New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-11-11
SIS 600 all of which goes sullivan after expenses arc
CHECK on II. o, THOMPSON
CONFRONTED by MAYOR GEAcE's WORDS

THREATENING TO STOP PUBLIC WORK UNLESS HE
GETS MORE MoNEy-Mn. AsrEN IN hAhNhe''
The effort Of Hubert o. Thompson, further TO In
crease his salary account. under the threat 'n' u
the original appropriations arc not increased by
transfers from accounts for which much Tess ',''
he asked for was allowed last year. and WHICH,
therefore should have less than nothing to spare'
certain public work shall be stopped. failed LOT tne
second time Yesterday. Mr.. Thompson appeared III
person before the Board of Estimate ana APP
portionment and aimed a blow at the Ci.y
Treasury that meant mischief; but 1t was neatly
warded off by Commissioner Asten. VINO hhaiIy
floorcd him with an extract from a nessass o,
Mayor Grace, I'm which the practice OF d ,h
more money at the close OF the S Jtai' ;s empbat
The resolution which failed to pass at tn, the
special e1as thsf s1aSe be
from the appropriation made to the Department OK
Public Works for " lamps and gas ana electric
lighting" for 1854, to the Appropriation Ioi nsnos
cGargeablo to repairing and removal rS SI p,peS
SAID that Il the transfer was not made the public
be stopped Mr. Astcn said that last year $500, 900
was asked for repairing and renewal Si 1o pip p0
stopcOeks ETC. and less less tssn 5oS 2oo was
asked for salaries chargeable to .t that n aG-
Thompson if such was not the fact.
MIR Thompson responded: &c Yes. sir;
Now continued Mr. Aston. sternly regarding
the Commissioner of Public Works, my recolieec-
tion is clear that said ToooOO was enousH tUn
salaries IN view of the large amount taken on ,io
the appropriation for repairing and renewal: II
That would not affect the salaries" ssio hl.
thompson. The number OF inspectors ana olnc !;
employees is the same and the number OF meters iS
increased" $50, ,;s NJ
Il can't get that through my head" replied Mr. Mr.
Aston. when SOS, 800 was asked ior lor salaries
1oll
want to increase it to over $4,000. don't tni ,
this should be done. ! can show you to your salis-
faction that many of tho meters have not been seen
by the inspectors in five months and that eacn I'M
spec tor could readily inspect hity meters Gay anu
they only read on an average eight day. can
give the names of persons VINO nave not seeh All
Inspector for five months .
Mr.. Asten then read the following extract from
the message of Mayor Grace, sent to the Aldermen
The practice OF spending during a large part Of the
sums beyond prCpeT share OF he dhn true nSt
In certain departments the proper , ~ nc Tc
during certain seasons is greater IMAM uu,lnG M
tiHcaton for careless oyereXpendurc IN reliance poh
obtaining transfers the Board Of Estimate and p
portiomont under the compulsion OF granting lleI ~
order TO prevent total cessation Of TIE pup
lie service. deem it my duty TO state distind
that shall not oAcuse any expenditure IL uroGaid oi
The limits Of appropriations. and shall even nreer .nat
single branch OF the city Government should be seTions
crippled for a short time al the end az the year atheT
nan that the whole service should he demonlzcd by con
doning and rewudng RECKLESS os on mans
"Now those words are APPLY sad, resumed MI
Astcu "rhis is just case ct the KIND referred TO-
You have stopped work, although you nave ie-
ccived all you asked for. -, ~,
"No, We have not stopped work, SAID MT.
Thompson but we will have to If this transfer Is
not made"
Contractors have told me" answered Mr.. Asten,
THAT they had to stop work, and want II dls-
tinctly understood that this Is not tho idut OF TINS
Board
MIR. Asten requested Mr. Thompson TO
make a full statement of tho number
of meters, the numher OF employees ana
the work they have to do. Mr.. Thompson promised
TO do this at the next meeting OF the Board, TO be
held to-mOTICw at noon. .
A resolution authorizing the Commissioners or
pnblIc Works 10 $4,000 appropriated ior
"lamps and gas and electric lighting III paying
for The rem wal OF the Controllers office, hitting IT
up ana preparing the Controllers Old apartments IN
the new Court House for the use Of tlc Supreme
Court was laid over on motion of Mr.. ASten.
The following transfers asked for by Mr.. Ihomp-
son were made:
From "removing distractions, Sc" to salaries oa
for tho same account 300
From salaries under " Az 'cduct repairs, &C. 10
laying CrotOn water pipes, salaries -,...--. 100
From "r,palrug streets ana venues 10 salaries o.
the account. -,lVO
From lamps cas and cleo trio Lighting" TO sala-
rics the account OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 900
All these we're agreed to unanimously except the
last which Mr.. Asten voted against. lie SAID II
was ey dent that the Department OF Pubic orks
had committed Itself to pay larger amount OF
sa aries than was authorized. Mr.. Thompson sand
the amount was small and he had not supposed he
would be censured for this.
"The amount is small said Mr.. Aston, but
there is principle involved IN It.