New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-14

and would give preference to men with ia'''"'
because think them more constant in their at
tendance to duty but am compelled To 'ane '"e
first man who happens to be the list wilhou.
inquiry into his habits or other qualification anu
cannot reject him until have given him tria''
yet he has better tight to preference imam '"e
fact that his application was filed earlier than the
others
II believe better plan would be to permit the
head Of a department 10 assemble the nrs' nun
dred men upon the list. and after looking then,
over select the twenty he needed. why shouia
the city Of New-York be compelled to go IL pll,a'
while every other business corporation Il pei'r,,
ted to select It's own labor force? Again, tnllih
all heads Of departments should be ex-oihcio
members Of the Civil Service Commission ana II
the meetings were held with open doors me puu o
would be able to judge whether the eN-oihu - 49,,
working in the interest Of good government ClVi
service is crude In its administration al present
have no doubt II will improve.
There doubtless other matters OF interest
which would occur TO me If I had more time 10
give YOU but think have said enough 10 satisfy
you that We are in touch with the reform SEMI
ment which made William L. Strong Mayor Oh
New-York City
FIRE DEPARTMENT REFORMS.
Several important reforms have been made IN
the Fire Department by General Oscar II. La
Grange. James r. Sheffield and Austin E. Ford
since they were appointed Fire Commissioners
by Mayor Strong. Under the Tammany regime
the fremen had become demorazed. 1t had peen
the rule 10 promote men in the service VINO were
relatives Of the Commissioners or political favor
ties and il had come to he understood that Tam
many pull" worth more than long or heroic
service. Many fremen spent their spare time In
saloons run by Tammany politicians They drank
TOO much liquor. got into debt. and committed
many acts Of INSTRUMENTATION. There has been
complete change in the department since Mayor
Strongs Commissioners took hold Of the reins
Every fireman knows that heroic conduct
and faithful performance Of duty will lead TO pro-
motion. while drunkenness and INSTRUMENTATION
will cause dismissal. and that political pull Is
a thing of the past.
BETTER FEELING BETWEEN OFFICERS AND
MEN.
The Fire Commissioners have brought about
better state Of feeling between tine officers and
the men Of the department by holding the officers
to account for the discipline OF The men. and Yet
discouraging trials for petty offences in the en-
CINE houses They believe as General La Grange
lately said that "a good captain and good leu
tenant ought TO be able To control ten men. and so
to influence them not 10 find il necessary. ex-
cept upon extreme occasions. TO bring them be-
lations or for conduct Inbecoming fremen.
An important reform in the repair shops Of the
department was the discharge Of about twenty
five men who had been employed there for poti-
cal reasons Those men made room for equal
number Of skilled workmen who were carefully
selected from among 300 applicants. and the re-
suit has been nearly 10 double the amount OF
work performed al the shops
Sweeping changes were made also in the Bu-
reau Of Combustibes. where some Of the employees
had been accepting brides. Applicants for per-
mits to sell fireworks had been paying sums rang
ing from s. to $40 for favorable reports on their
applications. and the system Of blackmail had
been growing 50 long that the Commissioners
thought the best way 10 put stop II IT was 10
make a clean sweep In the bureau. Two OF the
removed officials have been indicted since then
The Commissioners believe that corruption In the
bureau has been stopped. and an increased in
come from the bureau indicates that it is being
conducted with honesty and efficiency.
FIRE MARsHALs BUREAU REORGANIZED.
There has been reorganization OF the Fire
Marshars Bureau with the purpose of preventing
In future any COLLISION between the Fire Mrshals
subordinates and gangs Of firebugs. and it is the
plan OF the Fire Board to increase the number
Of detectives in the bureau The expenses al
Fire Headquarters have been decreased by abol-
ishing useless clerkshps and consolidating the
work. improvements in the fire alarm system are
being planned and perfected. In every way pos
sible the Commissioners are trying to increase
The efficiency Of the department
IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
since Theodore Roosevelt. Frederick y. Grant.
Avery H. Andrews and Andrew D. Parker We're
appointed Police Commissioners by Mayor strong
there has been an extraordinary change for the
better in the Police Depar tmeni. The retirement
Of Chief Of Police Byrnes and of Inspector VII
liams may now be regarded unimportant in
view Of the change in the anmatng spirit Of the
police :orce For the first time in the history Of
the department the police earnestly trying
to enforce the law impartially The reason for
the change Is not hard to find. Every policeman
now knows that under the new regime political
pull" is worthless. and that promotions in the
service be- obtained only by faithful and
me rtOrious performance Of duty.
The enforcement Of the excise law has been
ma de possible for the INST time in this city be-
cause the police understand that politicians who
keep saloons and want 10 violate the law have
no "pull' with the Police Board. Under the old
regime policemen We're afraid to arrest some
loon keepers who were Tammany favortes. The
police also have been made to understand that
drunkenness and neglect Of duty will be followed
by dismissal rom the force
CORRUPTION ONLY IN Isolated CASES.
The corruption which became such a disgrace
to the police force under the Tammany regime
mas almost cntlfcN disappeared. III is We'll I'M
derstood by every member Of the force that the
Commissioners will have mercy bribe-
takers. and will gladly receive and act on COM
plants Of citizens from whom any policeman
seeks to obtain gifts. While the Commissioners
have not the power 10 dismiss members OF the
force who are unworthy. except after fair trials
many bad policemen have been dismissed within
a few months. An attempt by members Of the
uh M hay hal
Legislature VIII pass a reorganization bill 10
raise corruption fund has probably been pre-
vented by the timely warning Of the Commission
ers The work OF wedding ont bad policemen from
the force Will 60 on even If there IL no reorgani-
cation bill.
The Police Board has shown determination to
make the police force entirely non-partisan. ana
the same spirit is evident in the reforms which
have been made IN the Pureau Of Elections. IL Is
the determination Of the Commissioners 10 lave
the elections in this city conducted with entire