The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-05
WHERE IT WILL HELP THE CITY.
Greater Efficiency and More Economy In
The Departments.
THE GOOD PREDOMINATING.
4 CORRESPONDENTS Views OF Governor
Roblnsoo's Duty.



The great I'm portance the city OF New York OF the
so.callcd "omnbus' bill which passed tho Assembly
yesterday justihes in asking some space in your
papcr 10 examine its provisions and to discuss the
effect they will have the municipal government
should the bill become law. AS OF course, supply
you with my name, while not desiring that It shall
appear in print, you will, ! am sure, recognize my
legitimate the welfare and progress OF the
metropolis and your publication OF my communca
ton you allow 1t to appear your columns, must
be accepted satisfactory proof that although anony
nous, is written by who has right to speak In
behalf Of tho people oi Now York.
The main evils from which havo suffered In New
York attributable to tho political use that is made
OF tho city oIiccs ard patronage. The politicians
both sides have regarded the money raised by
tion the payment oil salaries aud labor fund
that may be iegtmatcy used to promote tho interests
OF their respective parties Tho leaders have sought
their strength by giving the most active of
their adhorents employment in the public depart.
ments labor tho public expense. Before election
the candidates for elective municipal Offices have
allowed their supporters to believe that in the event
OF success all who desire work Will BIO provided for.
The aspirants for Offices held by appointment have
generally been induced to pledge themselves to libe
raj distribution OF patronage in order to secure
confirmation. AS a necessary consequence tho de-
partments have been and choked up with the
hangers OF political chc's anu cliques. The heads
of departments are no longer pecunariy dishonest.
They will not steal tho ctys moneys by raised war
rants and fraudulent vouchers. But they are,
rule under SO much obligation their parties, SO
hampcrcd with pledges and so run down by impor.
tunity. that they compelled TO waste the public
funds by disregardng the qualifications and necdcssy
swelling the number OF employees. or course the
moro political heads of departments We have the
ury with useless pensioners AT a recent interchange
OF views between tho municipal chiefs the subject
of the practicaoility of municipal economy. hold
10 Mayors Office. It using how each
ofcia favored curtaiiment OF expenditure In every
department OF the city government except tho partc-
ular one over which he happens 10 preside
The "Omnbus" bill promises lcssening II not
removal of this ev-drst by providing for municipal
Election in the spring. next, By dispensing with the
confirmation Of the Mayors appointments by tho
Board OF Aldermen and again by decreasing the pres
ent ncedlessy large number OF Commissioners. char
Ter election April Will DO dependent the
political elements IN the city held the Of
The general election for Governors. Congressman.
Presidents legislators and other political officers
Local interests and issues and the character and
capacity Of the candidates will be attcntively
considered, and the municipal officers elected will in
consequence be more independent OF party machinery
Ihan they now are Appointed officers VIII not be COM
PEELED make bargains with herd Of hungry and i'm
puicnt Aldermen in order 10 confirmation. The
decrease in tho number OF Commissioners will lessen
The Individual demand Tor places Tor the friends and
adhercnts of the heads OF departments
The spring election nds itself to ovcry reflect
ing citizen outside professional politicians 1t
has been Endorsed by the Committee OF Seventy which
framed the proposed reform charter In 1872, by
tha mi
rildcn OF which secretary Evarts the head,
and by, think, the voice OF tho New FORK
press. The adjustment OF tho confirming power OF
the Aldermen is important step the direction OF
that OF responsibility In the Mayor, with
out which We cannot expect efficient government
So practical economy is concerned tho bill Nil
the taxpayers a considerable sum OF money this
year salaries OF Commissioners and officers
nDolished by its PROVISIONS and by the consolidation
OF departments, notably OF the Dock ana Building
partmcnis, the business oil both of which as
well done at present without the existing expensive
machinery. direct and very desirable saving Will DO
made in the reduction OF the Adcrmcn's salary from
S. 900 year to S. 900 and the LIMITATION OF Inc other
expenses OF tue Common Council to 81, zoe
il not seem proper that the Aldermen,
among whom may be found some profoundly ignorant
men, should receive Tor hot than days work
week from five to ten times as much salary is
paid to educated teachers whose whole time is
rloyed in arduous duties. The Board OF Apportion-
cnt is gwen power revise and tho
for 1877 IN order TO secure the advantage Of
these savings at once But the most important econ.
Dmy is that promised by the lessenng Of those poi-
cal demands the departments which now crowd tho
payroils with needless subordnates and render I'M
possible TO manage the city Offices as merchant
would manage his private business
Aside from the question OF economy regard tho
decrease in the number Of Commissioners certain
to add the efficiency oil the departments. We have
Comptroller aud Commissioner oil Public
Works Whatever Is demo IN those extensive and i'm
portant departments is done on the responsibility OF
single head, aud when the management rs incapable
every knows where TO place the blame. | be-
hcve the Parks, the Docks and the EXCISE depart
Will every be benefited by being relieved Of
multiplicity 81 'uosscs" IL seems To me
also IN every way proper ana desirable that
tho present divided authority in the streets should
cease that the Park Department should have control
only OF the spaces embraced in the public parks,
squares and places, anu that the control OF all tho
aud avenues all parts OF the city OUTSIDE tho
park limits should be centred in tho Department OF.
Public Works. ! may add that the abolition Of the
Dock Department appears TO mo TO DO especially
tIrabie uasmuch as at present the expenditures OF
the department arc NOT controlled by the Board Of
Apportonment those Of other departments are. and
The department Is run undcr law outside tho charter
aud very loosely As bureau oil the Public
Works Department the expenditures Will DO
supervision provided for the CHARTER aud tho work
Will lie done Oy contract
There some features Of the bill which should
like have altered The terms OF Office OF all
heads OF departments should have been made to end
with the OF the Mayor appointing them, and tn,
the responsibility OF the Executive Tor the good gov
crnmcut oil tho city In al branches would be direct
ana complete ] should have liked to have tho
street cleaning business takcu out OF the Police De-
partmcnt where 1t has no right to be- aud placed
der sole control OF tho Mayor the principle OF
direct responsibility u my memory serves me cor
rcc,y this policy has been advocated by the HERALp
Nevertheless, ms TINS chnpee nus not oecn made be-
tcve the small contract system. with strict
pcrvision over tho contractors ~ thr police,
wiil al least be Improvement on our pleas
mt plan OF political street swccpiDg than which
certainly nothing could he worse. should have pre-
fcrrcd that the Charities eni Correction Department
should have been placed under single head, instead
81 under two Commissioners, and tho selections made
Tor retention obco smack somewhat OF political or
personal favoritism. IL would have been better 10
have swept all tho present Com missioners, eav
Ing tho appointments under the new system 10 IN.
Mayor, who could have reapponi ed such as be re-.
rarde d as good officers. Butwc must take the good
with the bad and think IN this "Omnibns" bill me
vood 40 far precominae s az make very desirable
Thar II should become law. Wo cannot
updcr the best OF circumstances obtain
CITY government under tho proposed consu-
tutloual amendments Tor two years TO come.
IA IS foolish refuse to at improve our city gov
crnment as much as We can, 20 make ~ moro encient
md less expensive, becsusc We expect to be under
entitled sYsten municipal adminIstra