The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-10
DUST'S SHAKEUP
DRAWS HOT FIRE
FROM HURLBUT
IF That's Efficiency, Then !
Don't Know What Efficiency
u.s." He Declares
EX-PARk COMMISSIONER
DEFENDS FORMER STAFF
Only One He Clutches Was
Wished on Him by Gillles-
pie. He Claims


know What efficiency is said former
park commissioner. Myrtle L. Hurlbut,
speaking OF his successors recent
changes in the park department,
which Included the looping of OF is
heads and the merging OF several
jobs. reducing the payroll 81 900
year
L don't want 10 criticise the admin
istration OF the work oil Commissioners
Dus;, because that would be foolish.
but ! wish to defend my work as chief
Of the park and boulevard department
BY explaining that the force under me
VAS efficient and that the department
Was not burdened with useless EN-
ployes Had | remained al the head
OF the department ] would have made
just one change, July /. Charles
Arn.ltage. barn overseer, was wished
OH me by John Gillespie, during Mayor
Breitmeyers administration. He was
the one man that Gillespie wanted
taken care or in the park and Doule-
ward department. | intended 20 dis
pense with the services or Mr. Armi-
tagc The other employees were all
capable and earned their salaries.
consider r ID. Philbrook. let out by
Commissioner Dust. one OF the most
efficient foresters in the country. He
came 10 Detroit a year ago highly rec
commended by department heads in
several large cities, where he had
worked. | spent great deal OF time
trying TO get the right man 70 take
care OF the beautiful shade trees in
Detroit and / was entirely satisfied
with Mr.. Philbrook's work. The time
will come when Detroit, like other
cities, will spend $4,000 a year for
the care OF shade trees.
The work In the park and boule-
yard department requires great deal
OF attention. Ii is not the big work.
but The innumerable small things, that
take up the time OF the department
heads. II the system Is 10 be kept up
properly, the general superintendent
must be on the job all the time to see
that the work is properly done. The
same is true OF the Belle Isle over
seei. Mr.. Dust has given Secretary
Henry w. Busch the added duties OF
general superintendent, abolishing
Robert Flowerday's position. Mr..
Busch is very capable man. but
think his duties as secretary are
enough to keep one man busy. He
has a $1,000 weekly payroll 10 watch
and the department spends about
100000 year. Instead OF being Civ
ell more work, Mr.. Busch ought TO
have an assistant secretary.
Mr.. Flowerday, as general superin-
tencent, was busy man. He was
out on the system every day supervis-
ing work. Mr. Busch cannot do this
because his ONCE duties will not allow
him the time. The work Is too i'm
portant to delegate to an assistant.
Or Belle Isle the overseer's job Is a
difficult one. He comes into contact
wiz thousands OF people during the
year. People are prone TO be careless
with city property. There are a hun
dre6 and one things that need watch
Ing on the island, and during the sum-
mer especially the overseer must be
on the move constantly. A flowerbed.
" roadway. a bridge. a dock build
ing and goodness knows what not Is
always needing attention II Is a
mans work to look after these small
jobs, to see that the work Is properly
done Mr.. Flowerday, who Is now
Belle Isle overseer in place of r. A.
HOLSTER, il also a horticulturist
There Is such a thing as running a
mans efhciency by giving him too
many duties to perform.
II speak entirely from my own point
OF view. After 16 years service in the
park and boulevard department | feel
that I know something about the
amount Of work that Is done In the
department. | am not attacking Com
missioner Dust when I speak Of his
reorganization plans, but I am simply
stating what / know about the work
thai the various heads In the depart
ment under my administration had TO
perform And, with the exception OF
some malicious criticism, my work In
the department was satisfactory to
the general public. | was loath to
leave the once OF park commissioner
because had grown to love the work
Therefore wanted to hang on as long
as I could. but IL Is a recognized prin.
ciple in politics that 10 the victor be-
longs the spells. was given TO un.
derstand by certain people that
would be retained In once. otherwise
I would have resigned before my
term expired and done all In my power
tc acQuaint my successor with the
work"
p F. Martelli. made foreman OF the
paint shop on Belle Isle by Commits.
sioner Dust, was formerly employed
In that capacity under Hurlbut, but
was let out