The New York herald., 1879-03-13
THE LECTURE SEASON.

DAVID DUDLEY FIELD ON OFFICIAL SALARIES
THE FEE SYSTEM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
SUGGESTED FOR THE PRESENT ExTRAvAGANCE
lecture was delivered last night in the Union
League Theatre, before the Young Mems Democratic
Club by Mr. David Dudley Field, Just Compen-
sation for Official Services in the City and County
of New York" The lecturer first stated the
enormous sums that are being paid out yearly to
the different city, State and federal officials this
city. and then pointed out several rules which, if
put in operation. he thought would encctualy stop
the prevailing extravaganza. The fee system was
denounced in the strongest possible terms, and
other evils OF governmental nature were pointed
ont with mastery hand. Tho following are Mr.
Fields remarks:-
GENTLEMEN OF THE YOUNG MEN's DEMOCRATIC
CLUBThe text of this discussion is the City Record Of
olcers and subordinates in the departments of the
city and county government, with their salaries and
residences together with the judges clerks and at
appears that the amount paid in 1873 for services
in the Police Department was $3.3l5.s4s; in
Works. S51S.10O so; Public Parks, s3l0711 40;
Docks. S2OS,19l AZ; Finance, 1896 S9l CO., Charities
snd Msotn 40, taxes and , @
tive, $l0 o00 Executive, $37 200 Building. S6i 392
Excise. s60425 District Attorneys Office. s6s311 90;
$20.500 for other miscellaneous services. $4,000
aud for the courts $1.069,c00 This is exclusive of
fees paid to the Sheriff Register City Aarshas Board
of Education and the other state and federal officers
The total number OF persons here drawing pay from
the public treasures, federal State and municipal.
or from the people in the shape of fees, may be
roughly estimated at seventeen thousand, exclusive
of notaries, referees and commissio whose
bers only be guessed at but they must be ut least
three thousand. These figures give total of 10000
persons in the city of New York, occupying oicial
positions and receiving alcompensation. about
one in every fifty persons. counting men, women and
children.
This is tho present outcome of our institutions
and our civilization. is tho price We pay for gov
crnment What do we get for 1T DO we get good
government? We know that do not. Let us
examine particularly the several departments-legis
lative, judicial and executive. The Legislative de-
partnient OF the city consists of twenty-five
Aldermen. who paid $4,000 Their work
partment consists OF more persons for the
population and is paid moro in the aggregate
than the corresponding service in England or frshce
Coming to the Executive department find
police under which bcggars nfcst the Streets which
Is required to clean those streets and does not clean
them; under which grave can be despoiled in q
churchynrd on frcqucnted corner. and bank vault
robbed in broad daylight department Of Public
Works. which, without any fault OF it's head leaves
the streets scandalously paved; Department OF
Buildings. under which expert declares that we
.build to burn" and Department of Charities and
inal and dependent, whom II for In such man.
ncr 70 make the State Charities Aid Association
call tho place municipality Of misery"
REFORM.
II is not, however 80 much the manner In which
the service Is performed the compensation for 10
that am to discuss. Assuming that all the work
required is done, and well DONE IL may still cost
too much. and that Is now the question. The fol-
lowing appear to mo to be good rules for de-
teruiining the just compensation for official
scrvico:-
1. The best men should be employed. q Enough
OF them only should be employed to do tho work. g.
They should have definite terms of service. L. They
should have q fixed compensation. g. They should
receive fees. O. They should receive only such
compensation they could GO In other employ monts.
The best men everybody will admit should be en-
ploycd. But how arc we to got them? As rule they
are not employed Tho public service Is mainly In
the hands of on inferior class OF men, Lament il as
may it IS idle TO deny the fact.
We arc governed by an of6cc-hoding class, which
by low arts controls the primaries and those control
ventons tell them Until this system is changed We
cannot have the bcst men, aud the system will never
be changed so long submit to the dlctstion of
primaries and conventions but IL can and will be
bodies or refuse TO be governed by them.
The next rule is to employ only many men as
are necessary to do the work. III one-thrd of tho
officers now living upon the public we're dismissed,
ns they should be- for they be spared, the city
would save in salaries and wages more than
S3,oU,0W "a year, supposing that the same rate OF
compensation that now exists to be mnnta tainc.
A third rulo is 10 give TO all the servants OF the
city dcnnite terms Of servce tor possible Ihis
rule would tend 10 reduce tho rate OF compensation,
because men will work less IL they be sure or
durable service, ana would also tend TO make the
men moro attentive to their duties, becsuse relieved
OF anxiety about whit s 10 come. A liked rate OF
compensation Is Inconsistent with fees The system
OF compensation in this mode is injurious TO the
service and to the public In several PARTICULARS Ono
Is the temptation which 10 holds out TO cxorbitant
and oppressive charges.
THE EVILS ov rHr FEE SYSTEM.
The habit of enforcing fee bcgcts lax interpre'
tation OF tho right and thus leads impcrceptibly.
perhaps TO unlawful de,nnnds. This In not tile only
f,rf fhe uraotica taking 1ooda to tho In