New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-19
ADAMSON URGES
BUREAU PRUNING
Combine and Abolish
Boards to Cut City
Budget, He Says.
NEW CONSTITUTION
BASIS OF PROPOSAL
Board of Water Supply, Bridge
Department and Chamber"
lain Called Useless.

To keen down the 1916 budget. Tilden
Adamson. director of the Bureau OF
Contract Supervision. has presented
most radical plan to the Board OF
Estimate.
Mr. Adamson suggests that, antici-
pating the passage Of the new constl-
tuition giving the city broader powers
Of home rule. several departments be
abolished or consolidated with others.
Having determined on that, Mr.. Adam
son suggests the Board of Estimate
need make provision for these depart
ments only for two months in 1916 or
for such time as it would be necessary
70 perfect the changes.
Although members Of the board are
Interested in the suggestions. some
doubt whether the plan could be legally
carried out and whether IL would be
practicable. il legal.
The charter says the Board of Esti-
mate shall between October l and No
vember in each year meet and make
a budget of the amounts estimated 70
be required to conduct the pubic
business Of the City of New York for
the ensuing year"
This would seem to make 1t i'm
possible TO provide for only two months
Another objection raised is that y
would be necessary to raise the money
for these departments by special rev.
enue bonds if the new constitution did
not pass and the departments could
| not be done away with. TAis would be
excessively expensive. Mr.. Adamson
believes the Board Of Water Supply
should be consolidated with the De-
partment Of Water supply. Its work
Of constructing the $l7O,OoO,oOO Catskill
water system is about done.
The engineering staff of the Board OF
Water Supply costs about Sl25.OOO a
year. not including the salaries OF
three commissioners at $4,000 each
and the general expenses Of the de
partment. The Bridge Department, Mr.
Adamson believes. should be consolI-
dated with the Department of Docks
and Ferries. There are no more big
bridges to be built. and the depart
ment's work IS simply one Of malnten-
/ ance, which could be done with the
/ engineering bureau of another depart
ment.
Another department to be abolished
when the city has the power Is that
( of City Chamberlain. Chamberlain
! Bruare has said many times The Office
| is unnecessary and its duties should
| be transferred 70 the Controllers Of
/ fee.
Other suggestions for economies
made by Mr.. AdamsOn are transferring
the collection Of water revenue from
/ the Water Department TO the Control
/ ler's office and the evolution Of the De
partment of City Record into q pur-
/ chasing bureau for all the departments.
Although recommending n number Of
/ changes in the office of the Corporation
I Counsel, in the 1916 budget Of the Law
Department, prepared by Frank l.. Polk,
asks 81 $50 less than this year. a total
of 5849 ,020 The plan is to cut the cost
Of title examiners by $4,000 and Of
process servers by $500.
IN the Park Department of Queens
John Weler, Commissioner, wants S57,-
1862 more than he got this year. OF
. that amount $43130 is for personal
service Commiss ioner Wcier asks an
increase o. from $500 to $500 for
! Wyune Thomas, MS private secretary,
and an increase Of from 81 ,950 to $4,000
/ for the chief forester.
! The Sheriff OF Kings County asks
500, 600 for 1916, while this year he had
S92,s27