The New York herald., 1877-03-19


years of Its less than twelve
different commissioners have been members oil the
board governing its AFFAIRS who have formed, to all
intens and purposes, different boards OF manage
ment within the seven wears.
WHY THE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE SEPARATE.
In conclusion, submit the following as the princi-
pal why the Department of Docks should not
be merged into the Department oil Public Works. bet
should be continued, with all the powers and duties
vested IN It by the law, separate aud inde.
pendent department of the city government.
Fist-lhe wharf property owned ny the Corporation
produces tbe largest revenue received by the city from
any source except taxation and It's value estimated
between $50 000 900 and $40 000 together with its
distinct when compared with all other prop
erty OF the city, demands that the management OF
large anu important an interest should be In separate
sud ind dependent dc I,.rtnent of the government
Second-Tho Department of Public W Works Is virtually
department simply or construction, and the work
under OF entirely different character
from that under the control OF the Department OF
Docks
into the Department OF Public Works, as u bureau,
under the charge OF subOrdinae officer accountable
to tue Commissioner OF Public Works, would create u
divided responsibility TO the construction and
ngemcnt oi the permanent improvements and repair
ing Of wharf property and would OF necessity, cause
the collection of wharf rents, &C., TO tue
Finance Department; the leasing OF wharf properly,
&C., to the Commissioners OF tho Sinking Fund, and
the grant OF all privileges, pcrmssionss &C., 10 the
Board ol Aldermen or elsewhere.
tourtt-Tne aboiishing OF the Department OF Docks
and distributing It's powers and duties three
otnor departments boards would create great
fusion the management oil the wharf properly
owned by the city, and make II more than difficult ever
to ascertain know the condition oil the property
investment or otherwise, and no correct iniorma-
ton concerning the water front could be
obainabic except after consultation with several dif.
ferent apartments, and this. II must be remembered,
Is in relation distinct class OF city property pro.
ducing a large part OF Its revenue.
FJfh-No saving OF expenditure, beyond compensa.
tion now paid the Commissioners, is likely to be
secured by transferring tho Department OF Docks II
beng organized the present time upon as economical
a working forco as possible.
.Sirfh--The Department OF Docks cannot expend any
moneys beyond the proceeds OF ''dock bonds issued
by the Comptroller, under the direction OF the Board OF
Com mmissIoncrs OF the Sinking Fund; nor can any
purchase oi wharf property rights be made Tor the
city without the approval or consent oil the Board
.Serenth--Thc Department oil Docks has inuugurated
basis adjusting the annual received Ior wharf
properly constructed under the plans for the pcrna
improvement OF the waterfront which will pay
into the sinking fund an amount than sui
cent redeem Che bonds, including interest. issued
for the work ana rebuild the piers when necessary:
thereby avoiding any necessity ralsing money by
direct taxation To pay Tor the work II progresses
Eighh--Thc many Important and complicated mat
ters which required by aw to be considered by the
Department OF Docks would appear to demand that II
should be governed by board OF least three com
mssi0ners but ut all events its management snouit
be free IRON tho duties OF any other department
Nint-Thc questions decided by the Departmcn ol
Docks depend each upon It's facts aud can be de
cided by no general rules Is the with tho
rNONfVTNTEn ON NTNprr nAHu,