New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-24
SUMMARY OF THE SESSION.

| Children, VINO was tne UrSb NlihcsS, ucSOiiocu az
great length asylums for children in this city,
which, he charged, sought OBSCURE children in order
to obtain large allowance from the city He said
II was never intended that NewYork should pay for
the support o: the cddren OF people OF otner states
Many OF the institutions have referred TO nave TINS
class OF children They take all the children they can
get and then they receive from the city te per cBpa
aowanee for The care of these children. You viii ind
that missionary homes received 1879. S33 405 for
hospital inhrmaries there was appropriated rJt'l ~
for homes aud asylnms S47 609 total S1I57 1913. which
was paid out the Excise funds invite your atten-
uon the Ladies' DEBORAH Nursery. when receives
S1O429 Ipropose to show that this institution cares
for children who are not properly county charge Ine
police justices avail themselves OF me services q OUT
society TO learn whether or hot lue en- , d s
ear be properly committed. There were Two chhnreh
ThE Tfr he Pc% made
should be committed To st. Jamess Home We inyesti-
se %S tha the father Of these children Was
pe;ent TO take of the children The magistrate &C
cSiinIen were committed to ST. James, Home by Civil
Justice Shelby and since then tbe cty mas osen paynH
hell committed Max Arnsieln. child; to the Hebrew
shelterng Guardians society IN March OF lhls ear.
| that there no need OF such commitment Ibe
| senator McCarthyWhat Leneht do these Institutions
eMr GePry--rney get a large fund from the city. sala
res be paid this institution either by TIE city or
by private persons. Apparently they chO2se 10 nave
code practically power to commit these child
rem Tine United Hebrews Charity used 10 care for all
to find Hebrew child in pubic charitable Institution
Hebrew societies drawing IDousiius
of dollars from the city for the care 0 Hebrew children
strahan-Wha would You advise TO cneck TINS
Nv Gerry-I would suggest the passage of law for
budine the payment OF per capita allowance TO any
such charitable institutions without the permission OF
the state Charities Ali Society," aud also law Forbid
ding the com INITIAL of children except by Police Magis
institutions are increasing in number and that they are
dverting their own treasures money belonging TO
| legitimate institutions.
Senator Bxby-Do they pay salaries in these nstitu-
| tons the Catholic, Tor instance
| shar. do nav a1or in
the Catholic none except to cooks aud other servants OF
| that class.
| REDUCTIONS POSSIBLE IN THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
| Philip Bssinger ex-Plrk Commissioner, gave his
| opinion OF the management of the Park Depart
ment. He said
think the duties OF the Park Commission could be
done better oy me COMMISSIONS than by I'VE Politics
| have Increased the EXPENSES Of the Depart
ment THINK the large staff OF engineers is not neces
aary Almost all the work Of the Department has been
completed; there Is no work gOug on IA MornpgSide
Park. There is construction work oil account una
| wav 7 would cut down The number OF the engineers
by one-haf ana Of tne workmrn by ons.hait Wond
| ing streets IN the Iwenty-third and Twentyfourth
CRITICISMS OF JOHN Il. sTRAHAN.
John H. Strallan, who for several years past has
been the confidential law adviser of Controller
Kelly. gave his views of tine expenses OF the City
Government. lie was asked by Senator Mccarthy
if the expenses of the Common Council could be
The first that suggests itself is whether or not,
for all practical purposes 10 is worth while preserving
! the Boari OF Aldermen. II Won should dis
| would money. think that the AiderhIen
ought not to De paId al an you WoaM nave
better service # they were not PAID As matters are
| managed now the Aldermen have too much power.
| Prior to 1873 ihe d-rmen had 10 confirming power
| The public feeling strong AGAINST the single APP
pointing then rs II Il now against the conhfnng
| senator BlxDy-would you get better class Of meu
bv elcctIng ne BOt rd of Aldermen general uckell
MI Strahan-i Trims on wonid; but hc class OF men
Will always be poOr unless can establish minority
| representa- on AID that Is unla Siul.
