New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-27
THE BENEFITS or REFORM.
COMMISSIONER FACRE on THE IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
CHARITIES

John J.. Faure. Commissioner Of Chari les made
Il strong Antl-I"mmdny address last night
large audience in New Irving Han. i'm Broomc-st
The lecture was about the Department. of Charities
and was profusoy illustrated with good sereop,icon
views 1t was given under the auspices OF the Citl-
zens Union of the VIIth Assembly District. and il
the first or series TO be presented on subjects OF
interest concerning the city government James r.
Reynolds presided
Commissioner Fauro in his address said that one
OF the most serious charges brought against former
administrations was that pubic property generally
was permitted detoriora,c and that entirely in
adequate provisions existed for the care OF the ctys
wards in the Departments Of Charities and Correc-
ton, where were the city's sick. wounded children.
aged infrm and helpless. That these criticisms
were concurred in by the Commissioners for these
departments under former administrations was
proved by the fact that in the years 1880 to 1885, in
elusive. they asked for g 9Sl 40 for buildings and
repairs. while only $4,000 was granted for these
purposes Money might be provided by the million
for Il racetrack in Central Park or 10 provide 4
Harlem speedway. but th" tax rate must be kept
down by allowing public buildings ana public prop
erty 10 90 10 rum ana by negiecing those whom
n"y ,Sl De lhc cry ilrfi duty TO protect;
sum OF s29,n0 only was appropriated for Luild,rps
and '@S in 'ne hr Of Pubic Clarifies
the present administration, however had proyidcd
and s3l1O1 for the Department OF of
this $coo.m0 was derived from the sale of bonds
cured by this admnistraton. Grouping both de-
artm"nts for these two periods in the three years
1893 1894 and 1885 $4,000 was Appropriated for
buildings and repairs in the two departments
Under the present administration in the two wears
1886 and 1891 {2.io7,u0 had been provided for these
purposes III these departments. In other words.
tn commissioner sad. the present administrator
mad prepared to cXpcnd in years eleven and
One-ifth times much the previous admin
istratiOns expended in tire" years.
In view of such facts as these what reasonable
man could object to an increase in the tax rate so
lnsSnlncant when compared with the tremendous
increase in the efficiency Of public depart
ment?
Mr.. Faure took up the different branches Of his
Departments work. and pictures were thrown on
the screen, showing how things were before the
reform administration came IT. and how they are
now. The pictures were frequently checred one
OF the sixteen old dmbulanceS which did duty for
Bellevue. Gouverncur. Harlem and Fordham hos
pitfalls was among the first shown commissioner
Faure do scribcd thcsf discase-brecding vehicles
with few necessary conVenienccs. and pointed out
the improy emcntS which had been made i'm them
Among Other pictures shown and described were
the small and poorly equipped accident rooms and
operating rooms. and the old method Of trans
ferring patients to the hospital on Randalis Island
from Bellevue on the open deck OF the forryboat as
compared with the new arrangements. Other All
dresses followed that made by Mr. Faurc.