Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-13
AXE WILL FALL ON
15|N WATER DEPT.
ENPLOY,IT IS SAID
Saving of $4,000
Will Result from
Pruning.
THIS IS TOTAL OF S05,OOO
OFF PAYROLL IN 8 MONTHS
Every Branch of the Service
viii Be Affected by
Latest Change.

F1fteen employees of the water de-
partment are scheduled to feel the
weight of the official axe today.
Iher discharge, it was learned
from an authoritive source, will be
ordered by the Board of Works at it's
meeting this afternoon Dropping
these men employed in every branch
of the department will result in
saving of approximately $4,000
year to the taxpayers.
The move to oust holders of posi-
tons which are held to be useless is
in line with the general policy of the
present Democratic board to reduce
expenses wherever it is found possi-
Die, without impairing the efficiency
of the department affected
1t will be remembered that at the
organization meeting on January /,
when the Democrats took control of
the board for the first time in thir-
teen years, approximately $4,000 was
saved the taxpayers by the abolition
OF a number Of positions.
s95o0O saved.
With the saving of $4,000, which
will be effected today, the board will
have saved the taxpayers approxi-
mately $4,000 in salaries alone in
less than three months.
From what can be learned nearly
every branch in the department will
| lose at least one or two employees
The "turn-off'' gang, it is understood
will be wiped out entirely, with the
possible exception Of one man 1t has
long been contended that one man
could do the work now performed by
the entire gang, which is merely TO
| shut off water for the non-payment
of water rent and other causes. The
force of meter inspectors and read
ers will also be reduced, as will also
the clerical force. repair division, etc.
From its present outlook it will be a
sweeping change.
Not one of those effected has been
given the slightest1nkling of what is
to happen. The employees will, there
fore, not be aware of their discharge
until notified by the board. The
recommendation for the changes will,
it is understood. be presented by
Comm issioner Kraemer, chairman of
the water committee. When ques-
toned relative to the contemplated
changes Commissioner Kraemer
would have nothing to say. neither
! denying nor affirming the statement.
Ashamed Not to Pay.
1t has been suggested that one of
| the boards automobiles be turned
into service to take the place of the
turn key" gang. With a machine
one man could, it is said. cover the
entire city and thereby do the work
of the gang. Tt is suggested also
| that heavy signs bearing the wording,
Turn off Wagon for Non-Payment
of Water Rent" be placed on either
side of the machine. This would
tend to decrease the work Of the
turn key" a it might cause house
holders TO pay their water bills
promptly rather than have the heavy
pacarded auto stop in front of their
home. TO meet the gaze of the neigh
bors and passersby.
william F.. Allan. the expert of
| Price, sWaterhouse & Co., of New
York, who has been at work on the
affairs of the water department since
| the first of the year. and who has
brought about many important
changes in the system of accounting,
would have nothing to say as to the
contem plated changes. He referred
the questioner to Commissioners 'Krae-
mer.