New-York tribune., 1874-07-21
p,pK MAV,GruENT CRITICISED.

MESSRs. VANCE AND WHEELER EXPLAIN THEIR AC-
non ~ TIE BOARD or APPORTIONMENT TOUCH
ING TILE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PARKS.
H. G.. Stebbius, President of the Department
OF Park having addressed several letters to the Board
of Estimate aud Apportonment in reference to the
action o Board III providing that the salaries OF GER
tam oil ers aud employees OF the Park Department shall
I've paid tom appropriation from taxation samnei b. IL.
Vance President Of the Board Of Aldermen, and John
Wheeler Tax Commissioner. submitted yesterday the
following statement explaining their action to Mr. Steb-
bins
henry g. sYfBDINs, President Department Public Parks
SIR: IL IL DOT Intention 10 enter into any cpnO-
very with To the acton OF me Board OF Lstmae
ma AppOrtOGWent III revising the estimate OF Tue
Department OF FNbhc rams iOl ttt !eal loa' An
Ut for the matters which nave been specially Drought
&c notice IN reference TO ne appiemlaon we wO9.d
refer 10 the subject futher tBau cOntaned III
sbe action Of The Board Ibe matters referred 10
however have induced to transmit 10 you the follow
ing statement Oh l"c's NH'u ~ . "a ~ 80, ~ ~
demsuded the acuon adopted upon our ino'lo by
In revising The estimate 1874 pursuant the pro
visions tuap.tGs sos auO 1J5 Ot the LAWS OF l6i
resolution adopsd 10y the Board OF Estimate and
Appur Oumtu pursuant TO which the revised estimates
IA prepared by The Departments were submitted to US
first zine ascertained tha-;here beng an apparent
understanding between your department ana the Con
fruer later pdld the salaries OF the Ciucefs. clerks
and employees OF the Department, not as the law re-
Quired wholly out OF the appropriation made from taxa
and partly from tie appropriation from taxation Thus
ine salaries of the COmmsio Off e you stated 10
dent. ss5co; D. b. Wiinamson, Treasurer, 5000;
William Irwin, secretary. $500 Isaac Ey1ns; CsI
Clerk, 5000; f. C. A. Hecker. Clerk N,2O0; (;
John Watkins lanoI - 90 per DAY lntse saiareS ne M te
hands of the CITY issued at long dates, and the remain
inc ouethird from the pOprlatiOn taxation In
The same manner the Controller paid two-thfds from
the proceeds bonds and Ouethlrd from the appTOpra
"p fron taxation the salaries Of the superutendent OF
the Parks and his assistants amounting to sll,S25 the
saares Of the Disbursiug CLERKS office, consisting OF
SisSursnc clerk al salary Of $1,000 two clerks at sal
"a l,SsN l,Jul
ni salary of Sl.2Oo, and two messengers, each at
a. "a and the salary Of PROPERTY CLERK $500 Tue
salaries OF the Landscape Architects ONCE, amounting
10 S9OS2 were paid by the Controller in the proportion
OF tiree-fourths from the proceeds OF bonds and only
onefourth from the appropriation from taxation, while
the salaries Of the SupcrS sing Architects Ohce-regu-
lar employees OF the departDent-ainOunting 10 Si39
(which Is exclusive Of The salary " the Arcbtec,-o-
and the salaries Of the engineers oices-also regular
employees OF tue departrent-amouutiug 10 sl3S20 Tex
elusive OF the Corps Civil and Typographical Eug-
Deers whose salaries amount to 562., are paid wholly
from the proceeds Of bonds.
considered this action the part Of the Controller
III paying your salary aud the salaries of the suDOrd
males in this Commissioners ofnoe and the other ordi
nary employees OF the department eitler IN whole or in
part Of the proceeds OF bonds to be most objection
able principle, aud since the passage OF the Charter
Mr.. Williamson, one Of your Board you state in the
estimate Of your department is paid salary OF 5000,
although the Chafter' Sectpn Iio expressly declares
that COm mmlssODer except the President receive
any salary compensation for his services IN any capa
city whatever The payment OF the salary TO Mr. VII,
Hanson Is the more surprising, as all the moneys paid
10 the employees OF OF iOr supplies made TO your depart
paid, not through the Treasurer OF
Board, but by the Finance Department and this fact
suggests that the duties OF your dsbursng clerk
receives 1900 year, with his four assistant clerks ana
his two messengers, cannot DC very ouerous
With these facts before US, we, in revising, along
with the other OF the Board the estimate Of
your department determined that from the apprOpria
fon maoe from taxation for the maintenance aud gov
ernment OF the parks the salaries provided Ia the
Charter, of the officers, clerks and subOrdinaes OF the
department should be wholly paid. Respect
fully, 6AhUEL H. H. VANCE,
President Of the Board VI Aldermen.
JOHN WHEELER,
President Of the Dept. Of Taxes and Assessments
Vulv