New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-06
FOR THREE HEADS OR ONE.
OPINIONS DIFFER REGARDING DEPART
MENTS UNDER CONSOLIDATION.
pRooKLYxs ArrA1Rs SHOULD BE MANAeEp !

BROOKLYN MEN, ALL ARE AGREED, But
WHERE THE RESI- ONsIB,LITY Is TO DE
PLACED Is ANOTHER QUESTION.
The question of single independent commissioners
for the heads OF the existing departments in
Brooklyn under the new charter of the Greater
New-York proved a fruitful topic for discussion
yesterday among the statesmen. There seems TO
be feeling of doubt in the minds Of those who be-
leve that Brooklyn should have direct representa-
ton in the matter of the heads of the great depart
ments of the city, as TO whether in the brief time
| left before the charter goes to the Legislature
there will be opportunity TO convince the char
er-framers of the desirability OF adopting their
views. Mayor Wurster clearly defined his position
on the question yesterday. when he said;
From the first l have felt that a great city ike
Brooklyn with over million of inhabitants.
should be entitled direct representation. The
men who TO be in charge OF Brooklyn depart
ments should be residents OF Brooklyn. In the
matter of the parks and Fairgrounds. for instance
1t would need Brooklyn man to recognize the
needs of our people. and outsider could not do
IL. In line with this idea Of direct representation!
is the custom which has long existed here OF select
ing Park Commissioner from the Immediate
neghborhood Of Prospect Park. l made hsht
along this line in the Commission. but was out
voted on the ground that we were 10 have DIG
city and I, would not do 10 discriminate in FAVOR
of localities / am decidedly in favor OF triple
headed commissions for the Greater New-fork ono
for each department of the borough OF Brooklyn,
one for the present New-York and the other FOR
the other boroughs. At present the people OF
Brooklyn have a Mayor TO whom they can conven-
ienty go with complaints. In the place OF the
Mayor they propose TO give deputy commits
sioner In each department. not even commls-
sioner or head OF department who VII! listen 10
their complaints. i apprehend that the jurisdiction
Of such an official would be purely clerical ana he
would have refer citizens to the head OF the
department over in New-York At present. with
Brooklyn city In itself there Is no need OF triple
headed departments. Any citizen can 60 directly
to the head OF a department and find him. But
when you make a city out OF large boroughs thAt
are cities in themselves 1t strikes me tha We ought
10 have direct representation Ihere shoulu DC
Fire Commissioner in New-lork. one in BROOKLYN
and one for the other boroughs. Each Comnls-
sioner would attend to the ordinary work OF the
donar.nent but the building OF engne-houses and
other work involving the expenditure OF money
would properly come up for consideration by 'he
whole Board
AN EXCEPTION OF THE PARK DEPAhIMhNI
Ex-Mayor Schiercn is in favor OF singie-headed
commissions save in the one Department OF Parks
which he thinks, should be organized so as 10 give
BROOKLYN Park Commissioner.
ct am still confirmed said he. in my opinion |
that the government Of large city like the Great
er New York could be better administered py SIN
headed departments than by triple headed COM
missions The head Of each department may nave |
three or more deputy commissioners uhder MN, one
over each borough. who in turn responsible to
him and who make their daily reports az TO the |
= fairs Of ca Oh department in each borough ana
fail 10 see where Brooklyn would I've in any way |
sighted or even under any disadvantage over the
other boroughs. all being subservient 10 the CEN
trail government. To my mind it would create more
confusion II two or more boroughs would each have
a over
responsibility would be much divided, and II !
would be very difficult for the Mayor 10 have a |
proper control them. Let us take the Fire De
missioner would live in Harlem. in Flushing or in
Staten Island Under sinele-headed commission |
IL would matter very little because he would be |
dependent upon the reports of his deputy, resi-
dent Of the borough Besides. it would be a bad |
precedent 10 have say commissioners or Manhat- /
tan and Brooklyn boroughs. Within short period |
the other boroughs would demand The same recog-
milton and in short time there would be five com
miss toner's for each department and anyone who
has been in public Office or has occupied the May
and how difficult 1t would be to control tt
THINKS BROOKLYN WILL HAVE A MAJORITY |
Abraham Abraham, the drygoods merchant said:
We. Of course. want fair representation in the
Greater NewYork right through; but I have not
the slightest doubt that shall one day and the
day is not far off outvote New-York by sheer force
OF numbers. and then do as we please | |
certainly believe that the Deputy Commissioner APP
pointed for the Brooklyn borough should live here
and have lived here long enough 10 appreciate our
needs. a New-York man would be more likely 10
consider the needs Of his own city and IT would |
be manfestly unfair that any representative head
OF department should not be from this city II he is
10 hold office here"
James Matthews, president Of the Consolidation
League, said: THE Commissioners have already
changed the details of their plans several times
and until they make their final report think 1t is
we'll for us TO withhold any criticism"
" or
leve IN having head that be off if necessa
Iy and | am heartily in favor OF single headed
matter of law that any deputy commissonnr for
Brooklyn should be resident of Brooklyn ana
nave HNed here for some time an be acGrsintnJ
WllH our common affairs and the conditions fbat
CONFRONT municipal affairs in Brooklyn But can.
not hcp thinking that the supreme error vac Tic
a a OF consolidation Itself and now we must take