New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-17
ALDERMEN y. CIVIL SERVICE.
WILL THE BOARD SUSTAIN THE ACTION
OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE?
THE MATTER TO BE DISPOSED OF NEXT MoNpAf
PUBLIC SENTIMENT CONDEMNS TIE
CoMMITTEE-TTs ACTION NEW
DEP III

DEPARTURE.
Considerable misapprehension exists regarding
tho action OF the Budget Committee OF the board
OF Aldermen the appropriation for the 'iNi ser
vice Commission. II has been represented 'na' INC
action OF the committee on Monday In cutung INC
amount allowed for the Commission FOR the year
1897 from $1,000 70 5000. the action OF inc
Board itself and that the action hnalty
The truth is that II was only committee "h'cn
acted on Monday. and IT'S report was not presented
at the meeting OF the Board on the afternoon OF
that day. 1t will be presented at the meeting oi
the Common Council next Monday.
Some people asking themselves ana .hen
friends how Il Is that the Aldermen have anything
10 do with the budget anyway The answer 10 'hae
question IL easy. They empowered by the CITY
charter consider the budget after 1t has oeeh
completed by the Board OF Estimate, which does
all the work OF preparing It. and they have run
authority TO reduce any item or items In II; out
| they have power to increase the appropriation
for any purpose Usually their action IS mere
Formally for it is contrary the habit and dis
position OF Aldermen in general to cut down any
sum that be drawn from the city treasury.
The action of the Budget Committee Monday
is looked upon as a new departure. An old habitue
of the City Hall said yesterday that in his expert
ence. extending over many years. he could recall
occasion which the Aldermen had reduced
any amount set apart by the Board Of Estimate
for purpose. II the Aldermen take such action.
however. there is appeal from their decision. as
power exists TO revise the budget further. and
final action it has TO be taken by law early In
October.
The question Of interest now is: VIII the Board
at its meeting next Monday confirm the action OF
the Budget Committee? Public sentiment has
already declared itself in opposition TO such a
course, and all intelligent citizens who recognize
the benefits of the civil service system believe that
the Commissioners should be- literally supported
A city official. who is familiar with the operations
slaaf civil
eral sentiment when he said Yesterday:
II do not believe it is possible that the Common
Council will approve the action Of the committee in
cutting down this Appropriation. The Constitution
Of the State requires the enforcement Of the CvN
Service principle in all appointments in the public
service OF the State and Of all the civil divisions
thereof Now 1t is absurd 20 suppose that civil
Service cannot be carried into effect Il the officials
charged with that dity have no money al their dis
pcsa.. or only sum that is r!dculously made
quate.
The Aldermen - a whole will ac. on this matter
their meeting In the meantime public opin-
ion should be brought to bear upon them with such
force make the Endorsement II the committees
action an impossibility. After the Aldermen once
there is power earth which restore that
appropriation The charter gives them absolute au-
thorv. and II they should wipe the appropriation
for this or other purpose altogether there would
be way Of staying their hands. The committee has
acted out of revenge because the members have been
unable 10 get their friends appontd % rat places IL
IL contemplate piece OF business. II was donc
simply annoy men Of a different stamp from most
OF the Adermen--men who are willing for the public
good give time and labor 70 the thank'ss task OK
administering the Civil Service law.
IF the appropriation is cut down have doubt
that the msioners will go ahead with their work
as If nothing had happened, and then in the next
Legislature a hill will he introduced 10 make up the
deficiency in their funds That is the course that
lost u.ip- hpr AZ :
them 70 exceed $1,000 The matter was left 10 the
discretion OF the Board OF Estimate and II ! am not
mssioners was about 500 The work OF me Com-
pe5 Of "" Rr6 go rTj IN aos apa Viii n IT, But
feel confident that that sentiment Is strong enough 70
keep the Board of Aldermen from such petty action
the Budget Committee has been guilty Of osr.a
As matteE Of fact the approprat'on s aid"r
ably and unwscy in my judgmen, rs s ooo u og
the Board OF :.ma5e Ias SUMMIT ioT $"} was
rs work should be done $50" Is not TOO
and the cutting OF the b le 70 the rst m
in my recollection. that the Aldermen nave unaer,
Estimate and feel assured that it will not sue
The civil Service Commission is going right along
with its work as II The Aldermen who compose
cripple il by cutting down It's appropriation The
amount allowed is not sufficient to pay the sala-
sion has, and viii last the Commission only four
or Ave months II proceeds in it's usually economi:
the Office should be closed up the Commission will
have thrown the responsibility upon the shoulders
of the Aldermen.
When a vote is taken much interest will be
evnced how the Democratic members of the
Board vote The Democrats have the power OF
keeping the allowance at $1,000 for the Civil
Service Commission II thoy will vote with those OF
the Republican members who against the
movement starve the Commission.
Friends of the Commission that the pretence
OF the Budget Committee that II was trying 10 be
economical would have more weight II the Alder
men had down their $1,000 for contin-
gencies and $4,000 for the notorious well and pump
account
Lists have been closed for examinatons for the
following places: Machinists. clerk Of vital sta
tstics stcnograp pliers and tyTewriters detectives,
resurvey inspectors. caulkcrs. inspectors OF rail-
road repairs and assistant sanitary engineers.
After these examinations arc finished eXamina-
lions will he held for Chanmen. meter INSPECTORS,
INSPECTOR of connections inspector OF water,
building experts, chemists. engineers Grade 81,
coal inspectors inspectors Of offensive trades.
tappers. yalvemen and electricity inspectors,
inspectors Of manufactures. foremen OF Eastern
District yard and inspectors OF taps and connec-
tons.
TWO COVGRESShEN INDORSED