New-York tribune., 1885-03-09
PROPOSING A CHANGE IN ITS 0RGANlZA'
TION.
DIFFICULTY ABOUT SECURING DEPARTMENT IN
FoRMATIoN-A BILL DRAFTED.

,,c,,rv .pour ACQUIRING DEPARTMENT IN
FoRMATIoN-A BILL DRAFTED.
The Senate Committee which in 1881 inves-
t,cated the affairs of the city government recon-
mended among other changes, that the Boaru "a .s'
mate be constituted In part OF ciuzehs nov io'e -,
other city Offices This reform was recommended on 'nS
Ground that the control city expenditures shouio
not rest exclusyey with the officers who expend INC
money ana that to give the citizens taxpayers rep
rescntaton in the board would conduce 10 economy ~
the city government. At various times siniar icoo'
mendations have been made TO the Aesis
lature, but steps have ever o.on
taken 70 carry them out One difficulty In the way mas
h the oppositiou of the officials whose powers would
no by the change Another objection has been
the general belief that the members OF the Board were
appointed by the Mayor IL would be the means Oh
him absolute control Of the city treasury whhe Il 'o
citizen members to be chosen az an eiec''oh n
poeians would place their representatives Ill ho
Board. -. .,o
This project of changing the character OF VI.
poard of Fstimate has recently been reVNeu
and number Of leading taxpayers nav
nrepared bill the subject with view oi hee''"s
the objections heretofore made TO the refor ioy nav
been guided somewhat by the experience OF fresueh'
Asten and other members Of the Board OF Estimate MI
Asten says that has frequently been called upon 10
vote on large appropriations without being able 10
tain whether or not the amounts were needed only
meagre information, he said, was ever gwen INC
Board and that was furnished by Office holders
intarested In securing large appropriations
The members of the Board have no means OF
verify ng information and frequently the Poice anu
other interested bodies have refused or negecod W
information called for by the Board OF Estimate III t'
way Mr.. Asten says. appropriations nave 10 ne sue @
he thinks IL absolutely necessary Tor the elnoieht E
ernnent of the city that means be provided 10 unsn
members of the Board of Estimate win Tue @ i@uioe'
knowledge concerning every detail of city efpelic
and that they should have the power ana llhe W
that for themselves, and TO actpoh H. III ta
wov only will expenses reduced to proper OASIS ana
taxpayers protected from robbery by political mans
and heelers. . ...o..,,, ,o,,od,
Of appropriating the public money the o ~
leading taxpay ers provides that the Board ol Lslate
shall consist Of the Mayor and three citizen iakayeIs
residents of the city, and not otherwise cohhcelen WIN
the CITY government. One OF these cltlzen meipeis
.hal be of different political faith aud opinion Oh oto
ssnes from his TWO associates. The three cltlLcn lel
hers are TO he apponted by Board consisting of Ihe
Maror and The Presidents Of the Chamber OF commerce.
Produce Exchange New-York Bank Clearing AssoedtIOh
and New ork Board of Fire Underwrilers. lac terms
OF Office OF the three citizen members shal nc two
three and four years respectively and they snail ne SUI
ec 10 removal by the Appointing Board Each cldIeh
member is 10 be paid salary OF OOO and II IS ihs
their duty to make examination eaGh year; anu
offer er II deemed desirable, Of affairs, donSs ana con-
dition of every branch, bureau and once lhstut1 vi
nerson receiving money from the city treasury; lh.!
are ewered examine all books ana Nod'h'ts, ~
administer oaths and examine any person RECEIVING
public msney. The Board Of Estimate, ms mus coisl
ufid il given entire control OF all appropriations Tor
the city government, except for the city dcbt. Inc
Board is empowered under the bill 10 employ necessary
clerks and TO maintain Office at an annual expense
NOT exceeding IS, 900.