New-York tribune., 1877-03-12
CHANGES IN THE CHARTER.
CITY OFFICIALS ON ALBANY BILLS.

sIONHRs
The proposed bill for the reorganization of
the municipal departments is the engrossng theme OF
conversation in the public offices Several OF the city
members OF the Legislature called Mayor Ely
on Saturday to talk the effect OF the
changes agreed upon by the subcommittee Cities.
Police Commissioners Wheeler and Nichols, Fire Com
missioner King, Assemblymen Mitchell and Coz
ans, and Others had interviews with the
Mayor. The Police Commissioners are much
interested In Assemblyman COwdin's bill for
cleaning the streets by While favor Of giving
contracts for small Districts they consider the OF
the police precinct boundaries Objectionable because tho
limits OF the precincts the middle of the streets,
and much confusion would be caused. An
amendment will be offered in committee to correct
this defect It Is proposed TO make the Mayor member
of the Police Commission in all matters relating to the
letting OF contracts for street cleaning and the contracts
to be awarded and abrogated by the unanimous vote
Of the Commissioners, including the Mayor. The
Police Commissioners have been overrun with
applications for work the streets, and
with letters from local politicians recommending ap
picans. The pay OF city laborers Is 81 60 por day,
Italians however, receiving only 81 90 II the streets
cleaned by contract the contractors get all the
they want 81 per day. by placing the Mayor on
the commission and requiring unanimous vote on con-
tracts II Is believed that jobbery and avOrtism would
be prevented
The effect of the proposed reorganization Of the city
ments, and to distribute the different branches of city
work and supplies subordinate bureaus responsible
one head This would approach to the manner In
which the departments at Washington organized.
The transfer OF the Excise Commission to the Police De-
partment would place the granting OF licenses in the
hands Of non-parisan board At present the Republi
member of the Excise Commission is wholly ignored
and has share OF the patronage. Mayor Ely Is
ported have said, however IL the Legislature should
determine to merge the Democratic Board OF
Excise into the Police Department his party obligations
would constrain him to appoint in May next Democrat
i'll place OF Police Commissioner Erhardt, Republican,
whose term OF office expires at that time. The board
woud then consist of three Democrats and Rcpub
can In the Fire Department the new law wOuld leave
President Perey Republican in charge and oust his
two Democratic associates. BY keeping Commissioners
and Bailey in the Department Of Charities aud
Correction, and retiring Townsend Cox, that board would
be equally divided politically. In the reduction Of the
Park Commission TO one commissioner, Mr.. SebDns IS
spoken OF on all sides Is the probable selection
The pressure reduction the number and salaries
Of city officials strong upon the Republicans in the
Legislature, and is supported by the business men and
Taxpayers of this city. Controller Kelly, who repre-
sents Tammany Hail, wien before the Committee
Cities at Albany was opposed to cutting
off all the commissioners now mentioned
in the BILL but thought the Police Department might be
run with three commissioners The Legislature is Re
publican in both houses and is supposed that Senators
Morrsscy and BIxby will vote for any measure OF
rcrencbmcnt which will help them i'll their
fight against Tammany Han. Senator Morris
sey is looking for a reelection, and hopes
to identity himself with popular measure
during the present session which will give him vantage
ground next Fall In the struggle for the local Offices
provided for in the proposed act the Republicans are not
united aud are Obliged to wait for Developments from
Nashington Senator WoOdn, it is not doubted,
will take care OF certain friends but the remaining places
to be filed by Republicans cannot be agreed upon until
President Hayes policy shall indicate the leadership OF
fine rty i'm this State. Senator Conklipg and eXGOv
Morgan are looked upon as representing the opposing
elements of the party. Should the anttConkng wing
prevail or should compromise be effected, notifications
of the proposed amendments to the city charter would
be made to suit the altered condition OF affairs in the
party 1t generally conceded that recognition by the
Administration Of the other Republican element
yl influence the final passage OF the bills influential
Democrats do not think that these measures VIII
become laws. They assert that the DllIs VIII De
amended and delayed until nearly the close of the ses
sio and If then passed will be left with the Governor
after the adjournment of the Legislature. They say they
arc confident that Gov Robinson will find so many OBJ
iectionabe features in them possibly violations OF the
Constitution, that he will withhold his approval.
VIEWS OF COMMISSIONERS.
TRIBUNE reporters had conversations on Saturday
with the commissioners OF several city departments
about the proposed changes Salem II. Wales President
Of the Department of Docks said he felt some reucence
in expressing his views, the public might say that his
statements were influenced by personal considerations
Notwithstanding his term OF Office would expire IN few
mara weeks II was his decided conviction that the
proposcd change the Dock Department would be very
detrimental 10 the commercial interests OF the city the
pronoion o which he considered the first duty OF her
citizens for New-York nothing If not commercal
and when other seaboard cities offering special ad
yan.ages to attract the shipping trade OF New-fork 1t
voud be unsafe to take any step preudiclal to the
thorough supervision Of the water front The proposition
as he understood il, was to abolish the Department
o Docks and distribute the powers which the DOCK COM
sioncrs exercise among three different departments
of the city government. The work OF construction and
repairs proposed to give to the Department OF
pnblic Works; the leas to be executed by the
Sinking Commissioners. ana the rentals 10 pe col
lccted by the Finance Department Ihls was III sun
stance return the old SYSTEM under the uNlded re-
sponsbiity of which, previous to 1870 1t is on all sides
ocluowledcd that the docks were neglected, and the
revenues which belonged to the city, were wasted.
Measuring from West Eicyenthst. there was wharf
line of II miles, public and private, valued at above
Si0 900 900 He considered IL his dnty 10 DC ln his
ice from O A. H. till p. to meet constant inquiry
about leases or the condition OF piers IL would seem as
10 delay and ANNOYANCE would he inevitable II the Sink
ing Fund Commissioners were alone empowered TO make
leases The members Of the commission would DC apart
and IN get them together consider an application
vould demand time. Under the old system tue union
Frry Company permitted TO enjoy free from charge
dock property of the city which ought to bring in at
least an annual rental of $125000 Another instance
of the kind was the granting of 10 years lease to
Thomas j. Bare for $4,000 per anLum OF pier property
trn which the city ought to realize at least $4,000
when the street Department had control OF the repairs
,b pers went rapidly to decay In 1870 they were in
diser,cefnl condition. Between 100000 and 100000
In rentals remained uncolected to-day because the city
ala not keep covenant With the lessees in respect to the
repar Of the piers. After the Dock Department was
organized in 1870 IL took considerable time ana expense