The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-01
MUNICIPAL REIRENCHMENT.
Investiga cation OF the Dock Commission
by the Joint Communion.

InveSt1g0t10n OF tne DOCK COmm1So1O4
by the joint Commission.
The joint committee OF the Common Council on
municipal retrenchment met yesterday in the
once of the Department Of Docks. corner Of
Broadway and Leonard street. and pursued their
investigation OF the affairs Of the Department.
Alderman MCCAFFERTY, Chairman OF the COM
mittee, said delegation had called upon him this
morning and represented that Immediately on the
committee leaving the dock foot OF Christopher
street yesterday sixty men employed there were
discharged. He asked II that was soS
Commissioner wEsTERvELT said they were not
discharged, but merely suspended for week or
so, as there was no work ready for them. They
would be put back to work very shortly.
In reply 10 questions from the Chairman Com.
missioner GARDINER said the amount ofstock issued
ror the Dock Department since 1t was organized
in 1870, was So, 10000. or this there remains to
the credit of the department $7426ls, leaving the
expenses of the department 81, 757,3S6. The de-
partment turned into the sinking Fund 81,
as rents received from docks and piers thus leav-
ing the actual cost to the city OF the department.,
since its organization. 81, 49,, 29S.
Assistant Alderman CLANCY, Of the committee,
said he wished to define his position IN the COM
mittec. Although they were q committee on re-
trenchment they were not committee 10 throw
poor men out Of work. Rather were they In
clined to give all the work they could. IL was no
retrenchment to totally stop work, and he desired
an explanation OF the action OF the Commission
erS, VINO yesterday ulsCudIBeu biAsy uCu hOu VIC
pier at Christopher street Immediately after the
committee leaving there NO DOUBT these men
thought the committee had recommended their
discharge, and were even told so. He wanted It
understood that he did not countenance such
action.
MIR. GARDINER said the material had run out,
| and that the men were only suspended.
Mr. CLANoEY-strange coincidence that the ma.
terial should suddenly run out just hall an nour
alter we left there and so many as sixty men nao
| to be discharged all at once and without nOtlce:
| Mr.. GARDINER-The men were only suspended,
| and can 20 back when there Is material
| MIR. CLHNCEY-You know, and know too mucn
| men are Suspended indefinitely, ana that ID the
end; they are always suspended-never as
charged. Mr.. Clancy went on to say that tne Dooy
| to which he belonged was peculiarly the repre-
| sc NATIVE OF the poor working classes anu nc pe-
heved he expressed the sentiment OF thas ooay
ton OF the Commissioners In dischalging sne
men, and unless satisfactory eApIamas.on
was given ne would resign from the commLtee
he did not want she impression 70 ~ ous anonk
the working classes that the committee a9viseo
| the discharge OF laborers. ne snc. ssn.u noW
| pended " and Mr.. GARDINER replied none. Their
DISCHARGE would tend to disorgsnize tne worKlng
M re CI ipScEY~AiI colonies and no privates
| ao not believe In discnarglug poor men earning
So a day and keeping on men at large wages. who
confesssdly have nothing to DO wnen there are no
r. was stated by the Commissioners that the men
had only to watch Tor the arrival OF MATERIAL and
| 90 back TO work. This episode created q breeze,
and every one seemed excited when the regular
investigation went on. The examination Of tho
haii-past three O'Clock. shortly after which 1t ad-
iOurne0.