The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-20
CHEAP CITY GOVERNMENT.
WHAT 1T COSTS AND WHAT IT OUGHT TO
COSTA SUGGESTION FOR RETRENcHMENr-

WHAT 1T COSTS AND WHAT IT OUGHT TO
COSTA SUGGESTION FOR RErRENcHMENr-
HE'LL GATE VS.. CENTRAL PARK FINANcIERING.
To EDIron OF THE HERALp:--
Yonr abc articles touching the necessity for sys'
temsc plan In the reformation Of the many abuses In
the government OF the city Of Now York have struck
the right key. Tho history of the reform move
ment II truthfully written, would BIO both inter-
esng and Instructive, aordng another proof OF the
homely saw that ''too many cooks spoil tho broth
Upon point it is almost certain all would agree
and that is tho title Of the last chapter. which
should DO designated failure Nevertheless there arc
those who sangune enough to look for something
beneficial from the conferences OF the heads Of de-
partments with prominent citizens lately irauguratcd
by his Honor the Mayor, IN IMITATION presume, OF
that also lately held tho Sick Man, ofthe East
What was that week ago in tho City Hall
Mayor Ely and the heads all the departments OF the
city government whose direction spent annu-
ally the enormous Of $50. O00, 900 aud not
''head" capable OF making suggestion by which the
slightest reduction could be effected. Yes, the Mayor
offered to abate per OF his salary, which
would save about $1,000 That rising young states
man, Alderman Purroy. however. stopped the APP
pause with which this solf-sacrIdcing offer was
ceivcd by stating that tho wise and intellectual body
which he presdes for hour or two once week
in the City Hall are poorly paid, receiving the small
pttance OF 1000 year, with an occasional allowance
when any labor Is TO be performed OF clerk to each
Alderman. Never. since the existence OF Now York,
there greater need for the cutting down OF ex
nifty presented for doing SO.
The problem TO DO solved in New York to-day Is
this-lhe reduction OF taxation Of every description
to the lowest possible limits; the employ mcnt OF the
greater part OF tho 900 and laborers
walking our streets, numbers OF whom melted BY
their and their childrens hunger to acts Of vio-
lcncc and crime by the employment OF those now
OF work will greatly diminish tho effects OF
taxation. For it is readily that II $40 a week,
which lar from unreasonable, be gwen TO $4,000
mon, you will have the snug sum Of 100000, the
greater part II not oil OF which would be circulating
business now suffering most severely. Any
step which will, therefore, reduce tins great
army Of unwilling iders without increasing
tho burdens Of tho taxpayers will DO in the
right direction. The great number OF paid by tho
city large salaries Tor little work has long been
u curse. and from which II seems almost lmpos-
sble to become rellevcd and yet II Is here whore the
pruning knife, Senator Morrissey justly remarks,
should be first introduced.
In tins connection / beg to offer few suggestions
called TO mind by the report Of General Newton
improvements ut He'll Gate, which appeared IN your
paper a few days ago. According to General Newton
he spent during the year about 100000, ,cm Of
which struck me very iorcibly. l mean that for
gincering, contingencies, &C., - and which take to
mean the pay OF engineers, foremen, &C. and amounted
TO $1,000 or say two and hall per cent Of his dis
bursements.
suppose one OF the departments Of the city govern.
ment even the most efficient whichever that may be,
charged with this work OF General Newton, does
any think the cost OF engineers, clerks, &C.,
II is denominatcd IN city affairs, ''salarles" would
contrary, would be as II is In ali city work. lily
cent. II Is In this very Of salaries that I'M
mese saving can be elected, the greater part Of which
could be devoted to the employment OF those already
referred to- in work which would be Of substa-
a, ocon ON the " tn
uncertain at best let Charles O'Conor and
Governor Tilden or IT seems certain that the latter
will not obtain the Presidency, and WILL therefore,
quire some active empoyment) be called upon make
thorough examination OF cacn department In the city
tor the last year. beginning with the Dock Department
example. Let them have q list made giving the
name, residence, occupation and amount Ol money
paid to every individual during that time. Let the
press OF tho city publish this in Iu which will go
far toward preventing any false statements After
collecting whatever other Information these eminent
gentlemen may require let them call In General New
ton, General Gilmore or s0mo equally impartial and
capable judge and pave him say what tho cost of su-
pervsicn for the Coming year should he and let tins
be strictly adhered to- Let them 60 through each de-
partment in the same manner, and there will be more
genuine reform accomplished than by passage Of all
tho bills that Dorman d. Eaton ever dreamed oil.
The report OF Commissioner Martin, OF the Depart
men: OF Parks, In this days HkRALD, is case in point
1871 1857 900, which Is double what Il costs General
Newton for the supervision OF He'll Gate improvements.
have ST. $50 for salaries. Now, lot US what 1t
costs to superintend parks aside, oil course from
the 500, 900 for police. Mr. Martins first item is Tor
.saaries" $40 900. or the items for general main
tenance, museums and Harlem River Bridge" II not
known whether the pay OF ioremen is included but
viii presume not OF the item OF $26 900 Tor '.man.
tcnance Twenty third and Twentyourth wards' it Is
certain that the pay OF superintendent foreman &c,
Is Included together with other expenses, which
should be properly changed to superintendent,
making say, S. 900 at least The item OF $40 900 for
Surveying Twenty-third and Twenty-ourth wards"
ought certainly to- be charged 'salaries" every
ono there knows no work Is done, and you nave the
OF $6 900 for salaries about eighteen per cent
of the whole A further examination will show that
out OF the total amount appropriated, only something
onehalt IL spent for actual labor What wonder,
then that complaints arise all siGesP The working
DESTROYS OF obtaining work in the Twenty third
Twenty.fourth ward has TO produce evidence OF his
abors ut u rammany primary before the californian"
will listen hiIu less give him ''tcket
which, IL seems. would permission go to work.
With this state Of AFFAIRS how any one hope for
trenchmcnty BY having Charles O'Conor aud Cover
nor Tilden crown their career in the performance Of
this hcrculcan task aided by the press OF the city
FREMONT, eb. IL, 1871. X. Y.