New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-07
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.

II is often said and perhaps with considerable
tr,Ith I'm some cases that city employees have an
easy time and their money with little or none
of the extra effort that always comes 70 men
employed in private enterprises. This is certainly
not true. however. Of the employees OF me 0lieel
cleaning Department in Brooklyn Their work Is
often nearly doubled by the eXgencies ~ the
weather and this winter in particular has been
extraordinarily heavy account ~ the frequent
snowfalls For weeks ar time a part 81 the
Office force has worked late = o'clock az
night on weekdays and been forced 20 he at the
Office on Sundays well The street cleaners
and drivers also have worked from 6.Se I'm the
morning until 10 or u O'Clock M night And all
this has been done without extra compensation
u is not the fault OF the men that they have not
been paid overtime. for they have put in extra
bills time and again. But Of these bills have
ever been allowed. The men in the office who have
worked at night. running out for only half an
hour or for dinner have not even received
dinner money. which would be allowed In the
ordinary commercial business AS has been said.
the extra pressure this year has been particularly
heavy and the men have about come 10 the con-
clusion that city Job" is not SO desirable after
all. One Of the clerks who was found toiling in
the Office last Sunday asked why they did
not appeal TO the legislature. which is looked 10
for the correction Of al evils and the alienation ~
all abuses
we have" he replied. nut the trouble is that
there are so many bills regarding the Street Clean
Of them get any consideration. know one
who has presented bin regarding his own
extra compensation every year for four years. but
IL never stands any show"
This clerk telling OF the surprising
number OF really intelligent men that are 10 be
found among the extra snow gangs after heavy
storm. Men who have been engaged in all sorts %
lucrative employment but have met reyerses and
badly IN need OF money for the necessities Of
life seem to jump at the chance TO earn little
ready cash by shoveng snow. Usually these men
show by their threadbare garments that they are in
reduced circumstances but just after the last
a well dressed. handsome ana bright looking young
fellow entered the Office of superintendent Clarke.
All his clothing was Of tho best The suit looked
though II had at least so al tailors and
the overcoat and other things corresponded. The
trousers were carefully creased. the shoes shined
and the linen clean. There was not the slightest
~ ma me goss man nag me- aGVefSity
Superintendent Clarke locked the young man
10 DO"
asked. and there seemed touch OF pleading in his
we can put YOU 70 v-or. shovelsng snow re-
IAN right; thar twas ;he reply. and the
"a 'p The q snow sSe pes 5S put Kim 70 work ,
he asked no quos- or % The applicant Tor work
but IS sure that his anxiety Tor something 20 co
was sincere. and was not The result Of any wager.
Many humorous things come from the witness
stand IN the courts and il Is not u-usual for dig
nifed 5udge 10 have a struggle with himself 20
keep from laughing outright an some ~ TIE sur
prising statements that are made Here are two
incidents that taxed the judicial poise OF Justice
Gaynor nor SO long ago. The justice asked law
yer Where does tho plaintiff now reside?'
THIS the astonishing reply:
She doesn't rtslde. honor. Shes book
fcener IN NeW-l Ork
Justice Gaynor afieruard remarked TIA, he could
.ot nncerstand row ne young man ever came 10
be admitted TO the bar
on The other occasion the justice asked q man
what his trade was ard was answered as follows.
j have no trade. except n shipping clerk ana
the brains which ] possess"