Senator MeC trsy-Do You th'hN the Mayor snoad
Mr. stranan-The Mayor for the time being has his
fayOnfrs appoints them 10 OIL o. bat he DcXt Mayor
has his special friends ana docs not Ike the officers o.
predecessor atd Usually tries to gel lhem out OF
mlssOners Of departments expire with tue Mayor but
you ought 10 extend the term OF oiie o the Ma. or
10 three So lar removals are concerned, think
YOU ought make them dicult nsaed Of easier.
You now have an unstable government II you wisn 10
make the Mayor responsible youmust make the terms Of
Office the heads al departments cOequa with MS own
Unless tins is done believe IN STRENGTHENING the pow
! ers OF resistance u removal now possessed by
| the Commissioners. would not have them
crime. The method Of appointment has
| nothing to do win the method OF removal III the
ComIniss from val substantial justice should
he secured. The admins ration or tie City Government
| at present goes on without the MAYORS bno"iodse'
WITHIN the hints OF their departments thc Commission
G. make their expenditures as they please, and are
independent OF authority me sole contIol over tIe
slig1t One-s when tueir estimates are sub
ment Ii is discounted and illogical system Of govern
ment. would nave the expeudi ,ures OF the depart
en Board of Estimate and AppOrtlonment cXhausts
| its power when makes the estimate of department
| for year.
| Senator McCarthy-How far has the Board power to
| cut down the department expenditures
Mr.. Strahan-rhese are mere estimates III gross NOT
pracca Tie Board has 10 make an approx
innate estimate of what it VIII cost 10 run department.
When the parrcular department comes 10 spend the
nep ~ % Civ Of SeTY0rk wno SURPRISES the tx
| reu1ifu of
into building the money given them for three.
Senator MsBut are not the Commissioners the best
peTsOns 10 decide such a maiteri
Mr. Strahan-I think a crniral authority would be
better | would not permit these Commissioners 10
make any bargains which would increase the cost Of
running their departments without the permission O
some ceDra financial BODY first gwen. They may
expend full portion their appropriation pOr
ton building, and thus Involve tho city IN further
Senator MlIls-Tho Board Of Estimate require de-
tailed statements OF tuesc proposed expenditures
Mr. Strahan-Yes but after tney are gwen the money
the Commissioners 1t as they please In tue de
tailed xpcnditure Of tns money thnk there should De
supervision by the Board OF Estimate ana AppoFnoh-
ment - , a.,
Senator Mills-Whdt Is the system OF managing the
streets
Mr.. strahan-Tnere three bodies which have con
troll opening Of streets and two Of The Instruction
o sewers I.cse powers are distributed between the
Department of Public Works, the Park Depar neht aud
the Board OF stree, ny br an
Wards but the Department OF PuDhc Works alone mas
power 10 repair tnem The Board OF Estimate and
Apporonment not receive any estimates tor the
construction oi sewers or new streets Inc commits
eiOner or PuDlc Nofks the SOIt ~
sewer and levIes the expense the prOpertyowners
Taerc lint the cost OF constructing sewers or OF
opening new Streets Tine controller has 10 Issue bonds
10 pay for work ana then collect tue amount due
from the several property OWNERS frhglnentniy legs
laton has ms confused system III subject Of
street openings becoming very alarming Onr. TIE
bill passed last winter by the LEGISLATURE
will 60 smc good The principle OF having
the ices for street openings named IL good one
Under A law at 1874. not yet repealed. IN regard to
street openings certain procedure J. adapted Dy the
Park Departmcnt the cost Of opening streets Ia tie
Twenty tiird and fourth Wards VIII amount 10
$50 Oh 600 and tho city Will nave 10 pay IT, When
ever he cay Is 10 the debtor public officers not
suticlently careful. The Department OF Public works
ought have sole power over the streets ana Tue con
sfrction of public buildings. Every department has To
have Its architect and tns system OF course, In
the OF the CITY. Tbefe must DC local
aud lodged somewhere. don't
mink the LEGISLATURE tx the amount any one de
uartmeut shall spend. IL can name a certain amount
lar tne support OF the Ciiy Government That II
H.. .-..rILII Alll I'M aCAIIIl reI