New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-28
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
D1seRAcEFUL METHODS IN BROOKLYN.
WITHHOLDING PART OF F1REMEN's AND POLICE
MEMS PAY.

TO thu Editor Of The TIL o
Sir. sbould like to know from The Tribune why
every voter In the city OF Brooklyn De ne DenoOi
or Republican, taxpayer or rentpayer' Is as'esseu ~
the purpose Of running the Democratic maciilno "
Rrookvn and filling the pockets OF the few WHO arc
h.od d trort In fhe ring and who grow rich on their
serinstituted indulgence in the public crib 1t IS BAD
enough for the intelligent people Of Brooklyn TO DC
governed by the band Of eeches VINO are cohuuc.l"S
The city government but when it goes so iar tDa' 'ey
literally rob the servants Of the city, In worse manner
than If they had been sandbagged and rned ana WHO
dare not raise voice In protest, tler aeuohs OeN
disgusting and nauseous.
IT, hos been the custom for years past to pay the
aremen and other public employees In Brooklyn monthly
on the last day OF each month. except in December
when payment of that months salary Is made on the
day before Christmas. In pursuance OF this esIaD-
nshed custom the fremen and other employees IN the
Fire Department looked for their october salaries on
the 3lst Of this month. They were not little sur
prised when they were notified that october 26 would
be this months "pay day. but they were much moro
surprised, not to say indignant. when they learned
that, whether Democrat Republican, they had been
assessed according to rank and salary for the purpose
Of furnishing oil to grease the Democratic machne,'
or, which perhaps likely to help make up the
deficit brought about by the loss Of that fat million
and half they had been expecting to make from the
"reservor deal"
When the foremel Of the various companies called
The men together on the 26th 10 pay them their
salaries the found their names signed to another
paper than the payroll This paper represented
document showing that each willingly contributed
a certain amount to the campaign fund Of the Demo
cratic panty in Kings County, and each mans salary
short the amount specified In this document; tho
fact is the various amounts deducted at head
quarters and at headquarters signed the mems
names to the papers to show that they freely and
willingly rclinquished such amounts for the purpose
mentioned. The :" star chamber assessments ranged
from l TO per cent o. the yearly salaries Of the
men, the $500 per year men being charged IS, the
$1,1O0 $40, assistant foremen SIS, $25,
and district engineers $50 all Of which taken from
their pay for October.
The money used In payment OF city employees is OF
course obtained by the taxation Of property, etc. and
IL is therefore 10 be that every resident OF Brook
lyn whether taxpayer rctpayer IL IS the latter
on whom the former must depend, directly
ssting the Democratic party In the city Of Brooklyn
In their campaign and IN continuing their indlgences
on the public pOclSetbook. And, besides, the fire
men need all the money they work for, and none OF
them feel like dividing with tho "bosses"; indeed.
there is general howl OF Indignation throughout the
department. and II not that their heads would be-
dropped In the basket, their feeling OF Indignation and
revolt would be given public expression but they are
puppets In the hands Of the thimblernglng bosses
and not one dares move lip in defence of his rights
as American citizen. CITIZEN.
Brooklyn, oct. %, 1891.