New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-29

IT WOULD DO NO HARM TO ABOLISH THE
OFFICE.
THE PRESENT INCUMBENT RARELY VISITS The
PLACE OR DOES ANY WORK FOR
HIS BIG SALARY


There is strong sentiment In favor OF abo,ishins
the Office OF city Chamberlain among those who
have taken time to look into the for the ex-
istence OF such an official. the duties which he II
s,inposed TO perform and the enormous salary which
he receives Here Is officer whose yearly salary
ia .wo and a half times as much as the Mayors
and the Controllers. more than twice as much AZ
that az the Counsel TO the Corporation more tnan
broa times that OF the President OF the Department
~ raxes and Assessments. and five times as much
as the President OF the Park Department or the
President or Commissioner OF any other uePar'-
n,ent N the city government. who performs iess
service far can be learned thah any
other Official IN this city 1t Is alleged on tue
mart Oh the apologists for the existence OF the
office OF Chamberlain that although his salary ~
5000 A year his real compensation Is only ABOUT
si7OOO as he is obliged to expend the difference III
paying his deputy, clerks and offce rent Ins iast
sum- nevertheless, is 5000 year more than either
the Mayor Controller receives ana more than
three times much AS Is paid to the majority OF
tho heads OF some Of the most important depart
ments.
The present incumbent spends hardly more tnan
a half-dozen hours In his Office In the course Oh
week The business of the office does NOT suhel
by his absence, because ne has faithful ana et-
fcient deputy who is vested with al the powers
OF the Chamberlain. and for $500 year performs
all the duties OF his chief. and then does not con-
slider himself at all ovo-woTked. There Is nothing
new In the statement that the Chamber ain Is rarely
to be seen In his Office. The same thing was true
OF his Tammanv predecessors and OF their County
Democracy predecessors before them The place Is
considered 1.-THE SOFT snap in the city government
The question has been agitated OF amending the
law relating TO the Board OF Estimate 50 that the
Chamberlain appointed by the Mayor after the
enactmentsof the Power of Removal bill shall take
the place Of the Corporation Council In that board
The charge made in the Law by Tammany Hail
two years ago increasing the Board Of Estimate
TO Ave members. By making the Corporation Couh-
sci n member OF the board wholly for political
PURPOSES namely to put the board under Inc con-
the votes OF the Tammany president OF the Boaro
OF Aldermen and the Tammany Corporation Coun.
Sc. to override Controller Myers ana Pres'oeh'
Barker .,.n
This ARRANGEMENT longer necessary wnem
Controller Fitch succeeded Mr. Myers on January
l. 1894 for President Barker was then lett aions
with four Tammany men. but the Jaw was ne,
amended back again and the Corporation ,ovnse.
remains in a board Of which ne should never nave
been a member. Good municipal LAWYERS as.ee
that his continuance there Is at variance Wiz ne
interests OF the city and that Assemblyman Iohs-
ins's bill TO take him out OF the boaru ousmt 20
become A law at They Also agree tnat uniess
n is deemed wise make the coming Cnainosr sin
a member of the Board of Estimate. go tnat Mayo.'
strong may be supported in the board oy TWO Hlen
OF his own selection. the Office OF Cnamoera'"
should be abolished.