New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-06
Funds Near Bankruptcy,
Due to Poor Supervision,
Says Chamberlain.
BUSINESS BUREAU
AN URGENT NEED
Administrative Head 20 Central
ize City Management-Called
Only Way to Economy.

New York City needs a division OF
administration to suDpiant the office
Of the Commissioner Of Accounts. &C
cording to City Chamberlain Henry
Bruere. in report published yester-
dav summarizing the work he has ac-
complished in the last year as an ad-
ministrative assistant TO mayor
Mitchell.
81 have attempted" he says, "by
utilizing the stan Of the Commissioner
Of Accounts and temporary stats TO
build up a method and programme or
administrative leadership. The Legs
lature has twice refused one OF nv
early recommendations for a division
of administration. but this is what the
government of New York needs. and
the lack of an adequate and authorlta-
tive organization has naturally re-
tarded the execution OF constructive
work.
The present city government,
pledged as it is TO business admin
istratiOn, recognizes what taxpayers
must come to recognize; that an en-
liehtencd business administration can
be brought about only by the slow up.
building Of new habits and methods OF
carving on municipal business
Speaking Of the executive budget
Mr. Bruere SAYS that reductions from
the sum originally asked were made by
the Board Of Estimates staff. The fig
ures. ne adds, are within the lowest
limits compatible with efficient ser
"As result Of centralizing the
rreparaticn Of payroIls there has come
a reduction of S35, goo. This Is one OF
the most important steps yet taken 10
weld the city government into well
ORGANIZED business administrations The
Chamberlain points out that studies IN
the lighting bureau have resulted m
large savings TO the city. and tnat the
centralized building inspection can be
operated al lower cost than the sepa-
rate departments now In charge OF TINS
work
Mr. Bruere devotcs much Of his re-
port to the matter Of pensions, ana
upon this question says: An analrsls
Of the financial condition OF the exist
ing funds shows that IN no case mas
provision been made for an adequate
reserve for the liabilities assumed 0Y
them: that increasing charges Will De
heeped upon the taxpayers to meet
the needs OF the police ana ufe iuuuS'
end that the teachers pension fund IS
confronted with inability to paw its
current demands and is. commercially
speaking. bankrupt" lie also points
out that the street cleaning fund must
build uD large reserve if it. too.
would avoid early bankruDtcv.
Pension rights" continues Mr..
Brucre. should be definite and not
vague. as under the Grady law, which
applies through all departments.
Under this statute the entire pension
is paid out of the city treasury. and
no contributions are made by the city
employees. New York's pension sys-
TENS are I'm the greatest possible con-
fusion; they lack uniformity, sound
ness Of financial provision and in some
cases are uncertain with respect to
future benefits 70 participants"
The Chamberlain saws that an in
yestigation of 10000 cases Of eviction
on the East Side showed only pig per
cent resulted from restitution. He
says that as a result of this inquiry
many cases where eviction was threat
ened were relieved by the prompt ac-
ton Of one Of several societies.