New-York tribune., 1896-07-22
ALDERMENS LATEST MOVE.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS ANGRY AT THE
ADJOURNMENT.
HEALTH COMMISSIONER EMERY LEFT IN THE
LURCH-MR. WILLIS ALSO BADLY HAMPERED

HEALTH COMMISSIONER EMERY LEFT IN THE
LURcII-MR WILLIS ALSO BADLY HAMPERED
BY THE ACTION OF THE CITY FATHERS.
The sudden adjourn nent for the summer on the
part Of the Board Of Aldermen. after an existence
OF six months and half in mastery inactivity may
have serious consequences. Complaints are
coming from several departments and from several
directions OF the injury that will be done by the
things left undone by the Common Council
For one thing. the action of the Board In adjourn
ing without making any appropriation FOR the carry
Ing into effect of the antsweatshop laws In Brook
yn will not only prevent the enforcement OF those
laws. but may involve the officers whose duty 1t Is
to enforce them. Health Commissioner Emery
asked the Board for $4,000 with which to put into
effect the laws regula ting the employment OF women
and children in and factories. The Aldermen.
in that light chand-go style which character
ICES all their actions, cody handed the request 10
committee, where it will remain until long after the
time when preparation for these Jaws will have
passed.
THE law cannot be carried out; that Is ALL" said
DR.. Emery yesterday. THE Aldermen will have to
answer to the people"
Many Of the Aldermen. apparently are actuated
In their attitude in the Board wholly by their fee.-
ngs toward the head OF the department applying
to them. and these feelings, 1t has been charged.
are altogether too frequently regulated by the
patronage and other favors which they consider
their due For instance there does not appear to oe
any valid reason for their falling TO appropriate
the s4ll000 needed for water maintenance other
than their desire to hamper CITY works SoIninis-
sioner Willis The absurdy of trer attitude is ap-
parent from the fact that they Will have to appro-
pirate this money ultimately, whether they wish 10
DO 80 not. Commissioner Wills Will urge Mayor
Wurster TO call a special meeting of the Board Tor
the purpose of considering this budget. as MS de-
partment Is going 10 be greatly crippled ior the
lack Of funds meet the perfectly proper Ds tnat
are coming in every day AS this meeting. II calied,
will have this purpose, the Aldermen VIII nave
no opportunity Of lodging the issue. but VIII be
placed. every man OF them squaTely on record
Another important subject that the Aldermen
failed act upon was the providing for the laying
OF gas mains in the Thirty second Ward 1t VIII be
remembered that the Board first gave TO the Union
Gas Company permission to lay mains In the ward:
and then withdrew this permission on the ground
tina. the first resolution had not limited the price for
q thousand feet that could be charged by the COM
pany And the Board did anything more In
the affair.
So far as could be learned there Is absolutely no
excuse for the existence of the Railroad Committee
OF the Board as constituted They are hold
ing large number of applications for franchises
without either granting or refusing them These
franchises hang like the sword of Damocles above
Brooklyn property lers while the committee. by
reporting against granting the franchises. could
have relieved the uncertainty Of the people OF Brook
lyn. SO far can be ascertained. the committee
has not paid the slightest attention TO the framing
Of trolley fender speed ordinances.
The Gas Committee did grant the electric light
contracts but they have done nothing regarding the
gas contracts and the city will continue to pay the
gas trust at the old contract price all summer