New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-23
Hylan's Cabinet
Plans to Abolish
MUnneeded Jobs"
Seeks Special Legislation to
Clean Out Many Boards
and Bureaus

The members of the Tammany-elect
Board Of Estimate, meeting with May
or-elect John F. Hylan yesterday at the
headquarters Of the Business Mems
League, developed plans for a concen-
trated drive on the unnecessary Joo
holders" in the present city govern
ment and a general reorganization OF
the committees and bureaus now at
tached to the Board Of Estimate. The
special legislation deemed necessary 10
eliminate Mitchell oficeholders and fur
Their the contemplated policies Of the
incoming administration was also a
subject Of serious consideration.
Senator Robert F. Wagner, who Will
have charge of the new administra-
tons legislative programme at Albany
held an extended conference with the
Mayor-elect prior 10 the meeting OF the
new Board of Estimate. Senator Wag-
ner said afterward that legislation
toward putting in effect municipal own
ership and other reforms" which were
included in the Tammany city cam
paign platform was discussed
One Of the first moves OF the new
administration will be the ABANDON
ment of the project to build a new
County Court House on the site Sc
lected near the present Criminal CoutI
Building, it was intimated. AT me
same time some plan will be sought
whereby the property, when now Hes
idle, at an annual loss to the Guy OF
close TO 100000, may be utilized.
The plans for the new structure as
adontef bv the present administra-
ton would require the expenditure OF
more than sl1 100000. II was prac-
ticallv the unanimous opinion OF the
incoming board that even though the
site was a suitable one for that pur-
nose the present state of the city's
finances would not permit the carrying
out of the plan. suo
new CITY administrators to clean out
bv special legislation, if possible, most
Of the boards and bureaus connected
with the present city government
which cannot be reached directly un,
der the jurisdiction OF the Mayor ana
the Board of Estimate.
In a statement issued after yester-
davis conference, the new board IN
dicated its intention Of seeking legls.
lation TO abolish the present Board OF
Water Supply. which recently closed
the S12OOO.OOO contract for the con-
struction of the Shandakin tunnel CON
Meeting the Schoharie watershed Win
the new Catskill Aqueduct.
The new Board of Estimate had IN
der consideration a refusal oy tne
Board of Water supply to hoid up Lhe
,york on the Schoharie contract ior
ninety DAYS. or until the member
oIoct could deal with the matter. Inc
REQUEST was made by the new board az
recent conference in Judge Hylah
office. The statement said: A..
at Is a matter of record that the
Roard of Water Supply, by its commu-
-;cotion declares itself TO be unWlH-
inc 70 cooperate with the new Board
nf = stimate. Aside from the reasons
oiven. the subject matter or their le.-
tor NAV be summed up in few words
,yben thew said that the prosecution
~ this work was within their eNclu,
si,o province by statute. THIS should
constitute a timely warning TO the peo-
do If the CITY to withhold for all time
heir approval of the creation by the
Tagislature of Independent bodies tor
80 rcrformance of municipal public
Eve appreciate that there il no way
T.. ,,.Licb tho new Board of Estimate
-, overcise control over the final dis
roeition of this matter. In asking Tor
delav we had in mind, as stated IN our
original letter. the conditions result
irg from the prosecution Of the war
and their effect upon the price OF labor
and material, and the arrangement OF
industry generally, coupled with the
serious strain upon the finances OF the
whole country for the expenditures OF
The matter OF slashing items in Tn,
budget for 1918 and wedding out all
Unnecessary jobs provided for IN II
was considered By the members-eIect
of the Board Of Estimate. Frank l.:
Bowling. President Of the Board OF
Aldermen and Borough President-eIe.c'
of Manhattan, WIS appointed COMMIT
tee of one 10 recommend reductions ~
budget items and the elimination vi
jobs under II. ~.
The Board Of Aldermen now has the
budget under consideration, ana u may
make reductions but cannot lnerease
items. The action of the board, how
ever. is subject to the approval or veto
Of the Mayor. -, A.
Sheriff Smith pointed out that the
budget created 757 new positions IN
the citv service, the salaries for which
would average about $1,000 each. he
declared that the members OF the new
board felt that most Of these new
minor CITY positions could be done away
with and that the Board Of Aldermen
probably would recommend their elm
ination. LII
The various bureaus connected with
the Board of Estimate under the, pres.
emit administration were not reached az
Yesterdays meeting. They represent
budget appropriations Of several nun
dreI thousand dollars. Sheriff smith
said that they would be taken UP later
Nth the prospect Of several Of them
beinp abolished and others consolidat-
ed. A general reorganization Oh the
various committees attached 70 UHe
BOARD Of Estimate is contemplated
Mayor-elect Hylan too k occasion yes
terday to emphatically deny the report
tbat ne aspired 20 be the Democratic
candidate for Governor next year. ne
said he intended 90 devote all his time
ond energies during the next four years
10 the duties of the office OF Mayor
u. S. Milk Board + ormed