New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16
PROPOSED CITY REFORMS.

REDUCE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COMhlS-
| Observation-Disclosures THAT NEED REoRGANlI-
| ATIoN.
| City officials arc looking forward with interest
TO The report of the Senate Committee on CUES
which recently investigated the government OF this
CITY The interest, however, is not 50 much IN what
the report may recommend in tho shape of leeisla-
ton affecting the city as to whnt action the Legs
liure may take in regard to t. 1t Is thought tnaC
| there will &c two reports from tho committee Inc
one to lie submitted by the chairman, Senator
| Mccarthy will probably recommend Legislation 10
| reduce the number of city officials ana otner"lso
relieve the taxpayers. The minority OF the COM
mttce through Senator BiXby is expected 10 Oppose
az the Democrats have always opposed IN Inc pasl'
any legislation that will interfere with Democratic
| officials.
! Whatever this committee may recommend, many
of the officials as well as taxpayers are cohhueh'iy
expecting the Legislature to take some acton OH
CITY affairs Tho oiceholders fear for their places
while the taxpayers hope for relief. Governor CoI-
nell. in his message to the Legislature referred 10
this subject and recommended vigorous action III
the direction of reducing the expenses of New-York
and Broo.lyn, which ne thought were too high by
many millions OF of dollars. He added:
| For many years tho ingenuity OF man hrs been EN-,
pioyed create new offices and nceasc me s'rieS os
have been doubled thus quadrupng me s Du[us y W
taxpayers. In many instances properly mas aG h t
Drcn conscaed under the onerous ctons OF me TAX
lew 1t my deliberate opinion that II on nIn :" e
officials N ana o@ weTg hose remain
ING the public would be better served than at present
| Sneaker Sharpe in his address to the Assembly,
also alluded to the subject, stating that the people
will hail with delight all steps which the Leglsla
ture NAV take toward the further reduction OF local
burdens" These facts have caused uDcaSiheSs 10
| democratic officials. especially those enjoying posi-
4 loric nd
They profess to in these recommendations Oh the
Governor and Speaker, and the forthcoming report
of the Senate Committee preconcerted effort to re-
organize the government Of this city IN the interest
| of the Republicans. This however, is denied by
Republican leaders in the Legislature, who say that
such an attempt was defeated last year. and Will DO
defeated this year if made. while measure to carry
out the ideas OF the Governor in reducing the num-
her of city officials one-thrd and greatly relieving
the burdens Of tho taxpayers, will meet with sue
cess.
The Municipal Society," and one or two other
similar organizations will advocate single
headed commissions instead of tho existing
complex and unwicldy Affairs. This would would
save directly about 100000 year, WINE
indirectly II would save much larger
the city government which are now managed In
manner that may be called satisfactory are those
with single hesds-tle Finance, Pubic works ana
Law Departments. Against these departments no
such complaints are ever heard as are made against
the Police, Park and other Departments having
more than one head Triple-hcaded COMMISSIONS, III
is claimed divide the responsibility and cause dIs-
sensions which are injurious to the pubic welfare
This has been illustrated recently by the pr9ceeu-
ings in the Park and Dock Departmen;s and ire
guenty by the actions of the POLICE Board. ounces
are created to furnish patronage Tor members or
the commissions. a necessity which would not exist.
To so great an extent at least, II there
were only ono COMMISSIONER to department
instead OF four. SinGle-headed commissions were
Ip..ka lNr-t h.Al nCf "A
IL il said that this has resulted III great improve
nent IN the eovcrnment OF that cry, ne sIc
Police Department of brooklyn has particularly felt
should such measure be passed for this city it
would remove the following oficias ! hree FOL co
commissioners two Commissioners oi Charities ald
Correction, two Fire Commissioners, one hca'tn
Commissioner, two Dock Commissioners, two AK
CommIssoncrs and two Excise COmm,ssloners
l.,cL ono Of these Commissioners has his ERIK. and
the salaries Of these clerks would also hessaye ny
the city, besides the pay OF VARIOUS o'hcr ociehd-
Another reform to be recommended TO the Legs
laiurc will he tho abolition of number OF bureaus
he Cooperation Connsel DNs VeraI co'ily P,5r"Ts
attached to the office. which, 1t Is Claim J.
can he abolished and the work doro
bv clerks, thus cncctIng large saytIs' !
