New-York tribune., 1886-03-29
REDUCING CITY Expenses.
CHANGES MADE AND PROPOSED IN TIE PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT.

ORANGES MADE AND PROPOSED IN TIE PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT.
William Y. Smith, the Deputy Commissioner
~ Public Works, who appointed to that office by
ommissiener SQUIRE about month ago. declares that
the present control of the DEPARTING is in the interest
OF economy ana good government He was appointed.
he says without political backing and with no political
ends to He had promised the Commissioner
when the place offered HIM that he would do all In
bis power TO further aud make effective Mr.. squre's
announced policy OF maintaining efficient depa tmeDt
on thorough business principles and he thinks that the
results OF his work. sanctioned and encouraged by tho
Commissioners. though only beginning OF what Will fol-
low justify the belief that his promises are sincere To
q TRIBUNE reporter lie said yesterday:
The expenses OF the Department In the matter OF
salaries and wages alone have boon reduced nearly
$4,000 year since the present arrangement was ef
fected IL has been done the discharge OF useless en-
poyes Here Is list that will show you Just what has
been accomplished Ono axcnan at 81 per day SIX axe
men ut s. 80 per day, inspectors at 49, seven la
borers at 81. oue draughtsman at 80 80. and twenty
labOrsrs - have been discharged dollar day has
saved by the reduction OF inspectors salary from
ga to So, and another dollar by reduction OF TWO
other salaries horse and wagon costing 80 90 per
day have been laid on, making a daily reduction OF
SlOl so There are SOs working days In the year, max
ing An annual reduction Of $751; 262 And this is not all
by any means A rodmAn has been discharged whose
yearly salary was $1,000, and general inspector
whose yearly salary was Sl,s0o Other reductions ag
eregAling $3.50 year have been made, making grand
total Of 7l2 saved 20 the city by the present admin
istraton of this department simply by cutting of use
less hesdL"
'What about the bill Asssmblyman Bruins has intro
ducsd at Albany which said to be IN the interest vi the
Commissioner Of Public Works I" Mr. Smith was asked
"tis IN the interest of economical and regular ad-
Isinistrston OF the public business he warmly replied
at Will save several thousand dollars year tnat are
eight bureaus this department The head OF the
bureau OF Chief Engineer receives $1,000 year; the
head. OF FIVE other bureaus Water Purveyor Repairs
and Supplies. Lamps aud Gas street Improvements ana
Streets and Roads. each receive $3.50 a year The
Water Register receives $500 the head of the Street
Fncumbrances receives $500. making total OF
S265JO paid tho heads OF the eight bureaus This
bill consoldates the bureaus into four The hrst Will
have charge OF all the work relating to the water supply
aud the sewers tho second bureau will control the
streets their care repair. maintenance, lighting, ee
the third bureau Will have charge Of tho public build
ings and tho fourth the collection o, water rents The
most radical change will be IN the second bureau. Oh-
der the old system the street improvement Bureau had
charge OF the regulation and grading OF the streets that
OF Street Encumbrances has charge OF distractions IN
the sreets OF streets and Roads Of The louevards
and unpaved Streets and that OF Water PnFveyor or
the paving surface details Now all that work re-
iates to the streets much satisfactorily
done consolidated Office. In this new plan all work
bureau OF Chief Engineer. T. Will be
decided Improvement FOR the easOn that
nearly all the wasted water !ltO the sewers ana
II they are in the hands Of the CuIf En- gneer he Will
have far better opportunities OF discovering and pre-
venting the OF water about whiOh such ncesSant
and annoying complaint is made
{" estimate the saving In the salaries or heads or
bursaus Will be under the new system about $4,000,
ana immense saving will take place IN clerical Sal.
ares You see, under tbs old separate ses or
books had be Kept for each bureau necessltatlHg
heavy forces Of men aud much buHglng machinery
think tho clerical force be cut down at least one
fourth and the clerks salaries range al the way
from 500 to S. 400 for yourself what the
pecunlary advantage OF the new system will be 10 The
city. II is charged, you that this bill has some
sinister political motive Tuat is all nonsense II 1t
measure to increase Offices to create places for
political friends. such allegation might he msntalhed
Bur s object is lust the reverse 1t ecss and
Ops of the number OF pIacehOders. It's motive is all
its fop