the
construction gang we relieve our municipal appro-
prlation at the sacrifice or the legislative grant.
The fund Tor maintenance is derived, as before
stated, from the Board OF Estimate and Award.
When the award is made we are sure OF our money
II there Is any in the city treasury. II we had
more money, by pushing the work on the new
parks we could employ several hundred more men,"