New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-05
A STRENGTHENING PLAN.
SUGGESTIONS MADE TO MAYOR GRANT.
DRAFT OBJ PROPOSED NEW MII-soME RADICAL

the draft Of n bill prepared 70 carry lho pi"'"'"'
effect the recommendations Of the AdvlsorS commune
StreetCleaning. appointed by the Mayor On 'a"""''
"a. 1891 Those present included James C. carter
who had drawn the new bill Morris X. Jesup Pro
fessor Charles F. Chandler and Captain Francis v
Greene Of the Advisory Commission; Frederic H.
Couder Samuel d. Babcock, !. Pcrpont Morgan 'o"h
& BARNES F. D. Tappen John l.. Cadwaader. Adrian
Iselin IT, Or. william H. Draper, DR.. /. T. hiU"o"''
and Seth low president OF Columbia college
Mr. Condcrt the first man TO speak for the oeie-
cation and he explained the object which those present
had in view. The accomplishment of their purpose
bv enacting into law the recommendations OF the
Mayors committee would be- he sure. one OF Inc
distinguishing glOres CT his administration i"o
MAYORS objections to previous suggestions hau Dec
carefully considered the bill which Mr. carter hau
drawn having been m6.tlled according TO the Mayor
ideas rs understood by the committee. The purpose
Of the bill was to make the STRENGTHENING business
respectable that respectable men might DC go' u w
the work and 10 do it well. Perlnalehcy oI e'hPioS
ment Mr. Coudert said essential to tmS' ana the
pay should be satisfactory. The sum suggested WIS
$50 per month.
.Wtbout organizations Mr. COudert continued,
nothing can be done we'll. THIS Is true Of political
PARTY or a church congregation. l nsed hardly say
however that there IS no politics IN ibis movement
for clean streets. BY following ont the plan OF inc
committee l believe that the streetCleanhS Depart
ment can be made ~ perfect the Fire and Police
Of this plan, and there Is an implied contract between
Won and the committee that if the committee does ia
work well YOU will assist it,"
Mr. Coudert then handel copy of the bill TO the
Mayor and Mr.. Garter stepped forward and briefly eA-
pained it's provisions.
Mir. Grant thanked the delegation for the zeal ana
earnestness displayed, and assured them that he fully
sympathzed with the object in view. Until he had
examined it with the care which Ms importance
deserved he could express no opinion as 10 its merits
lie would do this, lie said, at the earliest mbheht
possible. lie desired also t. consult with the 'or-
poration Council and with the Commissioner OF street
Cleaning.
The hin covers thirteen pages of matter, printed
on LEGAL cap paper In It's present shape 1t appears
IN the form If IN amendment to the Consolidation act
but il IL should be thought letter to change II mo
a special act this could readily be done.
Section No 1 reenacts substantially the several
sections of the Consolidation act organizing INC 'uo
Cleaning Department. The principal ehahse oo"s's"
i'm cxemptinc the Mayor from the necessity OF "D''
inc the auroval of the Board Of Health 70 iho
appontmept or removal Of the Commits OF street
Cleaning The Deputy Commissioner is ass H"oe
removable by the Commissioners at pleasure
Section No. re-enacto the essential parts Vi
Section No. 7O4 of the Consolidation atE oen"i"7
IN. n,wcrs and duties Of the street Cleaning Coii-
,,ssioner Int relieves him from the care oil inc
,rbarves piers Iukheads etc, on the Waterfront
which is transferred 10 the Department Vi Do'h'
section No 3 is entirely new 1t olV'ueS ."'
