New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20
GOOD WORK on THECANALS
MARKED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AL
bridge AND PARTRIDGE
EARLY OPENING FOR NAVIGATION - 40
PLACE FOR IOAFERs-MEETTNG
DAMAGE CASES.


Albany. March 10 (speciaD While the Lcsis-
lature is in a state OF deadlock all the reform
bills, the Republican State officials appointed by
Governor Roosevelt give daily evidence that they
striving 10 help him carry out mis- pledges TO
the people. This Is notably true In the Department
OF Public Works. OF which Colonel John y. Part
ridge % Brooklyn, s superintendent Colonel
Partridge has decided to open the canals. II poss-
bic. April T. or itself this Is a reform. for
under the former management of the canals they
were not usually open FOR navigation Until the
first week n May The statement was made TO
Colonel Partridge that the commercial interests OF
the State would avail themselves Of the canals II
they ready FOR navigation on April l.. and
therefore he issued the order 10 the division super
intondonts having charge Of repairs that the STAGE
waterways must be ready for business on that date.
Colonel Partridge informs the superintendent Of
repairs that they must have their estimates as 10
the necessary expenditures for the months OF April
and May sent TO the assistant superintendent Of
their divisions early a. March % In prepar-
ing the estimate" he says In mis- letter you Will
have I'm mind the importance of cutting down each
item as much possible. The appropriation for
repairs and maintenance for this fiscal yenr has
been largely overdrawn during the first five
months and the most rigid economy is therefore
necessary for the remainder OF the year"
With $4,000 Jess than usual at his command. he
decides TO open the canals two weeks earlier than
usual
Tie has given orders for large reduction Of the
number of employees OF the Department OF Public
Works. Each man retained Will be expected to do
a full days work six days in the week NO
oafers need apply is the new order in the De
partmcnt. Political pull" will have no influence
I'm keeping lazy man in the service
superintendent Partridge said in MS letter Of in
strucuon TO his chief suborGinates:
You will be held personally responsible FOR the eco
Honcal efficient ana honest maH@st nent or az the
g. "a ,tlV q
subject TO the following provisions Viz:
All employees must bee citizens Of the State. and
should be selected from localities conveniently near
10 their work They must Dc honest, temperate in
their habits orderly. we-behaVed and physically
signed. They will be- required to render to the
State the full service belonging to their several
places.
should YOU find at any time that any employe
neglects his duties is incompetent Incorporate. in
subordinate, dishonest, or is FL any untitled for
ms duties you WlII promptly discharge MIN
Your 'disbursing clerk" will assist you In office
work and paying off and Will perform such other
services indoors or out. as you may direct.
Your foreman Will assist you In supervising re-
pairs and other work OF tn section He should
foreman of construction.
Your carpenter must be skllful workman at his
You Will assign to each bank watch" suitable
pp b oi m hi W., m ol W i,Si1.sIH n 9l
attention 20 the places needing most careful watch
spots in The bank. and IA promptly give you notice
o. the first signs OF break
cstiug one Formerly there were large number OF
them. but they did work. Superintendent Par
fridge Is going 70 have fewer OF them. but he VIII
have those nc does employ well paid. and they Will
be expected 20 give up their entire time to the
service OF the state
Another reform which has been begun by Super
iutcnisut Partridge ie the swift collection of evi-
dence regarding breaks In tho canals which cause
damage 10 private property. When he went into
Office the officers OF the Department did not seem
IN the least concerned about damage cases arising
from this cause, which had been taking thousands
o. dollars yearly out OF the State Treasury. In
deed the Attorney Generals deputies, In trying 70
defend the interests Of tho State early In IN" year.
were surprised 10 discover that officials OF the De
partmeut % Public Works seemed 70 be Indifferent
as 20 the whole subject Thov had not collected
any evidence u the states favor
SuucrlntDndcnf Partridge hae changed all that
A different spirit perYaacs the Department. The
officials OF the Department are instructed 70 take
tho afdavits OF all witnesses OF break on any
canal ae soon as n occurs These afdavits will be
fled away. and when the damage suits are brought
about two years hence the state VIII be prepared
to defend its interests.