New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-24
THE CITY DEPARTMENT.

CHANGES URGED BY NEW COMMISSIONERS.
TAXPAYERS BrYoRE THF BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES WHICH SHOULD
PREVAIL IN MUNICIPAL LMANAGEMENr-MFFT'sd
OF THE DOCK coMMTssIOSRRs-MR. LAIvBEERs
INoUIgIEs-REMovALs IN TIE PARK DEPART.
MINT
Orlando B. Potter appeared before the Board
of Estimate and AppOrtionmeDt yesterday
and criticised the management OF the
city Departments. He thought the
same principles should prevail in the manage
ment of city affairs as in business circles.
There were too many clerks, he declared. aud
there was too much money paid in saaries.
President Walker and President King, of the
Board of Education and the Fire Department,
explained the items Of their estimates for
1881. The Controller said he should dismiss
more clerks from his office January 1.
In the Park ID DEPARTMENT several salaries
were reduced, and several employees were dis
charged. In the Dock Department Commis-
sioner Laimbeer startled the other members
by his inquiries aud methods
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
ACIIpN OF TBE PARK CoMMIssIoNEEs-sALEM n.
WALES EXPRESSES HIS OPINION OF THE WAY IN
WHICH CENTRAL PARK rs MARRIED.
The meeting Of the Park Commissioners yesterday
was marked BY the subdued manner with which ths
business was for the most part disposed of. At-
though on many questions there was disar
greement there was little show Of tenn
per. After sOme routine business IL
was resolved, on motion OF Mr. Lane. that all OF
the Commissioners should have power to sign per-
mits and requsitions until the next meeting OF the
n,
Commissl oner Green however. said that the matter
of reducing expenses, for which the meeting had
been called, should be taken mp. and the motion was
withdrawn. Commissioners Wales and Lane, who
wcre appointed on the Investigating Committee.
said they were not ready to report
communication from the Board Of Estimate
and ApportiOnment. requiring statement OF tho
expenses of the department for 1880 and an esti-
mate of the expenditures for 1881, was presented.
Mr.. Wales said that the estimate which had been
made appeared TO him too large, and he thought
great care should be taken In the matter. lie had
understood that opposition was forming 10 great
expenses and he "as glad that the department had
been called upon to show Its hand The people
were liberal enough with their money, but IL was
necessary to show them that they were getting value
received
Commissioner Green who had before made some
reference to the removal of superintendent Hal
loran. said that the people were liberal but they
didn't want a lot of vagalOnds in the department.,
doing nothing. He then offered resolution 70 re-
move superintendent Haloran from his position. :,
This proposition brings us down to business
SAID Mr.. Wales whether the fault IS with DIT:
ii lloran not, Central Park is IN disgraceful
condition. l am constantly seeing things going on
in Central Park that do not approve OF. There IS
a trestlewo-k being put up now over which Is TO
be moved "A piece of stone. and the park Is beng
filled up with buildings and structures OF one kino
and another. Unless we set our faces against snch
irrelevant structures we will soon destroy its
beauty. If superintendent Halloran can be proved
to be responsible for the bad condition of the drives
1t was also urged by Mr.. Wales that IL should bs
ascertaned # this removal would be attended Win
any legal dificultiesj but Mr. Green SAID that any
amount of talk about reform would not result IN
anything He knew of no other way to reform than
to remove useless and incompetent men, and to cue
down salaries. The resolution was adopted.
Commissioner Green made motion 10 remove
julius l.. MunckwItz SuDerintending Architect.
This gave rise to long discussion. Commissioners
Lane contended that the experimenting Architect
had work in hand that could not be lald down.
Commissioners Green and Conover urged thas
ants for work that could be done for 5000. The
position taken by Commissioner Wales was that the
removal should be deferred until the matters IN the
architects bands were disposed of:
At this juncture Mr.. Green called man out OF
the that had gathered in the room, and asked
him If Mr.. Munckwitz had not asked hm tor a per-
centage of his salary for the use Of lammany Hall
While Commissioner Lane was protesting agalnet
this procedure, the man, whose name Is Iatrica
Flannigau, told his story. lie SAID that Mr MuncS-
WITT had come to HIM some time ago ana asked MN
to ply party ment, as bis position depended
on the success of Tammany Hall. He refused how
ever to comply with the request.
The result of the vote was Commissioners
Green and Conover for removal Wales and
Lane against il. A resolution by Mr.
ales to reduce the experimenting Archltecps
salary to 81 600 year was then adopted also one
10 the effect that Charles Johnson should serve as
Acting superintendent until the next meeting VI
the Board.
On motion of Commissioner Wales. L.. A. Risse,
assistant engineer, with salary OF 81 500 was re-
moved Henry Bertb0ld's salary was reduced from
81 600 10 81 600; j. +. Perez, salary LOO, was
removed Otto oIbeth, draughtsman. salary 81 200,
was removed b. +. Carpenter, skilled laDofer, S3
day. L. K. Osborne and Thomas J.COleman inspectors.
81 a day. were removed. 1t was also agreed TO re-
duce the salary Of H. Bertholf, o bridge-tender,
from 81 900 to 81 600 year.
The case of WIaD Van Nalkenburgh was brought
up Commissioner Lane, who claimed that since she
Office of Dsbursng Clerk had been abolished there
wflo little tor him to do. Mr.. Wales SAID be had
made an investigation OF the matter, aud that he
the work. II Mr.. Van Nalkenburghs services were
dispensed With II would reduce the expenses from
S5 $50 TO x2, $50. Commissioner Green. WHO
inanifestly DID not want Mr.. Van Valkenburgh re-
moved offered resolution 10 discharge William Is,
KlngsIsnu the head clerk This was strenuously
missioner Lane proposed further removals, but Mr..
Wales, who had previously protested against Mr.
Green's method of reform on the ground that he was
not sufficiently acquainted with the department 70
act viii hout making some examination into the ind-
yldual cases, said that the committee shouid be al
lowed 10 make Its Investigations first, Mr. Green
finally yielded, although he said he had several
more removals ~ propose. After dlsposing OF some
routine business the Board adjourned until Monday
at $50 a. IN.
STIRRING UP HIS ASSOCIATES.