The Connecticut labor news., 1921-08-05

There IS no question in the minds of any other city official but that the rate of pay of $2.7o day established by the park board and it's superin- tendent, Gustav X. Amrhyn, IS not sufficient to support a man and his family, no matter how small, in these days of continued high prices. When 1t was noised about City Hall that the park department was taking such an arbitrary step, several city officials protested, declaring that such a move was contrary to ordinary decency just now and was not justified espe- cially under the condition in which the bond issue was granted at this time, with the idea of helping out-of- work citizens support their families unti 1.-the factories and other lines of work start up again. So far, how ever, the protests have done no good and it is stated that the 30 cents an hour rate and nine hour day will be kept in effect.
 The park department in New Ha- ven is a peculiar organization The administration, no matter what its political complexion has practically no control over 1t, or anything to do with 1t except to vote 1t what funds the board says 1t needs and then let the board spend them as 1t wills It even now, with the so-called "pro- Haven Green, the other parks and playgrounds and even Mayor Fitz- Gerald could not go onto the Green and make speech without first ask ing permission of the park officials. They recently refused permission to the city to erect a comfort station on the Green although almost every one agrees that IS the proper place for 1t.
 The board is made up of a number of wealthy men, several of whom, it must be admitted have given gener- ously of their fortunes in improving especially East Rock park where the names are perpetuated by drives, arches and the like. Two aldermen, by courtesy, are allowed to sit in at the meetings but they are so far out voted that the aldermen have little to do or say except to pass the wishes of the board on to the aldermen as whole and work their plans through that body.
 The board is now made up of Prof. Theodore $. Woolsey, president; Former Governor Simeon E. Bald win, vice-president; Henry F. Eng fish, secretary; Hayes Quincy Trow- bridge, assistant secretary; John H. Shaw, Victor Roth and Aldermen Hitchcock and Griswold By charter provision Professor Woolsey, Mr. Baldwin and MT. English are perman- ent members and cannot be removed. Professor Woolsey and MT. English, with Superintendent Armhyn, practi- cally run the department. There IS no doubt but that New Haven has fine park system but not any more than the city deserves and IS willing to pay for.
 The attempt, however, to reduce the pay of the laborers, men out of work elsewhere and with families to support, Is resented by members of the aldermen and other city officials but they cannot do anything about 1t, unless, as has been suggested many times before, the charter be amended so as to put the department on a par with other city departments and un- der direct control of the elected city officials and the finance board
 It is also stated by some alder men that the park department Is not doing all 1t could to relieve the out of-work situation now. Many more men could be put on, 1t Is stated and work rushed through but for some reason the aldermen say, the park board desires to hang onto the funds given 1t and work along in the usual deliberate way instead of giving re lief to many families as intended un- der the bond issue.