New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-22
Brown Committee Bills
Will IndorSe Separate
Government Plan.
PENSION SYSTEM
MAY BE CHANGED
Mitchell Outlines Service Award
Needs-Offcial Auto Habit
Puzzles Chairman.

The Brown legislative committee "d-
iourned yesterday subject to the 'a'
Of tho chair, with the announcement
f~on, Senator Flon X. Brown. chairman
,ba, unless rs investigation was held
u. as the Thompson committee inves-
,iration has been. they would take up
many other matters at future hearings.
Senator Brown said the committee
would make a preliminary report within
zen days for the purpose Of getting
some Of tho bills which Will be recon-
mendcd under way.
T. is understood that the committee
Will recommend fifteen or twenty oills'
many % which will be drawn with the
object Of giving New York City nome
rule. one Of the matters stu 10 ne
,akon I'D and which must. It Is felt 10
attended 10 before the adjournment OF
the Legislature. is the pension question.
Navor Mitchell told the committee that
the city must either abandon the pen
eior systems IN vogue m the eoueA-
,ional. Police and Fire departments OF
else radically change them, when II j
doubtful the city VAS a right to DO un-
less empowered by law.
Civ Chamberlain Bruere IS chairman
Of a committee. including Representa-.
,ives Of me department employees. when
is investigating the pension ques'iHn
With the intention Of reporting 10 'OS
committee. The Citizens Union ano
other civic organizations have ashen
he committee 10 investigate the cats
LIN water supply system. ne com
r,if+ee Is expected TO consider the tN-
tension az the Cars plan 10 the entire
scbool system Of the city. The com
,,,t4ee will endeavor 20 decide whelheI
/, ,s cheaper 20 buy Fairgrounds 10
carry ont the Gary plan or 10 ouhu
school houses under the old system.
Lawrence Mcclure. chairman OF the
4eal Estate Board OF New ORR W"S
tho only witness yesterday. MI NC
C,,ire ssid his board advocated the con,
solidation Of building Inspection anu
,he removal Of the supervision over .n0
alteration and construction or ou'
tnqs from the Labor Department. ne
recommended that the state nave Dq b
80 publir Service Commission. lie
would give the powers OF the bohIu o. o.
Water Sunply 10 the Department o,
Nveter Supplv. Gas and Electricity, ana
Give the control over street lignune
IN the Police Department, with 'ne
rower 20 make contracts for e!ec'rlc
rrrre-. vested in the Board OF Esuma ate
He proposed TO turn over the outleS
~ tho Bridge Department 10 the Hlgn-
vsvs Department and place all chari-
Ties and hospitals under one depart
ment lie said that the Bureau OF Ire
prevention should he abolished ana the
F;rn Denartment confined 70 it's "leglt-
t,oste busjness." He suggested re-
,trieting the purchase Of automobiles
for city officials.
"The desire for automobiles IS get,
ting as bad as the desire for Drink
IA senator Brown 81 don't know
What We can DO 20 check H. Wouldn Z
It be a good idea TO have department
Of automobile supervision
Mr.. Mcclure declined 10 entertain
The suggestion. He objected 20 the way
the budget was made up. He said that
the estimates were made up regardless
Of the amount Of taxes the real estate
could stand and then the taxes We're
Jved. lie declared that the whole
matter Of building new county court
house should be taken out OF the hshds
of the Court House Board and placed
in the hands Of the Board Of Estimate:
Senator Brown said he was opposed
10 the scheme 20 build the courthouse
on the instalment plan.
Senator Brown placed in the record
compilation made for the committee
of the per capita expenses Of govern
ment IN several cities. The list was as
follows:
Philadelphia, s11; Rochester, slo, st
Louis, SIG; Buffalo. $2l; Chicago, 81
Albany. s25, Boston, sSs, and Ne"
York, s42.