The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
THE EXISTING PARK BOARD.
Three single-Headed Commissions Actually
In PnNer.

AhTco CthNti
in Power.
When the chapter devoted to parks was I'M
der discussion by the Charter Commissioners
It was suggested to them by men who had
made an intelligent study OF the subject that
a sinRls-headed commission was the proper
form OF government for that department. This
suggestion called out a storm OF opposition.
principally among residents of the outlying
boroughs. who feared that II the management
OF the de apartment was intrusted to one man.
aud he happened to live in Manhattan. their
parks would suffer from foreign management
and the lack OF proper care. The charter
makers finally decided on a board Of three
Commissioners. one OF whom should repre-
sent Manhattan and Richmond, one Brooklyn
and Queens and the third the borough Of the
Bronx. The idea was that while the board. as
o whole. should have general control over the
park system and should have power to pre-
scribe rules and regulations for the entire de-
partment. each:Commissioner was to have the
largest kind OF liberty In administering the
business OF the parks in the borough. or bor-
o-Ghs which he was appointed to repre- sent.
A provision was also inserted for the appoint
ment by the board of q landscape architect
without definite term of office. whose assent is
required to all plans. works or changes re-
specting the conformation. development. or
ornamentation Of the parks. This section
also provides that the landscape architect shall
be skilled and expert" The creation of the
office was to the end that there might be for
ever a check. in the form OF expert opinion. on
any laundering or incompetent Park Commits
sioner whom the Mayor might appoint.
While it is evident from the provisions OF
CHAPTER Al. of the charter that its trainers
intended that each Park Commissioner should
have wide powers In his own territory. 1t is
also evident that they intended that the Park
Board should be an important factor in the
government Of the department. Section 6O7
says: The head of.tiie Department OF Parks
shall be called the Park Board" Apparently
Tammany Hall does not take this view OF the
sioners were appointed they met frequently
as q board. As time passed. however. their
tosetheSr it pe was re ra q Tf5mre the eh9 pur qsS G ef
approving contracts for supplies. Commits
sioner Brewer established his office in Brook
sen, who holds the empty, title Of President
OF the old headquarters in the Arsenal. Each
COMMISSIONER appointed his own secretaries.
s n66e tmherdip en Mith"It cieTKsI MECHANICS.
for in the charter for the government Of the
lutte, The result is that instead. Of one sinsle-
Hcdutu cOHlIIisStOu,, Which tne CnurIer makers
three single-headed .commis sioDs In charge
q its parks and public places. Commissioner
Manhattan and Richmond. There IS no way
In which the general public may find out what
notices in the CiiN Racord. The patronage OF
the office is and it is dealt out in
in Tammany Hall. "Fitness"' l. OF little toT Im1
%portance with NJ: Clausen, and he apparently
Vices Of pyDRrtq. One NJ hia n rst onfG No Com
missioner for Manhattan and Richmond was
70 demhnd the resignation Of DR.. Tarleton IT,.
DR., Bean is a recognized expert on all pIs.
SGqtorial matters; ytt Mr.. Cla9sen dismissed
place for Col, Jim Jones. a politician whose
entire knowledge of the duties of the office was
Yonkers. :"
Between Commissioner Clausen and Com
70 be in, the brewing business himself %here.
! anywhere. he gained the knowledge which
ftted him to manage The PARKS of the Bropx has
never heen discl9sed 4 1t Is one Of the most
Hail. NsSturraIly, W when HeI m he se mrtter OF II fisaamIanclt9innSg
q Park Commissioner for the Bronx was un-
der discussion the question Of fitness must
the old city Of New York, Mi, Mcebqs has alb.
tains 80 many, gems OF natural scenic beauty
and which IS The site Of the great new botanI-
cary eai ana on 1G 9Re sontra Hara Seaeto tore a %"ds bt the to
city with the geological and Botanical go
clIelies Is bo Vested n him alone, Like Mr;
public into his confidence. ana his ~oficiai acts
are rareiV Ghronicled in any publication ex-
that sheet are, generally in the form OF terse
aaraSraphs relating to the increase of sal
COMMISSIONER Brewer OF BrooEiyn md
members q, the Park board. He is TwiiiliineItoo
lHT fha nuhlip know what he Ia IntIn nEI thn
newsparers OF Brooklyn aud Queens have lii
tie trouble in getting Information about the
The best thing that can be said about the
Park Commissioners l. that they are apnar-
do not seem to rossess the iichinS desire Of
some OF their predecessors to. change things
about or to , tam ger With Iona: established
may lie in the fact TINT they have had, no
money thus far for ANYTHING save the actual
Although the Pax Board cute but little nR-
nre r. the mnHaGement 81 the park. the Com
well provided viii, subordinates.. There is n
secretary AZ $500 n year, an assistant secre-
larry 40 $1,000 a year, a landscane architect at
$1,000 q year, a purchasing agent at 81 900 u
year and a private secretary 10 the President"
at $1,000 a year. As Commissioners; Mr.. Clau-
Counting the secretary and assistant seere-
tary Of the board, whose Offices are In the Ar
T~etaries. whose combined salaries amount to
Sll,5O0 q year. Besides these Mr., Clausen. as
Commissioner Tor Mnnhattan and
has n chief clerk nj $1,000 n year. one clerk az
$500. one clerk at 3 1880. one clerk at 81 .50N
Q year, a receiving clerk at 500 q month. a
Sunerintendent OF Supplies and Repairs NJ
S2,tWO., one s~tenographer NJ, 81 800. one ste
n"gr1PheE At $40 and q teleHhGne boy q SOFA
the Arsenal foot NJ to S25.SOO a year.
Commissioner Moebus also has a splendid
force at his command, although he Is not quite
SO we'll supplied with secretaries as Commis-
sioner Clausen. In fact, he has only ono pri-
waite secretary. at $1,000 a year, But he has n
chief clerk nj S3.OOO u year. a clerk at 81 200.
u purchasing agent at 81 ,5WO and a stenoEra-
pler q SlLSO. lie also has the services Of n
sloner Brewer Of BROOKLYN and Queens has a
secretary at S3,WW. n superintendent NJ sup
S2.5lN. un assistalt negmaster ut 81. 700. a
pronerty clerk at S2.0G y aud a stenogrRpher