New-York tribune., 1902-02-05
UTYTCIP4L INCIDENTS.

That the municipal administration is getting
under headway in creditable manner is ind-
Gated by several incidents reported yesterday.
There has never been a doubt that the city
was supporting an excessive number of en-
ployes, and II has been earnestly hoped that
in spite of Tammany's crafty efforts to con-
time its favorites in office the new heads Of
departments would be able TO cut down the
payroll Not much could be done in that line
at once, but the process of reduction has now
begun in earnest IT Is too early to say how
far IL can be advantageOusly carried. but there
seems to be no reason why 1t should not be-
come general enough to save large amount
Of money. while greatly improving the public
service Park Commissioner Eustis, of The
Bronx has dismissed thrty-three men. whose
salaries amounted 10 S2So0o. "on account Of
lack Of work." and Register Ronner has
dropped nineteen "for the reason that their
services were unnecessary and in excess of the
requirements of the office" at a saving of
$4,000 The total OF $51 900 thus made avail
able for other purposes is not immense, but 1t
is certainly not Insignificant. Moreover as we
have repeatedly said. such n notification to all
concerned that the city government is to be
run on business principles hereafter cannot
fail to have a sautary effect on those who still
retain their places. The Tammany system
was not only extravagant, but demoralizing.
OF similar character Is Commissioner Part
ridges action in putting on regular patrol duty
about fifty policemen who in recent years have
been making a pretence of earning their pay as
clerks to the sergeants Except in a few cases,
the sergeants. in Colonel Partrldge's opinion,
have ample time to do their own clerical work
while the easy going fellows who have been
holding down chairs in the police stations can
ole
blow has Jared them severely. but if they
don't recover they will he at liberty to resign
The Commissioner has also ordered a number
of the plain clothes" men who have been
figuring as assistants to the precinct detectives
TO get into their uniforms and attend to their
regular duties, and he believes that ultimately
the strength of the force can be practically in
creased in such ways by several hundred men
who have been enjoying soft berths. To the
insinuation that he is hitting at Tammany he
makes the satisfactory reply that he is not
purposely hitting at anybody, but endeavoring
10 reorganize his department on a sound basis
and drive politics out OF 1t.
An interesting incident of another sort oc-
Cured yesterday. The charter revlsers in ex-
planning the changes they had proposed. said
of the provision giving seats, without votes, in
the Board of Aldermen to the heads of de-
partments, that they expected one or It's effects
would be to check extravaganza Commits
sioner Woodbury. appeared in the aldermanic
chamber yesterday, not to oppose, but to OBJ
tain, an appropriation. But that was per-
fectly legitimate errand for he needs the
money badly, and he talked so we'll that he got
what he asked for though his prospects were
not favorable when he began 1t may be
properly said In passing that it is not fair TO
complain II the condition Of the streets has
moi Deen as good as 1T ought TO be during the
last month DIR. Woodbury. told the aldermen
that his department was '.in ,extrenis which