These bureaus are those of the Cor
nnration Attorney Public Administration aud Attor- |
n,y for the Collection OF Arrears OF Pcrs pna Taxes
The Mayors Permit Bureau Is principally engaged
- nrrnit ing" yinatious IT the ordinances, and
hi, ii IL proposed TO abolish In the Finance De
partmrn the City Chamherlalns oihce costs inc
reduced One-haf There u large nun'er OF hu- /
reaus IN this department which the Controller has
already begun to consolidate; but II r. supposed Hat
the Legislature will apply the prunlng,N n.ie hc'c
also The Public Works Dtpal mont had the credit
of being well managed under Allan Campbell out |
members Of the Municipal Society claim that the
oareS are 700 large and the expenses too great, and
if the report Of the Senate Committee ~ not specific
enough Oh This pom; 1t will he supplemented ny |
rccommcnda ions sent from this city,
The Dock Department will probably come III for q |
good deal Of legislative attention. Tho Develop |
Inents made by the new Commissioners, M l."nl- !
beer have called special attention 10 INC sol lhi5
6rnartncnt. The cNpcISoS are alleged 10 DE euOT- |
mously excessive. having increased from lew thou
sand dollars M 1869 10 An average NJ present OF |
~ II, 81 1000 yearly. \ bill is preparing change |
tho whole system Of this depart nent. Inc Depart
ment of Chautcs and Cort.t ton costs the cilF ioi
the present year nearly l.5OoOoo. heronncnda- |
toIs viii be- made to TIA" LeEi,dtr hy W,nth II IS
claimed. thIs department can be conducted for two
H. irds ~ j. present cost. In 1871 It cost the clty
only about 81 ,pOOObO, although the number 81 IN |
mates wa, greater than during a4f year anI the |
cost at materials and labor ca4; - per cen. III ~
The Five department has r, neral f'pniHlion Tor
Oi-icncy Nct grave chaIgcS were made |
against lis admins ration during the luycs-
tigation If The Srnat" Committee. u -
bell we'd that IN" department w0uh gam by r'dCc-
IN; tnr nunbsr oi Commi- t"neis To ono. lee Ioau'
a. EdncIUor. II b. CLAIMED ~ he az a. "a re-
irnchm Mt, costs the clY ah ",n'hE' un "I Plppnf-
tipu 10 ITS work. An e. "a WI BE- made 10 ~ the
LEGISLATURE 10 Curill tle sums now expended IN
hi .icr education 10y ihc COLLEGE of the CItg a. N,w
Yorn In, Normal Coi .csr AMI the Grammar Schools,
and prDY - irticl eco j,Ip IjttOS rinr primary
cl4,scs. TIE Excise Department Will probably To
r org niz IT, tbs ,pIr,u rni ai one iino yielded
the tlty a r. venue Oi ~, 10000. Whie now less
ban oncpuartrr "i t"i" iuEp"il ~ received N'lhe
Wa, asO greatly icesrncd wmla the rcy'ul" was 80
large. with one head for the Ponce Department, II
Is thought that many OF IT. present dlcu,tlcs VIII
De removed.
One of the curious auoml"s under the city gov
rrnmcn, il hc office of the Commissioner Of Jurors.
va ycaIs tine aIl Try OF tine tOuni4sSO. cr waS
Ic iucrd g. - ODJ WhIch competent p'r,Ou5 claim
l., IN aiuuuut to, large for the work. require 3. set
a.l.lftg o lfa4
salary Oi $50 900 u year. When Mayor Cuop-r bc-
gah MS Term oi Office he va. abou, 10 H0Einato i