New-York tribune., 1906-09-22
DELANY REPLIES TO &. u
Says Lack of Force Delays Suits
for PAIRING Claims.

Corporation Counsel John ]. DeIany replied yes
terday 10 the charge of the Citizens Union that
the Law Department of the city had delayed push
ing the suits against the street railways for paving
claims aggregating nearly million and a half.
There forty actions pending. begun in
Mayor Grants time. Mr.. Delany said yesterday
that In spite OF the handicap in the lack of
a sufficient force for his department. he had not
only made effort TO get the claims settled. but
that one OF his lost his annual vacation in
the effort.
Although these claims are VITAL" said Mr.. De-
lany. "and 81 10000 IS a good deal OF money and
out fighting TO get-and We feel sure we will get
every cent-yet there are many more important
these. One thing should be remembered, and that
is that all the time these claims are Hnpalo a tne
railroads will have 10 pay interest on the money
We shall get that interest"
is the congestion in his Office He has attempted.
he says. 10 get larger force, but this proved un-
He is now preparing. and will submit in a day or
Two ms financial TeguiTements Us 10 tne 6oTI ara GI f
these he asks for additional help He viii ask for
a chief assistant and half dozen regular addi-
Delany's friends say that the, Citizens Union
cause OF the suit for libel instituted against him by
e m se o his & s fhSt Ferry r being up
and that Mr.; Delany had something 10 do with IT,
$4,000 $4,000 for rent and had made no attempt
If the Corporation Counsel" said this friend.
wanted TO let the city be mulcted Of H.5OoCoo
why wouldn't II be the easiest thing IN the WOrld
10 let the go. But there four hundred
cases in the hands Of Mr.. Haho. OF that Office and
he has been working his vacation time 20 get them
ready
Corporation Counsel Delany, in his recommenda-
tons 70 Mayor Mcclellan for 1907. will ask him for
an additional force, and the estimate. which is al
most ready. will say in two Of the paragraphs the
following:
endeaYored during the present year to obtain
the approval OF the State Civil Service Board 10
proposition which was recommended TO the Mu-
niopal Civil Service Commission and by the Mayor.
whereby the stan OF assistants might be increased
TO one hundred from seventy-hve, at present
But the state board refused its approval. No limi
tation naturally can be placed on the amount of
work required of the Office, and with rigid limita-
tiOn the number OF the force IL needs argu-
ment 10 show the danger and embarrassment TO the
citys interest which must ensue when the amount
OF work exceeds the capacity Of the department 20
care for il.
To criticise the motive of the state board in re-
fusing fits approval TO the plan submitted TO IL
would be idle IL might be unjust. Earnest
supporters of Civil Service reform have before
them the numerous instances in the past OF the
abuse OF the power OF appointment, and in
clned 20 regard any application for relaxation OF
its principles not made I'm good faith. This atti
tude OF mind has its advantages for public interest
but / cannot help concluding that the city in this
instance must suffer from IT,
What seems 70 be even more dscouraging is that
do not believe the city prevail against this
sentiment There is. therefore. nothing TO he done
except to strive To the force At command TO
the best possible advantage in the city's service.