The New York herald., 1873-11-11
EMPLOYMENT ON THE CITY WORKS.

Wholesale Discharge OF Laborers-Want
OF Money and the Obstructiveness OF
the Comptroller.
The great noating population OF New York which
depends upon the city for its support either in the
almsnouses or on the public works, is now in a
lair way to renew its clamor against the heads Of
the city departments. The belief that several
thousand men must be supported by the city has
grown up as one OF the effects OF our system OF
politics. Many men have ceased to rely upon their
own efforts to obtain and retain work. The old
adage that .the world owes us q livingr is men,
tally quoted by them each day. The heads OF the
Departments all seem anxious to do what can be
done with the money at their disposal toward re.
iievlng the present and prospective distress The
want OF money Is daily growing more pressing,
and the prospects for the workingmen are con-
seguently becoming worse with each hour.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
reporter OF the HERALD called on Commissioner
Van Mort yesterday to ascertain the facts regard
ing the wholesale discharge OF men in that de-
partment. He was courteousy welcomed, and re-
1erred by the Commissioner to Mr. Barker, chief
clerk. Mr.. Barker said Things are coming Just
about as the Commissioner OF Public Works
prophesied they would. You will remember that
Mr.. Van Mort protested against the action OF the
Board OF Apportionment and had correspondence
with the Mayor on the subject. But nothing came
OF 1t that has been OF any assistance to this depart
mentv
"How many men have been discharged up to
date on account OF the money stringencys"
'There were nearly 400 discharged on Satur-
day.
what class OF laborers did they belong to ?,
''They were principally cartmen, PAYERS, ram
mers and aborers. Men engaged on repairing
Belgian, concrete and stone pavements were also
.Dd this comprise all the men discharged p,
moi az all. We carried few over Saturday
resources Of the department made it Imperative
tnat further reduction should be maze. So this
T,r mIrnimg soo more were struck on the pay rolls
thrown out Of work Just because we can't pay
"Does the Comptroller hammer the denar,.
mentr'g asked the reporter.
''In this way. Large contracts are TO be awarded
sooner or later, for laying new Croton mains and
opening new streets E the upper end OF the citv
The HERALD printed a list OF them ON SATURDAY
Well, the awards were made some weeks ago and
sent to Mr.. Green for hss approval He has neither
approved them nor sent mis- reasons for not doing
so: II he does not return them to us the WORK
w1 have to be advertised again. II rests win
Mr.. Green whether there shall be work for the
poor laborers or not. IL he would approve the
least 1000 men could find employment in a few
,da or weeks. The work can be prosecuted dur.
7 ing the winter.v
do the co1tractors hesitate about accepting
pAwards from the city ~
'Yes; because they do not know when they will
zoe paid The Comptroller refuses TO pay some
who have performed their work to the satisfaction
OF the inspectors. They offered 20 take bonds, but
MI Green was relentess.u
.now can Mr.. Van Mort gets men to accept
awards then ~
with the payment OF these lato rers or these
Contractors Mr.. Van Mort has nothing whatever to
1o. ~ Mr.. Green's sworn duty TO settle the bills
oi .he cy By the last charter IL Is punishable by
mne ,or Inc mead Of department 70 exceed his
what what wiz be the class OF work done sy the men
"The b0ulevards win be prosecuted The bill
&Ianllng an appropriation for extending the Croton
(nalhs was not signed until so late in the summer
xnas We could do little before now. IL was very
I3rtunate that II was not laid over. II we had not
~ ssnsa 81 employing men the greater portion
"How are the men now dscharged IN he rasdy,s
Iney WIZ De paid by money raised from direct
rexeuon, anu the Comptroller will probably do
~ We pleases about It. Those sfi1 In our en-
ploy VIII be paid rom the assessmens bonds known
- the Jmprhyement lpnd.' The heayiest gang