New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-15
EDWARD p. BARKER on THE SITUATION.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE TAX DEPARTMENT
TELLS OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN TIE
WAY or THE INCOMING AD-
MINISTRATION.

TELLS OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN lhf'
WAY or THE INCOMING AID
MINIsTRATIoN.
President Edward p Barker. OF the Depart
ment of Taxes auo Assessments. talked freely
yesterday about the coming changes in the cry
government, and the difficulties which VIII con
front the new administration He said:
Now that election - ovor-a sunday has in,"r-
vencd and ", have all bceA 70 'hnrcn' ana h"p''
asked TO be forgiven FOR al our il@nsSr'ss.o"
are entitled to IN" privilege Of on',"Noiln4 10
years. and Whether There viii l." much friction
in the new city sovornmcn'. hay hrcn '39l on
fcrent administrations. and / recognizc nc lac,
that the Consolidation A., has been aljHicai"l
public official should understand IT ana "ct m
t'lligenty. with new state constitution , nrT
laws viii be enacted. with ncw Mayor, Gear
Of Aldermen and heads 90 departments h"uct"l
INTO Once WIN chhrse o. 'nrI I, =" ,',' f. ai
OF Consiitrtonal tmcrdn,"nts consolidation or
Greater Nov-York. and now rapid transit consuuc
ton Each official viii be pregnant win the idra
that he is endowed with peculiar fitness for the
Office and COR The enforcement OF his rcw ideas
theories ana isms. There never yet was a h1N'iI,
ment but that it's system might %" improved ana
while 1ammany Hail has been nude 'hc,scapcgoat
OF all the wrongdoinss. claim that II Is not 10
blame for all the wrongs that are charged TO II
There are many holding office under the present
city government who have never had any con
nection or membership with Tammany Han lhai
was appointed by Mayor Grant. without my Pre-
VOus knowledge or consent. ana h'Nri i"r .l'
slightest intimation of his intent. went into ihr
office free % pledges or promises, anu HdN' go
acted since. ana refer 10 my record. not "nN III
the Tax Department. bat in the Eoard oi Estimate
and ApportiOumcnt, and the Armory l;odrL lhrrr
are thos" holding Office under the present cay
government who are perhaps even further remover
from Tammany Hall Than am. because thry, De
long to other political ORGANIZATIONS while belong
I think Il there had been some action by me
Constitutional Convention preventing lniscrlni-
nate legislation affecting the best interests o. inc
city il would haV" been desirable.
The Board OF Estimate and Apporuonm"nt has
grave responsibilities upon it, and when a mem
Der OF that board has TO sit and iacc l'Slslauon
directing the issuing OF bonds ana the phNW'h
of claims which his judgment dictates Is not III the
bes, Interest OF the city. his position becomes IN
comfortable The Board OF Estimate ana AploI,
uonment is not to blame FOR all that Is cnaisci
against it, About 90 l-3 per cent OF us acts are
OF it's own volition. and ~ p per cent ihtNr'4-
tory and the members OF ,' hoard must. as re
roll is called vote aye. because u" law =" u
reefs and frequently the court orders II. u con
omv Is uractisei the members are blamed ana II
liberal appropriations are made tn" pubic cry
mar the money Is wasted. The incoming admins
ration. through the Mayor-eloci VIII n? COUP nf
consulted 10y Mayor Gilroy. ana invited 10 81.
i,h the HoarI O; Estimate and Auporuonmcut
,,hen the final estimate is being MAD" IN l'ec'ln-
har nevt Then no plea can be- mad" dnrlnS next
vear of either parsimouy or eNtraNdsah''.