The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-27
THE PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS.
Three Hours with the Heads
Of Departments.
What the Commissioners Of Charities, Police,
Excise, Education, Docks, &C., Are Doing
THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION LAW
Serious Charges Against the PO-
lice Commission.

representative OF the HERALD yesterday made
stour about the bureaus OF the city government,
win view OF ascerta!ning what Is being done IN
the way OF improvements and reforms. TINS is q
season OF the year when every ofI1cid head Is in
state OF uncertainty. From the $4,000 per year
Commissioner down TO the $50 per month door,
keeper, or the poor scrub woman or city scaven-
ger all are looking to Albany Tor a hint OF the
approaching storm. The dispatches rom the
capital are scanned with the same eagerness and
anxiety as are the barometer and the compass by
she prudent mariner, VINO would take in sail and
trim his craft TO meet the threatened danger. As
matter OF course ABOUT these days we may expect
TO ind every Official upon the political anxious
seat, and making professions OF radical reform.
The Investigations made yesterday by the re-
porters OF the HERALD prove that all the officials
are waiting, Micawber-like. Tor something to turn
mp. They tremble alike before the power or the
Albany regime and the independence OF Mayor
Wickhan. The general response to inqnirers at the
bureaus for Information as to what Is being done
ls, ION. we are gong through the usual routine
Everything depends upon the future action OF the
Legislature"
AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
the reporter found a lew politicians seeking
favois under dIfilcultles. The Commissioners had
dancing attendance upon them Aldermen and
lesser political lights seeking appointments on the
force for their friends. one OF tnem-an old Tam
MANY Alderman-as he went pulling up the stars
TO The Commissioners rooms wiped his brow
with a campric handkerchief and greeted tie
reporter with the remark
"Here am again, trying TO do something for a
poor man; but things are not as they used 10 be.
We can't get anything now. They'll make prom
ises, but the buffers won't keep them. I've had
promises innumerable, but it's no so. The Com.
mssoners are more interested in recovering
stolen watches and getting up little enthusiasm
the clearing out OF detectives TO do anything
for worklngmen."
Another exclaimed, '1hese are nice plums.
aren't tAeyS rney tell me they can't give work at
street cleaning. but still the streets were never
nitnier than they are to-day. There's one satisfac
hon. however, In knowing that Boss Kelly and
wickham are determined clean out the whole
crowd IN lew days"
Inquiries in the Street Cleaning Bureau elected
The Information that this week they cleaned
Broadway. This is very important news 10 the
thousands who yesterday navlyated this grand
tnorougnlare Tor the first time many DAYS with
Iatis.acJion. Tney also boast that they have
cleaned many crosswalks and removed snow and
Ice. 1t is claimed that they putting an In
creased force daily to meet tie exigencies OF the
wea her, and now employ about l,l0O men per
day
THE BOARD OF EXCISE COMMISSIONERS.
The gentlemen composing the ABOVE Board
still continue their war upon the bucket shops
aud other low dens which are endeayoring through
protective associations and legislation at
Albany to reduce the license fee and secure
licenses. On Monday nearly 1900 were secured
IN fees The Commissioners report that all the
better class OF saloon Keepers seem disposed to
second their efforts at reform. There have been
almost 1900 new licenses issued SO far Statistics
coiecred BY the inspectors show that about 1880
L
closed used Tor other buslD estimated
thcre ale only ABOUT i've hundred saloons that are
OF character TO whlcn licenses should be reused,
ana tue commissioners give the gratifying intel
hsyins been reused licenses. have enscted sven
are n IS estimate between / 500 anu p 900 piaces
In the cry that have not yet been licensed, many
Of which viii no douot comply with the law.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
This department runs quite smoothly, yet there
considerable anxiety felt Tor The tate or the Dill
introduced IN the LEGISLATURE by Mr. Costigan to
make the Commissioners elective. 1t asserted
BY some that such action would demoralize tie
department ana produce state OF chaos rom
which 1t would not soon recuperate. The Board
are just now bending all their ener2ies 10 soln-
ton OF the question Of compulsory education"
very delicate subject to handle, anc wnlle douOts
exist as TO the constitutionallty OF the acr, the
Commissioners are determined To give IL fair
trial. Yesterday the JOINT committees Finance
an1 Bylaws held secret session to SO amend tue
and 70 nominate one superintendent ana
cIgnt Agents OF Truancy For the first named
ports. eight candidates, agents
under him about seyenty-hvc applicants. Inc
FOUNDATIONS Will be made 10 the next meeting OF
the Board, when tne committee VIII also report
genera plan Tor the execution OF the new law
throughout the city. They have now . corps OF
young men engaged IN making a census OF The
sea oil children according TO locality. Wnen It IS
completed ihls census VIII De sent 20 the Police
Board, wnO Will Ordef q similar census OF all chill
dren who 90 not attend school, but who
uuGer tue act THIS labor will not likely be CON-
pleled untll March, when the law VIII be put into
operation as soon alter as possible
Another WORK that the Board are taking deep
Interest in IS the ORGANIZATION o. tue nautical
school or the ship sL Marys. lying at the loot OF
Twe.ty third street. East RIVER. Already there
have joiped The snip seventy-aYe boys, aud there
Is room Tor Shipping ia more Early Ia the spring
Jbe vessel VIII proceed 70 the Narrows, wnere the
youngsters VIII have an opportunity OF receiving
their first practical lesson IN the lie OF sailor.
1t IS me intention Of tGe Board, later in the
spring, TO send the vessel 10 on s1ort cruises.
superintendent Kddile reports That there
thirly-seven night schools IN luil operation under
the Jurisdiction Of the Board with the attendance
about the as last year. ANeXt week tney VIII
be examined, and, until mat nas oeen accom-
pllsned it is. Of course Impossible 70 Say what
progress has been made. The attendance for the
wees ending January 5, averaged as loiiows:-
Boys....'... s52
Total average attendance. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1863
IL Is believed that many parents have n
Nclpae ed the enforcement VI the Compulsory Edu-
cation act ~ sending their children TO these
schools
THE COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITIES AND coREEc-
TON
There is llttle new 10 report In the above bu-
reau, although rumOrs were rife yesterday that
Warden Gum, OF the 1Om0s, aud some other
heads OF public institutions viii lie removed. IL
mace in tue medical stan OF the CHARITY Hospital
whie sun another report states that on the