New-York tribune., 1907-12-02

DOrtionment these several boards could meet as
board for the whole city. The local boards In
the four counties could meet separately to canvass
the votes cast at an election
Public or general improvement. the commission
agrees should be placed, in this event under the
control of the bureau of public Improvements. to
consist of four members appointed by the Board
of Estimate.
That Father Knickerbocker should be allowed
pretty free control of his pursestrings IS
brought by the commission s follows:
Whether It be the objects of appropriations the
salaries of officials and all employees the amount
commission believes that the power over the local
purse should be placed in responsbie munlcipaI M
strictons by the state All mandatory provisions
great private corporation could long survive such
mandatory calls on its purse as the Legisaturei @
local interests has made upon the city treasury: treasury
cannot be trusted to manage the finances of the
city the electors must blame taems9ves 3 for then
more carefully to their civic duties: Times OF
cur when relief must be sought at albany but
ordinarily. the voters must be impressed with the
officials and ought not TO be allowed to shTk their 'ss
consequences of their own neglect
An analysis Of the budget for the year IS in the
report showing that there has been increase
in this from s79,oo0oO in 1898. to S143ooo,000
In 1903. This condition. the commission says is
due III part legislative interference, in part to
extravaganza resulting from overlapping of func-
tions. in part politics. pure and simple. The
commission believes that officials charged with the
expenditure OF appropriations should not take part
in fixing their amount. and that the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment should be composed
OF the Mayor, Controller and President Of the
Board of Aldermen. with experts or authorities in
matters of finance to assist them. who should re-
ceNe salaries which will attract men of the proper
caIbre-"
This board. the commissioners find. should
trely Contrul the budget, which should be itemiZed
to much greater extent than at present
HOME RULE ADVISED.
Home rule is advocated by the commission in
regard to the Board Of Education. y continuance
Of tho present system Of forty-six school boards
and the repeal OF the Davis law advocated. As
to whether representation the Board of Edu
cation should be given to women, the mem
hers Of the commission were divided in opinion.
They found that the present system Of purchasing
supplies for the schools "a source of extrava-
gance and abuse and recommended the creation
Of a department. to attend entirely 10 such pur-
chasing duties.
The manner of doing the city printing and Of
supplying stationery is "wasteful and extrava-
CANT" according to the report, and IT is
mended that the Board Of City Record he abol-
ished. its functions be divided between the bu-
reau of statistics and the Department OF Supplies.
An Improvement I'm The City Record is also ad-
vocated since the commissioners find that it is not
properly conducted TO fuhl its purpose "a mod
municipal newspaper Of daily value"
Regarding the Police Department. the commits
sion recommends that the legislation affect
ing that body have a further trial The other find
ings are that there should ne appointed besides
the Commissioner. d superintendent Of police who
shall have been for at least ave years member
OF the uniformed force The Police Commissioner.
also, should have complete Jurisdiction in reguIat-
ing traffic.
Tho subject Of street control is dealt with at
length The present division OF authority is re-
ferred TO- ana the following recommendation is
made:
A department OF street control chould be Gre
ated with all the Jurisdiction now vested in the
borough presidents with respect 10 the construction
Structures openings for all purposes in street
In addition it should exercise all street cleaning
functions, have charge OF lighting the streets and
Department Of water supply Gas and Electricity.
except such relate to the water supply proper.
fro over tie street except the regulation of traffic
Water w mains laid Under the streets 1t is worthy
| Of consideration whether this department should
and repair all water mains. suupect to the requi
sition and general supervision Of the Department
Of Water supply.
The commission finds. moreover that to prevent
the existing overlapping Of functions of the Park
! Department and the borough presidents the Park
| Department should have jurisdiction only
those streets which entirely in part in
Guided in the park system. Other streets would
then be left TO the department Of street control
Comment is made the expense and delay of
condemnation proceedings. As to appointing com
| It is notorious that such appointments are re-
| age. In theory the judges appoint commissioners
| commissioners generally appointed from lists
! n result thoroughly incompetent commissioners
Frequently appointed VINO nave neither t h tle
| iheir principal qualification being membership in
| AS an effective remedy. the commission recon-
| nends an amendment of the constitution so hs ~
| nroyide for a court OF condemnation. in which ali
proceedings OF every nature for the acquisition OF
property rights for municipal purposes shall be
| conducted and regulated by a general act appli,
cable 10 the whole state and its subdiyisions and
municipalities At present 6n6 legislature Is
| situation.
| cITY's WATER SUPPLY
The history of New York's water supply is taken
| up and the members of the commission decide that
| the Aaueduct Commission should be abolished and
its powers transferred to the Department of Water
| supply The commission also believes that the
| troll of water should be entirely in the hands of
| the Department of Water Supply. and that gas and
electricity should be in charge of the Department
| of Street Control.
| No material changes are recommended in the
! Fire Tenement House, Buildings. Bridges and Law
| departments. The members of the commission
| favor the appointing of single park commission
| for the greater city. with a deputy commissioner
in each borough. The question is raised also as
| whether or not 1t would be well TO have park
keepers do police duty in the parks instead of the
| present force.
| The commission recommends that the Tax Board
/ be abolished and that the department be presided
| over by a single commissioner 10 be appointed by
| the Mayor. The last survival of the old bi-par-
| tisan boards is the present Tax Board.
| The recommendation is made that the charter
contain provision permitting the city to determine
| for Itself whether personal property should con-
| tnue TO be taxed and If this cannot be accom-
| piished without amending the general tax law of
the state. that should be appropriately amended.
|