New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-27
TO SAVE CITY'S MONEY.
BILLS WHICH MAY INCREASE
ESTIMATE BOARDS Pc WEIR.
MAYOR LOWS REASONS FOR AMEND
AIENTS TO THE CHARTER-SWEEP-
ING REFORM PROPOSED.

Albany. Feb 2s-Two bills increasing the power
Of the New-York City Board Of Estimate were in
troduced in the Senate to-day by Senator Stran-
shan The first provides that the board, upon the
recommendation of the Mayor any borough
president or head Of any department bureau. office.
board or commission Of the city shall have the
power to create Offices consolidate existing
Offices. readjust titles and to increase decrease
salaries in any of the offices, departments bureaus,
boards commissions.
The second bill limits the time when the board
may make such changes, prior to May l, 1902
The following letter from Mayor Low in refer
TO these bills made public by Mr.. Whit
man. Assistant Corporation Counsel. this after
IT seems 20 me necessary TO ask for two amend
ments TO tie charter which intended TO give TO
9oacG ~ IS'iiaIf ana AtpGt PPM f iso9 10
create new positions, TO consolidate existing posi-
crease salaries in any OF the city offices. In ask
ing for the passage of these amendments, il is be-
coming that 1 should explain the necessity for
them.
Up TO January l, 1902 every head of department
yided he did not exceed the amount appropriated
Tor salaries. everything which II Is now proposed
by these amendments 10 confer as an emergency
ment IN other words, although ii is proposed 10
relax the provisions of the charter in one partcu-
lar. the restrictions remaining upon the admins,
tration will be greater than have ever existed
The heads of departments during the last four
years. IN the opinion of the charter revisers. SO
as to call for the creation OF new safeguards, They
therefore proposed that substantially all of these
powers should be used only with the consent nrsi'
second. Of the Board Of Aldermen. Unfortunat ely,
in making provision for system so radically
new. they made the existing situation rigid. as 1t
existed on January !, with all of the abuses en-
bodied IL which the aim OF the new
II the meanwhile the revised charter makes the
dur OF the authorities 10 rcorganiZe the city ser
vice is proposed il Ihe pending amendments. ana
IN order meet the financial necessities OF the
given the Board of EstimaIe
and Apportionment full authority TO readjust the
budget for the year TO any such changes. up 10
there will be deadlock between the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment and the Board OF
Aldermen, 10 work - be done this spring
There Is nothing in the proposed amendments
that will modify IN any way the DUTY OF the civil
Service Commission 10 classify the city onlcers
On the contrary. nothing can be done that Will SO
simplify and improve the work OF the CiFlI
Service Commission as to bring about The proper
endeaVor limit some Of the abuses or the ep-
pointing power under the previous administration
the Civil Service regulations have become SO con-
fused to be themselves IN need OF important
modification. II is folly. for example that exam
nations should have TO be held for sixty dlerehI
This minute subdivision does not spring from
any necessities of the situation but from the eor
Of the previous administrative officers or the CITY,
some o the restrictions of the Civil Service la"
Nothing is so much be desired. from the point
REORGANIZATION Of the Civil Service itseH upon
which simple suitable regulations can be based
As the matter STANDS at present the sltla non !!
is full Of ernbarrassm at every turn II inc cry
comes up the first of May without the ablnty 10
provide certain remedy. can toresee nothlng
but confusion and emba ssrnent for the who're
ests Of the city have already suffered ana are
daily suffering Importantly, by reason OF the ex-
listing sltu6tlon sincerely nope 60 a-Sjcb
ure viii give promptly the relief Tor winch
ask