New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-11

What would ycu say the present force II there were
n wond be a tilscraceful waste Of the public money
What IL the duly OF an Officer go. -, a., os tho
To he present 40 the Opcang or court 10 ac' ~ nno
police oi the court and keep order TO swear III VIZ
nesses; TO see 10 the empanelnG OF luIieS t,od hy
eonnec lie aiso has 10 ako charge Of the jury wnen
case is ended Even when unoccupiHu nc a ,ls a,o
present, l, is my experience una' 'n'o0 "''
Conld not rome Of these duties be performed by the
cSnS MOI , say That has been proposed but
give no OPINION based On oNperence -.
Gould the superannuaed police DC made useful IN
speedy messenger is often required, and counsel
would not lisc to be served by 4 lame onieer. 20
requisite speed at tmes that counsel OFTEN mas his
Wh't 90 Won know ahout the management of the Office
o. c,eikl What Is your opinion OF the cereal Iorcei
II the Marine Court enters as many rs l2oOo )ndg-
p,cnts In year as am informed it does. The clerical
force instead OF beng Too great Is TOO Hte one hd
II there j. too much expense anywhere, II mnHt pe
looked for elsewhere. Know tnat wDeh aeeIS I la
been sick a man has been taken from me 10 supply ms
place. showing that his work could not De done DS tue
cerca fcrce, .. ,,o ce-.s 60 onerous az TO require
lis my honest opinion derived from experience and and
from information from members OF the par mat tno
force needed may be IN error, but hardiy 'hhA
Do Won regard the salaries as excessivei
SHOULD DOT Ike to anything about the clerks I'M
less also Include the judiciary.
DO YOU think an officer al $1,000 exeeSsivei
MR.. TwoMsY RECALLED.
Mr. Twomev was recalled and asked what salary
he exnec.ed to receive next year. reply was that
in the estimates he had put 1T at $4,S0o, but that
the Board of Aldermen would fix 1t.
Senator McCarth,-I see thai in your estimate you
hive amount required for your Office next year
~ Sl4,JS0 and that You have included sal;hics Ior
only mae persons. The Board Of Estimate and App0r-
iionment as allowed you SlS.0S Why II hat -
The estimate MADE allowed for tn" reduction o inc
pcr cenfum, bu Corporation Counsel mas decldeu
that mis- reduction does not apply to us. We were
allowed 81 600 this year, and the appIoprlGlOh mas
81 600 az The needed. The deficiency that WI, ~
ex st the END OF this year rs Included ID t1a SUN. ~
can be apped by transfer # the i ard snail 80 decue
Why was the appropriation expended before the year
ended , 81, a., poord of Aldermen
Tie Board directed W hat salaries shoaid DC pAi'
Is that yearly practice
Ii never occurred In my once DeIore
Mr. Twomey WAS asked whether, IL ne had left
his own salary at 81 900 and had not increased the
salaries of two of his clerks by $500 EACH lie could
not have increased his force even with the sum ne
had asked for His reply was somewhat confused
and did not fully meet the question.
TESTIMONY OF MAYOR COOPER.
Mayor Cooper was then called and sworn. Senator
Mccarthy began the examination by asking the
Nayor whether he could dispense with any portion
of his force III the interest of the people OF New
york without detriment to the public service. Inc
witness, after reciting list Of the employees IN MS
office said:
not IN nix there are persons than are necessary In
the Chief Clerks Office there the chief clerk and the
secretary possible for OF these to 40 the WORK.
Senator McCarthy-It has been suggested that the
Bureau OF Permits is ant that 1t could be
her department without creating any
additional expense TO that department. -
The OF Permits Is not an expense TO the city IL
suppore ifs receipts. 1t receives the lees from
the licenses oi pawnbrokers, cabs Junk SHOPS anu
permits granted by bur eau winch is aDe 10 give heih
proper supervisor. ~, poo,, Of r,c,,nbrapccs has
often to the work o. the Bureau OF PerntsT And
would il not he well 10 have the duties mergedt
The sioop iine. Ii man has permit within tla me
ana his negnbors Object II is Tor the Bure1u OF PERMITS
act do nG5 t not 6ee He Sced p sGe' Oee ~
Con d the work be done by one bureau
see no reason why so f.r as the streets are con
cerned the should not be done by the Bureau oil
| Public Works. ., 49,
Senator Srahan-Mr Mayor IL Is ques'oH vi "a
There l. no collision between the two bureaus
relation between their functions. THIS matter OF pawn
brokers and ca might just well b. put IN The hands
| of the police and the Mayor be relieved Of them.
nv what authority the Bureau of Permits created
| ~ an order OF the Common Council
Some discussion followed here as TO the right of
the Council to create bureau for which no provis-
Ion was made in the Charter. Mayor Cooper said
the bureau was probably created under the provision
| comforting the power 10 grant permits. returning
to the question OF the abolition of the bureau, the
| witness SAID
the EXPENSE whether the bureau merged or continued
A. general proposition. think 1t better TO have The
| Mayors Office discharged OF al these functions .,
senator McCarhy-Why, Mayor. cannot the chcf clerk
| OF the secretary De dispensed Win
| II is my mprrss.on that one efficient man could DO
tie work. You can dispense with one undoubtedly II
the Mayor works day aud night AID doe, part OF me
do in the departments that he has not done. reduc-
uOn Of the force III the MayoIs ONE Tould Ie,VTe Tue
Have YOU any particular recommendation t. with
| tO
| rrtrpnchmenrf We wonld like suggestions from YOU
mt would reach the economy Of the question or i'm
Nv 1T criticism Of the charter would be that do
moi tnnk II provides for sufficient respoa bhy in
| the government III regard to tine departments the
| Mayor has practically no power OF control.
| His power of removal amounts 10 htile or nOlhihs.
NAV entirely satisfied myself OF the corruption ana
unfahu OF an cltcer, but unless can prove the
fact As would have 10 be proved IN q court OF laW
have no power Of removal THIS runs down through all
In general terms them you think the Mayor has not
AZ TO removals ne certainly sufficient power.
There consequently no practical responsibility o the
| departments TO the Mayor q,
The MAYORS power IN that respect j. very Inn ted lie
may dominate. but the nominal ons must be confirmed
sucn Ill., but such aS can secure their con-
hnuaon The 25th section o. ne charter should Dc re-
The charter. M my Judgment, nat the Mayor has not
power OF removing the hea.S OF departm nts II Is
tre that il BOrd Aldermen Gu not possess the
t"It T6e course q legislation loI 1ty years been
10 take away ls powers ana give them 10 the depart
| mcuts.
! APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENTS.
| Some desultory conversation was had at this
10 nj regarding the action ~ the Board OF Estimate
! and ApportIonment. Senator Mccarthy said that
| he had received tie idea that the Board never made
any practical correction OF the estimates, but that
| 1t generally granted what the departments asked.
| The MAY + sought to correct this an erroneous
! impressions aud explained the difference between
| the provisional and final estimates.
Senator McCarthy-I understand the Board must act
| a. "A unit Cannot member ui the Board Tor political
upon &C. Ia points or block Tue puOc
! business py re -iug &c pass The estlmltesi
| That could De donr. / suppose.