The sun., 1899-02-12
1rUxrorrAn aronKrARrEs.
A Department of Public Service which Has
Increased Greatly of Late.

increased arentIy OF ltAtss
The city OF New York now gives oflcial em-
ployment at liberal salaries 10 more secre-
tar1es, having routine dutles OF somewhat
ornamental character. than does any other city
IN the world. any State In the United States. or
any other ten cities In this country. Municipal
secretaries arc OF two classes, the secretaries
whose duties are OF q definite and prescribed
character. such as the Mayors secretary. Tor
instance. and the secretaries whose duties are
very vaguely and imperfectly Defined The
President OF the borough OF Manhattan. Tor
instance. whose post II is now proposed to abol-
ish on the ground that there is nothing for him
to do, has secretary who gets $4,000 year
for helping him. In addition to private secro-
tary who gets $500 and stenographer who
gets 81, 200.
The secretary OF the President OF the bor-
ough Of the Bronx gets $500 year The
same salary is paid to the secretary OF the
President OF the Borough OF Brooklyn and
S2500 goes to the secretary OF the President
OF the borough of Queens. and the latter has,
moreover. a private secretary who receives
5000. The secretary OF the President OF tho
borough Of Richmond gets S2,400 and there is.
moreover. q private secretary Of the President
OF the borough OF Richmond. who gets 81. 200.
Tho secretary OF the Board OF Public I'm
provements receives $1,000 The secretary OF
the Supervisor OF the city Record receives
$500. Each Of the Coroners OF the borough
OF Queens has n private secretary at 5000. and
the secretary to the President OF the Municipal
Council receives $2.50o a year. in addition to
which salary 81. 200 Is paid to an official known
as confidential secretary to the President The
members OF the Board Of Assessors. who get
$1,000 a year. each have secretary who gets
$4,000 and he has the cooperation and assist
ance Of a stenoerapher who receives $1,000
year. The secretary OF the Aqueduct Commits
sion receives 900 q year. and he has ste
nographer who receives 81 1.500 In addition. The
Commissioners OF Accounts have photographer
whose salary is made a part Of the expenses
OF the department. but they have In addition a
secretary and stenographer who receives
$1,000. The clerk OF the Board Of Estimate
and Apportionment has recently had his salary
raised from So. 500 to $1,000. In the discharge
OF his duties he has the assistance of confl-
dental stenographer. who gets 81 800 year.
Since Jan. l. 1897. the multiplication Of sec
retaries has been going forward quite actively.
The secretary Of the Board Of Health receives
81. 200 year. and he has a private secretary
who gets $1,000 The salary Of the secretary
to the Commissioner OF Sewers has been raised
from $1,000 to S1,S00. The secretary of the
Commissioner OF Highways has recently had
his salary raised from $1,000 to S3.500
In the Police and Fire departments. In the
Department of Health and in the Department
OF Buildings secretaries are In constant de-
mand. and 1t is estimated that the additional
pay of secretaries. not to boards or commits
sions but secretaries to individual officials, |
now foots up 100000 year. One explanation
OF the increase has been found in the statement
heretofore made that some Of the newly APP
pointed Commissioners. finding It difficult to |
communicate their views and wishes and de-
mands otherwise than verbally. have been put to
the necessity of securing such literary assist !
ance as a secretary is expected to furnish; but |
the objection urged against secretaries in |
unduly large number is found in the state
ment that many Of those now In the municipal |
service are not limited In their correspondence |
to matters OF Official interest or concern, but |
are really amanuenses for officials who are
thus enabled. on the pretence OF needing Sec
taries. to impose upon the city an item Of ex-
pense which is actually personal one. How
ever that may be. an addition to New York's
municipal expenses to the extent OF 100000
a year for secretaries is. in the view of many
persons. an unreasonably large outlay for a
small municipal luxury.