New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-25
Polk TO Rattle DRY Bones
After He Takes Office
on February 2.
mitchell WANTS
QUICKER ACTION
Many Places from S3,OOO 10
$4,000 a Year for New Cor
pOratiOn Counsel 10 Fill.

Carrying out the plans OF Mayor Mitchell
Frank Lyon Polk, whose appointment as
Corporation Counsel was announced yes
terdav. will undertake a radical reorgani-
cation OF the city's law department lie
viii not take Office until February . but
IN the mean tine he will study the organi-
cation OF the department. so as 10 be pre-
pared to act promptly when he goes in.
y ,s The idea Of the Mayor that the law
department Is suffering from dry rot. lie
realizes that there are many able men
there. but he believes some have got into
q rut A vigorous shake-up and rafting
OF dry bones ought to do wonders, he
thinks. for what is one of the most I'M
portant departments under the Mayor.
In the past It has often taken several
months in some cases 70 set much neeoeo
opinions from the department Then there
has been friction between the office OF the
CORPORATION Counsel and the Finance De
,rartment. which has held up q settlement
Of the claims.
As among the friends Of Mayor Mitchell
81 has been known for some time that he
has been intending TO make many
changes in the department there have &C
cumulated scores of applications FOR ap-
pointment
The two most important appointments
the Corporation Counsel. whose salary Is
$1,000 a year. has TO make are the first
assistant in the main Office and the as
,sistant IN charge of the Brooklyn ONCE.
Each place pays $4,000 a year. James
u. Bell. long a Democratic war horse
in BROOKLYN. has been in charge Of the
Office there. George L. Sterling first
assistant in the main Office, resigned some
time ago. His place has been temporarily
taken by Louis II. Hahlo whose salary Is
$3.50 a year He is a candidate for the
first place under Corporation Counsel
Polk.
Martin r. Manton is a candidate for
head Of the Brooklyn Office. and 1t is I'M
derstood. has an excellent chance to lana
II He took an active part in the inde-
pendent campaign for Mr.. Mitchell IN
Brooklyn.
There is one man in the main office who
now gets $4,000 a year, He is Charles j..
Olendorf, in charge of the real estate ana
tax work. lie will probably be retained
In this Office there are fifty-three other
assistants at from $500 a year to SOJo a
year. thirteen deputy assistants from SZ'SVV
10 $500 and twelve Junior assistants AT
from s.. 100 TO 1850. There are secretary
81 e. 800 a year and fifteen examiners at
$500
In addition TO the assistant in charge OF
the Brooklyn Office there are eight assist
ants AT from $500 TO 5000 year.
The Bureau for the Recovery OF Penal
ties has an assistant in charge at 5000
three deputy assistants and three junior
assistants. The Tenement House Depart
ment Bureau has an assistant in charge
AZ $500 a year. three other assistants al
81 900 each and four junior assistants. the
bureau of Street Openings has an assist
ant in charge at $780, ten assistants al
5000 each and ten deputy assistants al
$3.50
Most Of the places paying less than
5000 are protected by the civil service
. but the incumbents can always be re-
moved on charges.