New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-16
BENSEL FOR MORE PAY.
Tells Street Cleaners He WM Ask
to Haze Their Wages Raised.

DIR. Walter BenseI Commissioner OF the Street.
Cleaning Department. addressing a meeting OF
drivers sweepers and hostlers last night. promised
his men that he would recommend an increase Ia
their wages. He told them also that il was IN
necessary for them 20 pay politicians 70 obtain
promotions as this would not help them Adj
vancennent. would be made only merit. and po-
IIticaI influence or affiIiatIOn would not be recOg
nized IN the department
The Commissioner said that his attention rad
been directed by citizens to the practice OF soma
men in the department Of extorting money for
their service This he said. would not be tolerated
The meeting was called at Odd Fellows Hall,
No. eS Forsyth street. by the general executive
council OF the drivers. sweepers and nOstlers
union to meet Commissioner Bensel- About three
hundred were present
The Commissioner said that when he took charss
nj the Street Cleaning Department he found IN
existence there 'the most ubiquitous set OF rules
that he had ever heard Of anywhere Tney permit
ted the men no defence against charges. mes vera
inflicted for any minor transgressions and the first
.ba men knew Of the charges against them
when the fines were taken out OF their pay Ihess
rules he said had been abolished and a new sys-
ten established under which every man had an
opportunity TO explain
aAnd the man who tells the truth said Dr.
Bensel will not regret ii, whils the man who les
IN me will never be pardoned- hope to introduce
a new system OF reports whereby we can foAo"
every man at work Promotions VIII DEPEND onF
on individual effort bad work VIII never De t'i-
Grated. while good work viii receive due consid-
GRAFTON.
..,rarv complaints have come 20 me Of the az
,ortion of money from citizens Such an ofencs
will be punished with immediate dismissal Onler
no circumstances pay TO any one money ior ~
pointment OF promotion. IL Is not necessary "
nav for promotion and any person who tells ycl
! 50 Hes What 7 ask ia a full days work For a
full days pay
.sYo,, and are street cleaners. and we can Go
better We must insist on disciphns ana o0s1-5
ence TO your superior officers But any case OF
oppression by them will De investigated ana an
willing TO see punished any one who Is proven
guilty OF dishonest dealing
"It f. nv Intention to ask the Boarl Of Estirats
and the Board Of Aldermen for an increased az
preparation for the department so thaL the pa.
OF all svvespers be increased from I'D 10 sS'
n wear I hope to promote more men as rhef
show quaIihcatiors-
The three hundred street cleaners chssrsd 'ns
Commissioner vigorously
Deputy Commissioner William Edwards also al
dressed the men Cleaning the streets. ne saN'
was hard work but he asked the men 20 siVs
their best work and promised that they would 81
the best treatment Ee said that they haH suOU
Jobs reminding them that there were many unen,-
pioyed men who would gladly change pi4ess WIN
them.
Then a t,bcr agitator nearly spoiled the conciiis-
tory symposium by declaring in speech tAat tns
swe.pers ought 10 receive $500 a year- ne saN
that Dr. BenSel ought TO be nlemoet .. 80
union as he had propcunded the doctrines OF u'-
Knights OF Labor He also rerninced MS hse.0
that eight hours constituted a days WORK me
no presented to Commissioner BenSei ana Ds|-'J
Commissioner Edwards copies of the con'ttu'0R
OF the union. The cheerel this speech s'7
louder than that OF the Commissions
When DR.. Bensel accepted his once % So
Mr. Craven IL was said 10 be only a tenpolAJ
appo.ntrlent Tits talk last night on the oe''eI.s
of the department might be regarded as an No.
ton that he expected to continue in the S''''i''
slOnership.