New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-11
roI,p cry 6rrICERs EXAMINED.

bottom facts.
FOUR CITY OFFICERS EXAMINED
The snecial committee OF the Senate met yeser-
aav morning at the CITY Hall. All the members
were rresent excep ing senator Mills Several wit
nesses were called. and their EXAMINATIONS were
conducted by Senators Mccarthy ana Srah'h'
Francis J. Twomev. the clerk of the Common Coun-
ell. was first called 10 the stand He said that he
had been in his present position since 1870, except
in 1879 when Mi. Patterson was tie clerk. lie
claimed to he familiar with the workings o. Tue
Office. lie was questlo1ed by Senators Mccarthy
and Strahan and answered as follows:
What your saiaryl
Ws your salary reduced 10 per eentum last winter by
Il was not the Corporation Counsel decided tta that
b did not appy 10 the Mayors oce or 10 the Cominon
How often does the Common Council mect'
II mas regular meeting once week II - '0o"P
times with special IN ctinGs. 49,,
How often are special meetings heidi
Probably they d. not number more hih nVe in year
What is the ensth Of a session 49, .,o,,,, -, ,u.i
The sessions vary according TO tne amour h oi o"si
Has an alderman any duties outside the meetings N
Yes SIR; he must attend committee meetings to pre-
pare WORT the Board The aldermen are also super
VISOR and Comfy GT Sne t they psrorm All the
duties imposed by law, hui it that very limited
amount OF labor is required How long each day are
You confined to your object
1 am IN n,y office daily from O'clock until o'clock.
A deputy clerk, sergeants arms. librarian an en
crossing clerk and an assistant engrossing clerk. i've
assistant clerks assistant librarian a messenger,
an assistant messenger ana doorkeepef'
Are ali of these clel ks under you
Yes sir: they appointed by me, SUBJECT 10 the
direction Of Board. have never really made an ar
poinment myse %ay VS. Of b tH1 membrs and
appoint them There are really no rules Tor ther ap
Senator McCarthy-Now will ask you an important
question waa prcporon OF tas force sa ee
That would he hard for me TO say The capabilities OF
c cng ,Ise Sct he best men ply increased sal
arcs might dispense with tbree OF four.
Thnv are PRESCRIBED by the charter and include the
MAKING and ping Of list OF general orders doing
the worS ana %s5 anS IN, Ine mTtes 0'
How many clerks are employed in preparing general
One clerk is engaged upon that work altne day after
meeting All the procee dnss have to be enFrossed'
How much en- CROSSING is done
Team answer that by stating that the proceedings Tor
the 1875 hlied 21O5 printed Paggs ana those or
nsrel hy the clerks and when printed are engroSsed
vears beSind hand Then have ali proceed
Tugs approved ny the Mayor into an eusrSssiDg box
records have be mdexed The manuscript records ex-
tend back 1882 P:evouS 10 1880 al Oh tle RECORDS
1yere made manuscript, and after tneY were printed
the writieu records were MOI dispensed WIZ ,,
You think tnese written records could be dispensed
WIN W. ,ir.
Is one clerk employed entirely in copying the Mayors
h. Is also engaged IN the library. After the
what they are 1tted do and hence You Will find
that enanges have made the duties and positions
Wnai arr the duties Of the deputy clers'
He re Ids at the meetings OF the Board. He has no
o,ier snrcaI duties. but does his hand
d. you IN nix there are requirements for Us many as
are specifically designated eierksI
tn Committee understood you to say that on could
dispense win three OF iour meni
w.; II had the appointing power, but would not
IN To y y he present salaries -. A.. .-...
1,nllut consolidate your fOrce mat even
with tie increased salaries the work might be done ut
les. ensef
Hon many clerks coul you dispense with If the en-
gro-,iag o. mi iutcs MAS NOT requlredi
Y.u do not consider the engrossng necessary
d n, Won think the efficiency Of the force would be
increased by placing the appointments III your handsi
IWuul Not IKE 10 say.
Nj r,,omey gave TO Senator Bixby statement
shaving tnat in 1870 the work of his department
cost S,6.6S9, while in 1850 the appropriation was
$162O
No REDUCTION OF FORCE ADVANTAGEOUS
lines Mctiowan was next sworn. He SAID thai
he was formerly Assistant Clerk of the Common
Connect aud that he WAS thoroughly acquainted
with the interior workings OF the Clerks office.
a,n not regularly employed there now" he added.
Senator HcCarthy-Whal is the labor or duty OF tho
Hs 6Sr j., more head work than anything else; he Is
In your opinion is the present force absolutely neces
sary -, 49,. ,..h , 81. ,o,,
me-. mel aiding messengers
se1ator McCarthy-llow many men are required for
TO te reports and resolutions ana 90 WORK Of that
YeS. Judging from past experience.
How mauy me- are needed TO put III shape the work
T%c coad do tlat TDs not include engrossiug
How many needed Tor tie engrOsslng woikf
Nat else is there to h. done in the offci
There he man TO do the sea- eng OF records
assrgeant Is necessary Two no araiis ana IN &c
messengers re needed the coorheeper might be dis
men IN your Judgment reduction could not adyan-
tageousi, oo maze
Can You furnish any information without my ASKING
for H. that would b. p'rtm'nL % REDUCTION OF the eA
pepst, of he Common CDu"cht
sSnaI"r strahan: Nh McGowan are you employed In
l. am. 6ai depend upou fees for my mpensatlon.
do the selrclinc aud otter work that to me.
Have you any otner business
You are a sort of tactotum. are you mott
Yes; you ought To know taRL
b.n', YOU do The wOr4 OF these men WHO are drawing
Aeyoa pad iOr the work you do in this public Office
an pad by the fees OF persons from outside WHO
senate : ralan-ii y0u 90 Tie WorH 0i men who are
paid D. puoe, dou't You tbnk you should let 1t be
senator Mccn,hy-I was given to understand that
Mr. MCGOWAN would De az important witness. Z. ald
the work II the clcrAs 10 tho Off ID tne
clerks pay you iyr your workf
Ipeut OF from al oic ?.
Have you ever been paid out of a contingent fund.-
received 500 OIt OF the contingent lunI 40 The
course the Tweed investigation; was never SO paid
Al any ether TIM.
JUSTICE sHRA's TESTIMONY.
Justice Shea, of the Marine Court, was the next
vitness After he sworn. Senator StIahan
said
w find that your court has a great any clerks
There are ten who receive salaries OF S2COJ W wanl
20 kno how many Of these c!ei h eau De d., ems
49,,
think lie present force iuy needed II any chAuge
is 10 be- made IL should b. INCREASED Iah' man dhl
500 ~, court has been L.ucn scatter,1, bat are
soon Il. have rooms THIS building, ana the cJuft ~
be 80 "a measure brought together.