New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
Clerks Who Neglect Duties
Strange action of Policeman.

Some Of the snfallfry politicians who occupy
.inecures at the public expense, under the general
title Of Clerks. have such exalted idea Of their
own Importance that il is with the greatest re-
iuctance. apparently. and with supreme condescen-
sion that they consent TO perform their duties and
attend to citizens having business with their de-
partment. Their chief aim, apparently. is to Kill
time and they resent the intrusion OF any one who
calls them back to work Several persons were
waiting at one OF the windows OF the tax Offices
the other day. while the young sprout. who was
supposed TO De attending to business, stood chat
ting and Joking with fellow clerk. who lolled back
.n chair. While the persons at the window
looked on with growing Impotence the clerk cooly
took a pipe and tobacco pouch out OF his pocket
and proceeded to load up question as to
was answered with a sury nod. Finally patience
ceased to be virtue. and the citizen at the head
y have been waiting here just six minutes with
out receiving any attention. shall stay just thirty
don't get any attention In that time shall go.
and on tho way out shall take occasion to step
IN ana see the COMMISSIONER ana ask him II II
isn't possible for citizen TO get some decent sort
The tone Of authority in the mans voice caused
the clerk 20 drop his pouch and pipe and jump to
the window with q bound.
That there IS for much Improvement. If
not revolution. in the conduct Of the Tax De
partnent is shown in another incident that
CURED when the tax bills were being given out.
"A citizen went to the Offices in the municipal
building TO get the bills several pieces Of prop
erty owned by him. There was no bill for one of
the parcels. and the citizen asked for 1t. The
clerk looked over the records and then said:
There Amt bill for that property"
Why 500" asked the citizen
Because there amt no house on that lot" was
When the citizen started to demonstrate he was
cut off sharply and. eXciaimng, Very well" ae
went on Later he declared that to his knowledge
there had been house the lot In question for
fifty years. a large owner OF property states that
a considerable part of the holdings still listed
81 Of
former owners. An examination OF the lists show
erty. which any ordinarily well Informed citizen
should be able to correct.
All this does not mean Of course that everybody
fortunate enough hold position the city gov
shirks is regardless Of the interest Of
citizens who pay their salaries. There are many
who pride themselves on their accurate knowledge
OF their work and who habtually go out Of their
way and out Of the regular line OF their duties to
assist those in search OF information The above
holds true of the Police Department although
perhaps IN other department where brains
supposed to be required does one meet with
such examples Of gross stupidity. Some reporter,
arriving an early morning fire not long az,
inquired Of a policeman. who said his name was
Berringer. If any OF the tenants had been injured
IN making their escape. BeTringeT declared so!
EMMY upon pelns questioned that he had beer
on the scene since the beginning Of the fire an
tured. Asked what the presence Of two arnbu
lances across the street meant, Berringer replied
All this time in a saloon the opposite corner
two ambulance surgeons We're working on three
persons who had been injured by falling with q
cornice from the second floor Two fremen haC
also been precipitated to the sidewalk bv thf
failing cornice, and one had sprained his ankle
II apparently was not a case Of reluctance on the
part Of Berringer TO give up" for he cheerful,
gave some details as 10 the origin Of the fire and
other matters; but II seemed be a case of gro-
rance The policeman must have been paYing
the part OF wooden Indian while the cornjre
with its human load falling.
Certain department stores made a feature ~
selling live turkeys for the Thanksgiving Day
feast last week The result was that the peculiar
spectacle OF staid and digni1ed householders carry
ing live gobblers under their arms was seen on
many streetcars Wednesday night after #
was too late to get the bird sent home One mar.
tcularIy staid old citizen. who held a huge turkey
On his lap n Bergen-st. car was the cause 81
considerable merrinent on the part Of a number al
youthful passengers. The birds legs were fled
paper, so that on.y the end of his tail and bie
head stuck out The turkey evidently hadn't the
slightest idea Of the sad fate in for him for
he made not tho slightest fuss, and sat on hi.
owners lap, with expression Of contentnent and
rOguery or his face. Stretching his neck slowly
about the turkey carefully surveyed everybody in
the car. and sedatively blinked his eyes To q
party OF young who called to him the mr.
key replied by wagglng his head and winking one
of his eyes until every body in the car was in a
roar OF laughter