The sun., 1902-02-27

Mayor. Through the Board OF Esti.
mate and Apportionment, to Create
New Positions. ReadJust TITLES and
Increase or Decrease Salaries With.
out Interference From the hoard
Of Aldermen The Mayors Letter
trSinE the Necessity Of the ChanEe.
ALBANY, Feb. 20 Evidence was furnished
in the Legislature to-day that Il Is Mayor
low : intention 10 oust the Tammany Office
holders in New York city. Before Tam
many went out OF power every city employee
possible was put under the protection Of
the civil service. Since Mayor Low has
leen in office he has been unable to make
any large number OF changes either throug gh
himself or heads Of departments. As a
result there has been much criticism Of the
Mayors administration from the rank and
fs of the various political forces which
joned in last falls campaign and made pos
sible the success OF the fusion city ticket.
Republicans, both regular and independ-
ent. independent Democrats and mug
wumIs have labored unsuccessfully to
secure places for their party and factional
friends in the new city government, but
did not sucoeed. They have been grinding
their teeth ever since, and announcing
vNat they called 'the throw down OF the
various political forces which made Mayor
Lows election possible. They did not
know what Mayor Low knows. He could
not even appoint the messengers In his Office,
Iecau~e they are protected by the civil
service. and so IL was with the great ma
iorty Of the places In the many departments
uf the city administration.
For few weeks past the Mayor has real
ized that he could not put into operation
the plans laid out TO reorganize the various
departments OF the city government and
TO rearrange the various positions therein.
The Charter which went into effect on Jan.
/ last provides that all salaries as fixed
on the lst day Of January, 1902 shall con-
tinue in force until fixed by the Board OF
Aldermen in accordance with section SO.
Senator Stranahan and Assemblyman
Kelsey, the chairmen OF the Cities com-
mttees. to-day introduced two amend
ments TO the Charter which will enable the
Mayor, through the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment, upon the recommenda-
ton Of the Mayor. or any Borough Presi-
dent or head Of any department, bureau.
office, board OF commission Of the city Of
New York, or Of any Of the counties en-
brsnced therein, TO create new positions,
10 consolidate existing positions. TO read
lust titles and increase or decrease salaries
in any OF said Offices, departments, bureaus,
boards or commissions. The Board of
Estimate and Apportionment must do this
before May 1.
II the amendments suggested by Mayor
Low are not passed by the Legislature.
he fears there will be no way TO dispense
with tho many useless and high-salaricd
Tammany officeholders OF TO have the
government administered by those in
whom the people showed faith In last falls
election. IL the amendments do not pass,
any changes In officers or salaries made by
the Board Of Estimate and Apportionment
would have to be approved by the Board
Of Aldermen. and IL IL that approval which
these amendments will make unnecessary
and render the action of the Board OF Esti-
mate and Apportionment final
Mayor low and his friends feel that 1t
would be impossible to secure the approval
Of the Board OF Aldermen to the budget to
be prepared by the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment before May /, on account
Of the narrow margin by which the fusion
forces control the board.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Whitman
% New York city to-day made public the
following letter which he has received from
Mayor Low explaining the necessity for
these amendments:
DEAR SIR: 1t seems to me necessary TO
ask for two amendments 10 the Charter.
which are intended to give to the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment the emergency
IN
new positions, TO consolidate existing POSI-
tions, to readjust titles. and TO Increase or
In asking for the passage OF these amend
ments II Is becoming that | should explain
the necessity for them.
Up to Jan 1, 1907, every head of depart-
ment has been az liberty TO do without
restraint, provided he did, not exceed the |
Which il Is now H't proposed by these % apends 9es
uents TO confer as an emergency power |
upon the Board OF Estimate and Apportion-
posed to relay, the provisions OF the Charter
IN one particular. the restrictions remaining
tsS. sS as%ini's,9tio5 sTsT S sTS$ts
heads Of departments during the last four
years. in the opinion Of the Charter revisers.
-hieguards, They. therefore proposed that
.ub,tantially. al OF these powers should be
ot the Board Of Aldermen. Unfortunately, |
~ making provision for a system so radically |
new. they made the existing situation rigid. |
- \ existed on the first OF January, with all
~ the abuses embodied in il which il WINS
he aim OF the new provisions OF the Charter
20 obviate
n the meanwhile the revised Charter
makes II the duty OF the authorities 10 rc-
organize the city service as IL proposed In tLe
pendlng amendments and In order 10 meet
The financial necessities OF tho situofIon 4, |
has given 10 the Board Of Estimate mud an
rortionment full authority 10 read met The
budget ior the year 20 any such changes |
mp to May I, 1902 But the Charter rs re-
vised. does not contain anv nrovIsion 10
make u certain that there viii be no deadlock
between the Board Of Estimate and Apporti ion-
mont and the Board OF Aldermen as 10 work
10 he done this spring A. 10 the budget
70 oe prepared in the autumn in the regular
way the Charter contains n provision that n |
me Aldermen do not take contrary ncfinn
wlthin twenty days, the budget as adopted
bN The Bo1rd OF Estimate and Apportionrnent |
fands The citv, therefore al the present |
moment 's face 90 face With this emergency
The Board of Estimate and Apportiontnon,
is charged With the duty Of making 6 new
budget on or before April So 1902 Every
change H. organization desired In nny dcpsrt
ment must be Incorporated into this budget
THIS budget has TO be prepared vt the very
busiest season of the year, when the Legis- !
l.ture i In session. and when oil dspsrt.
ments arc strsring every nerve not only "a
carry forward their current work h,t, aila |