Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/682

 658 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

only during the pleasure of the board. Again, the centraliza- tion of power has been extended by the present administration through the consolidation of the former Divisions of Food Inspec- tion and Offensive Trades into the one Division of Inspections (cf. Table, Vol. IX, p. 463). Furthermore, the board has been relieved of a tremendous and complicated burden by the confer- ring of all its duties relating to tenement houses upon the new Tenement House Department. 1

2. Still another strong and important feature of the organiza- tion of the New York department is the law providing for a special squad of sanitary police. As this body of men are sup- ported by a special appropriation from the Board of Health, it cannot justly be charged by the Police Department that it is compelled to support officers detailed to perform non-police duties. Too much emphasis can scarcely be laid on the efficiency of the men on the present squad.

3. High character and discipline of the employees. As soon as the present administration came into office, Dr. Lederle re- organized the whole force of the department's employees. One hundred and fifty-seven of these were dimissed, partly because of the deficiency in the appropriation for salaries, but partly also because of their inefficiency. For instance, twenty employees were dismissed under charges of intoxication, wilful neglect of duty, failure to report, and making false reports, while fifteen more resigned under charges. By this reclassification, $100,000 annually has been saved to the city in salaries alone. Further- more, all the inspectors are now held really accountable for the sanitary condition of their districts, and when not engaged in routine duties are required to make original inspections. The result of this rigid discipline is seen in certain reforms, such as the thorough cleaning up of Chinatown, and the more rigid inspection of lodging-houses, bath-houses, and slaughter-houses, and certain foods and drinks, notably milk. Finally, mention should be made of the apparent abolition of all political pull in the work of inspection, and the serving of orders, and of the uniform civility of the department's employees, from the com-

l Ckarter of igoi, Chap. XlXa.