Doror,nent into two classes. TO be known as ue
cerical and the uniformed force. The ceflch' Ioi'
= N consist OF chief clerk three medical examiners
and as many clerks and messengers as '"c o
missioner shall deem necessary. The uniformed ioioo
han consist OF one general superintendent o"e
assistant superintendent, district superintendent
exceeding eleven time collectors MOI cav s e.,
section foremen, not exceeding hItYeeh'' o",P "
.nectors not exceeding twenty assistant Jump .
ors not exceeding ten tug anu SEQ" mop 700.
exceeding twenty sweepers, not eA0'e"e v
asvo-s not exceeding $50 stable forcmeh' M "a
caedinr eleven; and hosters, not eAceeu'"s "e"''
eight. .o y, Oh. force as
Il nroyides for the gradual increase Oh INC ~ a.,
~, cssi,,os 81 the service may require, ana LOT V"e
n,ovmeu+ NJ a. many extra men, carts anu hoi'e' d"
NAV be needed in case OF an emefgeno!' 49,. "a
., the uniformed force shall be over forty hive so'
.r sa1aries shall be as follows: General suP7'l"
.onaant 81 800: assistant superintendent s2,ooo uo
,rict superlntendents, 81 500 each; Tune co''s
~ tection forenen 81 900 each; dump Inspectors
q, 600 each assistant dump Inspectors 4''o 80 "
"a scoc ,nsn,ctos 81 900 each; sweeIe9 ana of'Nei'
saoo cb. Stable foremen, $500 each; hoatieFs' So'0
each. , ,,,,,,o o,d work.
,rr force Of the Department, and the appolH'ho"' ~
s - az employes The Commissioner Is gwen
tuu authority to make rules for the aahi'hs '"'''
,h deua,tment and the disposition OF IT. foice' anu ~
scrihe the duties of each member Of the force Inc
rumber and compensation Of the clerical iorce u uc
r,ende nj upon the appropriation hlane ior 'i'o
nh. members OF the clerical force are 10 DE up
no,nted and removed in the same manner anu s"'
iect 10 the same qualifications anu ies"' W. -
.nnlv 70 persons occupying like positions IN o'nef
departments. ,.,.,.,t,.a
Tho members OF the uniformed or adHInlslIauNe
force are to be appointed after sufficient cAannauo"
to guarantee their physical and mental capacity io'
the work required OF them ms examination " ~
he In no sense competitive or intellectual.
All that is required is evidence that the appH''"t
is physically able to perform the WORK 10 Dc
bv him that he is sober and industrious, ana uHuer-
.ands rho English Language at least sufficiently to
counrehend orders and answer questions. An ellglD'
list Is to be up Of applicants mus qnalleu any
amendments may be made at pleasure Ho" NuH
list without regard TO priority OF apphcauon' "ho
ample disciplinary and punitive powers are gwen "
the Commis soner the members OF the uniformed ioioe
are protected against arbitrary punishment OF IT,
moyal the provisions upon this subject beng cOpied
from those applicable to the Police Department. when
have satisfactorily stood the test of many years cN-
perence The general object Of these sections Is 10
establish in the Street Cleaning Department perma-
nent capable well paid and selfrespecthg force u
industrious and welldrilled subordinates.
Section : Is intended 10 carry into practical ehect
the recommendations of the Advisory Committee that
the paved streets Of the city should be cleaned and
kept clean by hand and that the whole city should be
divided into convenient districts and sections in charge
sf district superintendent and orcnen, and that eac
laborer should have assigned 10 him fixed area. BY
this means it Is believed that will be possible at all
times to fix the responsibility for inefficient work
upon a responsible officer.
Sec 8. This is section imposing upon the
Department OF Docks the power ana duty OF cleaning
the wharves piers bulkheads heads OF slips and
marginal streets under their jurisdiction This section
is rendered necessary by sections IL TO 10. For GER
taih administrative reasons the Dock Department
would find 1t inconvenent TO have the provislcns OF
sections IL 10 IS applied TO the city property under
their charge 1t Is not believed that the Street Clean
ing Department should be charged with the absolute
duty OF keeping clean any public place as to which
sections II 10 10 do not apply. The only course
therefore has seemed 10 bc u exempt the wharves