New-York tribune., 1882-04-28
BILLS TO INCREASE THE cIrTS BURDENS

WHAT THE MAYOR AND CONTROLLER THINK OF THE
SCHEME TO INCREASE SALARIES OF POLICEMEN
AND FIREMEN-MR. FRENCHs IGNORANCE.
There is a large number of bills at present
before the LEGISLATURE calculated largely to increase the
burdens this city Nearly all OF these bills have been
reported favoraDly by the Committees on Cities in the
Senate and Assembly at the head OF which Senator
Grady and Assembyman NJ c. Murphy. Among these
measures are such visionary schemes as the
one 10 extend Avenue A, which, passed,
voud cost the city in damage 70
dock property and other ways than its present
debt Another bill which has been reported favOrahy
by the Assembly committee places 1t in the power OF
Alderman sauer aud Register D0charty. two Of Mr..
Kely's most subserent followers, to erect new Hall
of Records without any limit to expense Another bill
favorabv reported from the committee gives 20
commission to consist Of such wel-knOwn ward poIt-
cans AZ ex-Aderrnen Burns, ]. W. Boyle and Solomon
Sayles the power spend $500 900 in rebuilding Wash
nrton and Jefferson Markets This bill has received the
aoproval OF Assembyman MurphY's committee, not
thstanding the statement Of the Controller and the
Navo- that the rebuilding of FultOnMarket will only
81 900 while SO 900 already been appropriated
by the Board Estimate and Apportionment to rebuild
Jefferson Market, and that Washington Market can be
rebuilt for S25O,OOO at the most bill to
appoint commission to build new
Court House in the Tventy-dirst Ward has been re-
ported f,vorably although the Board of Estimate has
never been asked to make any Appropriation l0r the
purpose, and there has been no call Tor new court
TIoiise there. Another measure which tho committee
recommends Is 10 create new Olcial u De known AS
Gas Inspector though that work Is already PROVIDED Tor
by the Gas Commlrslon here are numerous oCner IKE
measures creating new Offices be filled by politicians
and appropria,ng large sums OF money Inc Ds To IN
crease the pay Of policemen anu reen anu 10 provide
matrons for police stations are already well advanced
and likely soon To before the Governor In regard To
these measures Mayor Grace said yesterday:
II anything needed TO show the advantage or
biennial sessions the Legislature and home rule the
hills that annually come before the Legislature in
gard to this city oug to be sufficient Take ths bi to
of Estimate and Apporti1 and the Police Commits
soners have ample power to make such appointments II
us ana no i - tbe n "a Verv had one oT the
ety II would aud S75, 900 year the tax bills 1t is
~ oaon eacn For similar service now the city
only paws $3.50 which ample and there Is no need Tor
any such number Of marons as Is provided Tor IL the
I'm regard to the salaries Of the policemen and fire
men," continued the Mayor am also OopOs1d TO the
bill raising the pay 10 siSVV 40 ~ 943 9 aG ahnS
prOpOrtOAae ncrrs-e IN the pay Oi the Other ocers
The Pubic Burdens act OF lS9O was good measure as
far Ar ID went and been approved by the taxpayers
There u no call for repeal N any way and tns O 10
IN the wrong direction aud should ne defeated. 49, ,
Inquiry at the, Controllers Office showed that II
the bnl 10 increase nrenens and pohcemen's Sal
aries became law IL would adu al once ABOUT
100000 10 the tax buls, with an Increase IN the
amount each year. appontees would get the IN
creas salaries When the D 10 TX the pay Oi poLoe
men bremen II zoo was passed II was IN the une
OF na1ed currency, and not Intended to De pern
nent there was provision Ia the aet Inae mnen
greenhacks became OF equal value with gOd the salaries
should reduced lhs provision Wh1 after"afu qhrty
rcueaed The pay Of policemen IN TINS CITY now
Is Fl. -, H. L-ilAdc pnia, SSH; Brooklyn. 800
Boston : 900; chicago, 5000; CINCINNATI, efo' lAc
rate in tn!- city hgDer than IN any other city III
the country The cost per capita Of the police admins
tratOl this city much larger than that III any
other city ia the country, and much greater
than IL European cities. In THIS city t1e
cost II 81 30 per capita In ClnciL NATL II "a ;
- Louis, 81 20; Philade pnia, 81 20; Chicago -
Brookyn 81 20; Boston, ~ Tue average pay Tor pO-
cemen In private service this city Is 500 Controller
Campbell agreed with the Mayor IN opposing the Dill to
Increase salaries. dc said ~
Tie Public Burdens bill waa the only outcome OF AZ
the talk and investigation in regard to the AFFAIRS o w
city. word been RAISED against IT, except Oy
the persons affected and the politicians VINO want 70
make votes among The policemen ana nreneh' tHinA
the rate OF pay fixed by that bill IA hgh enough IL 10
more than mechanics get, while II affords steady employ
mspt There snOuld be steps backward In the "oIA
economy There Is trouble IN gettlng gOod men anu
plenty of them the salaries pad, anu way
suould the taxpayers OF this city be made 10 pay
more No or the political power o. the ponce OF
nremen will deter from doing my duty IN ILLS n"|
ter" -. -.
Police Commissioner French who Is president OF the
Police Board willing 70 confess that he dd not redu
the papers very closely Although this Dl relates 10 LIS
and has before the Legislature Tor sew
era weeks been freely discussed Nc SAID ester
daV when asked about " Is there such oil ms
A. the frat have heard Of it. don't know the nrst tlhg
about It, bat II any change Is made slOnlo IniA II
would be better TO equalize the pay al e4'ooo'