The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-09
THE PARK LABOR PATRONAGE.

THE CONTROVERSY NOT YET DECIDED-pREsI-
DENT MARTINS VIEW OF IT.
The controversy In the Park Department. TO tho
adoption OF tho system Of assigning abores embodied
In the resolutions recently passed by majority Of tho
Board OF Commissioners, was not renewed ut
tho meeting yesterday morning and the ques-
ton at issue between President Martin and
the majority OF tho Commissioners consequently re-
mains in statu qua Under the existing system labor
tickets are issued directly from tho main Office and
bear the supcrscrpton OF tho Secretary Tho aborer
thus designated then reports to the superintendent
who gives HIM another ticket assigning him to duty
with such and such foreman. The latter makes his
returns on these tickets 10 the paymastcr, who pre-
parcs tho payroll In accordance with them.
AT a meeting hold on "Wednesday, February %, Com
missioner Stebbins introduced series OF resolutions.
tho purport or which wasl to make such radical
changes in the labor organization OF the PARK Depart
ment as amounted to complete rcvoIut on. Under
these resolutions, which included tho whole work.
ing force employed on tho public parks, each
Commissioner empowered TO issue labor tick
cts his responsibility, which tickets were to
BIO sent directly 10 tho paymaser without the counter.
signature OF the superintendent, and upon the payroll
thus made up the appropriation was to DO disburscd
This, OF course, rendered II possible for each Commis
sioncr to become centre OF patronage, and also
lodged considerable discretionary power the hands
OF the paymascr who II Is stated In tho OF
Mr. Andrew II. Green, who IS just OF employ
ment. President Martin thinks from tho
OF the resolutions by Mr. Stebbns who was Tor many
years associated with Mr. Green the Park Depart
ment. that Mr.. drccn was manor uvrng through him
TO obtain control OF tho patronage Of the Park Depart
ment.
The resolutions passed, and tho President filed
written objections to them, declaring that they
contrary the bylaws Of the department In con-
travention OF the statute creating the commission,
and were therefore invalid. Mr. Stebbns also filed nm
opinion which he dIsclaimed the construction put
upon his resolutions by Mr. Martin The wrangc
babe lair TO be long and bitter, when, by way
OF rcconcing tho contestants, Mr. Wctmore
offered resolution that the contested resolutions DO
referred to tho Corporation Counsel, which lost.
At tho meeting yesterday the question was talked
over, and Mr. Martin suggested that, ms tho bylaws
could only be amended by proposing changes
meeting AMI ratiiyIng them at the xt Mr. Stebbins
should submit In writing such notifications as were
essential 10 tho valid operation Of the resolutions
THIS Mr. Stcbbns did not think necessary and thus
the question remains as Undecided MS ever.
INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT MARTIN
In Wow OF the pending controversy representative
OF the HERALD called President Martin last evening
Mr. Martin preferred not to speak The President OF
the Board in his official capacity and declined
put any unfayornbc construction upon tho motives
the majority OF the Board lie thinks, however. that
the labor system embodied IN tho resolutions wni be
injurious TO the efficiency OF the force may result
In converting the public parks into engines Of political
warfare and means OF anossing political influence.
Under The prcsen, SYSTEM" said Mr Martin 10 re-
order OF things would be, 'the Superintendent has
full control OF the distribution OF the men,
whom he assigns and rcassgns In accordance with tho
interests OF the work. The Central Park Tor Instance,
Is divided into thrco sections, each Of which has It's
own foreman, but the Superintendent may at any
hour OF tho day may dctach from
ton aud order them TO another, which would
not be practicable under the system pro.
posed. Ho ~ pctcnt also to make tho personnel of
gangs Of men Tor special purposes The efficiency OF
the force, Mr. Martin, ,ninks depends materially the
preservation Of this important feature which tho new
plan has tendency subvcrt by rendering the men
less Immediately responsible to tho experimenting
officer IL rs manifest also according to Mr. Martin,
that the labor Of any number OF men DO moro
economically managed by this method OF superintcnd-
cnce than by "A method that tends to render actual
supervision mere cipher.
again. SAID President Martini 'sthe system en-
bodied Ia Mr.. Stebbns' resolutions opens the way Tor
tho addition OF largo number OF names TO the pay
roll OF men not actually performing any service.
viii not say that such viii be the result that any
such result Is intended, but the possibility will be-
established and VIII DO taken advantage Of II not by
this administration. BY some other"
In response to the question OF what was likely to DO
the lnai result VI the controversy. Mr.. Martin said
That sir, can only be- determined at future meet.
ing. 40 DEFINITE measures 10 put the resolutions In
operation we're proposed to-day but that they will bo
brought forward at the meeting to be held wcdncs-
day next | am pretty certain The project has not
bscn abandoned. IL only waits its Opportunity
Mr. MARTIN did not express himself very sanguinc
that the majority OF the commissioners would abandon
their purpose. lie views the whole movement as one
OF Mr. GREEN'S devices to obtain control oil
tho labor patronage OF tho Park Department,
aud 10 WELD u In his own political In.
tercst ''Snce the defeat OF TiIdcn,n said
IRON all political competitions and nothing rs more
likely than that no would like TO make the patronage
OF the Park Department subscrvont to his plsnsn
But what are his plans ?" inquired the representa-
ttvc OF tho HERALD curiDusly.
81 cannot pretend " answer that question:" said
j Isealdens NAgnA