New-York tribune., 1896-12-23
VPIGHT'S BROUGHAM TO GO.
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTION IN
HOT WATER At THE BOARD OF ESTl-
MATE MEETING-HIS FIGURES


An annronr,ation of s47iG)0 for 1897 allowed
bv the Board Of Estimate yesterday to Comms-
s,oner Robert J. Wright. OF the Department OF
Correction The Commissioner had asked TOT s'o''-
900 fer his department.
The first item to attract attention IN the es"
mates presented by Mr. Wright was an Increase OF
sOo coo for prison supplies. This was said 10 De
based upon a census Of the inmates or the Iohos.
Jacob A Riis rcDresentng the Associated Counoii
Of Good Government Clubs alleged that the hgureS
were incorrect and that instead OF Dob prisone''
the real number 45l, an Increase OF o'nS '"o
over 1885, Charles Benn. Mr.. Wrights bookkeep'r'
was called upon by the Commissioners TO argue
the point and he undertook an explanation" p"'
with poor success Warden Van de carr aso 'ooN
n hand IN the discussion. but Mr. Wright hna"y
decided that there errors In the IomDs cenSuS
ard the $4,000 Item dropped.
II think" said tn. Controller. that the Commis-
sionsrs OF Account are sadly neede" III 'o"' w"
partment Mr. Wright
After asking Warden Van de Carr some ques'o"s
about poker playing in the Tombs. the Controller
next invited Mr.. Wrights attention TO the cost
to the city of the brougham he rides IN
at cost $40" remarked Mr. Wright. but II was
bought previous to the separation oil the uep"'-
ments of Charities and Correction
Mr. Fitch referred to some memoranda. and then
said. ..The record shows that your brougham
WAS bought January 2s. 1896. That was after the
separation, wasn't II?
Mr. Wright expressed surprise at the bad trick
his memory had played him, but said he was sure
that the brougharn one OF the old Vehicles OF
the united department.
"It Van Tass"ll broueham ""T" II
asked the Controller.
yes" replied the Commissioner.
"Ana Won went to Van Tasselrs and picked II
yourself
Mr. Wright admitted he did He also admitteh
that he had "A driver the brougham at "A cost
to the city Of 500 2 year
Il can sec no reas for this expenditure. sald
the Controller. "The Mayor Of this city rides
about a great deal on tours Of Inspection but NJ
aIwnys nav, his own cab-hr". and submit tnat
this practice of buying carriages at the exp.n,se
f tho itv and hiring drivers and hostlers to tax"
car. OF them ought to be stopped
The Mayor asscnted TO the proposition but al,
lowed Mir Wright TO reply TO the Controller and
r,u attention TO the fact that President Porter
and other Tammany commissioners OF 'haflli.s
and Correction used 70 ride IN buggi's ana cans
Il don't care how long the practice has cNls,ed.
SAID ine conro'r ISn o. for 0i ncrease Of ssar
account WAS reached, II cam" OUT th', inS',au in,, VI
paving he pensn'ary grar ,on on eneIh Of ser
vice. the Commission had pui th"in an on IN,
payroll at 500 each This tn" rontrol,er r'gtrtntn t ~
favor OF the new men. \ total increase of Sl1eo
on the salary account only was allo"'h ,, tho
stree; Cleaning Department next year. Last year
5000 o" was allowed to Colonel W.ring Commi;,
sioner OF Jurors Pmley received Nl,"o which i
Sc 90 more than he asked for. Professionally.
Controller Fitch drew attention to the fact that
Sr M shnd II whseo thess men wcTe under cv service
rules. Mr Plimlcy said they were not . ,
tho centrolier Tp' Most Of us ih.nk. are lied up
by the C'yil Service law and If this law IS TO be
observed at all. want il observed All round' ana
The Mayor said he would see that the men were
put under CIyil Service rules.
Then 1 vote for the appropriation said Mr..