The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-28
MAYOR H00S ON SALARIES.
HB TELLS TIE JERSEY orr BoARD
or FINANCE TO RETRITgOH.

VT ~ 1SA
NE writes Another Letter Rebuirius tire rAst
Republican Administration ror TX rnvn-
Ennce-Pre-ident BrnutiEnm Criticisea the
Mayor ne Inconsistent ne to LoEisintiSu.
Mayor Hoos OF Jersey City has received no
answer to the communication no sent to the
Board Of Finance about two weeks ago, asking
what had been done with some Q, OOOo OF
arrears OF taxes collected under the Martin act
in the hve years Of Republican administration
which proceeded his election AZ Mayor. 1t is UNI
dcrstood that an answer is being prepared, but
II IL not known when II will he ready. The
Mayor scnt another communication to tho board
on Monday night, which excited the wrath Of
some OF the Commissioners. He wrote:
MAYORS OFFICE. July %, 1891.
ITO tho Honorable ;he Board IF Nnanco.
"GENTLEMEN: In the work Of fixing the tax
levy for 1928 you may be aided by compare
sons. 1t lie TO DO hoped that In your deiibora-
lions you viii not be content to accept the az
~sertions Of q partisan press that during the five
years last past the cost Of governing Jersey City
has been reduced, lest such acceptance lead you
to believe that retrenchment is impracticable
Those Ave years were the most expensive in the
history Of our city government. BY n compare
son OF tho budget OF 1892 with the budget Of
1sg6.97 II will DO found that the salary list
Of this city texclusive OF the Water Depart
ment) has been Increased by q figure that
not only repels all claims OF economical ad-
minlstration, but could have been reached
only by extravaganza. In plain figures tho
salary list Of this city exclusive OF the Water
Department. for the present fiscal year Is over
$780, 600 more than the salary list for the same
, departments during the last year Of the admin
~istration OF Mayor Cleveland. In the same
period the cost OF cleaning streets and removing
! -..ho-o a.. ~, hSk RIn nnn. tho mat NJ
cleaning sewers and receiving basins has in
creased but $3.50; the cost Of repairs to unpaved
streets has increased but 81. 600: the cost Of
street lighting but sls. 800; tho cost OF relief to
outdoor poor has increased but $500: the cost
Of hospitals and dispensaries has increased but
s., 900; tho cost OF elections has decreased
81, 600; the allowance for books and stationery
has increased but $4,000. Why, then. should
IF YOUR board cannot fnd a reasonable an
swer to support this increase, and / venture to
II Il is Objected that legislation has rendered 70.
trenchment difficult The excuse will not be satis.
factory until every effort has been made to avoid
i~slature was taught to leave absolutely to
every question OF, whom It should sm-
Ploy and what salaries should DO paid. The
city greater burdens than are found In the acts
passed under the guise of classification OF cities,
and as these statutes are all or oOuottul constr
tutionnlity. 1t will DO good policy 10 insist upon
the adjudication Of the highest court before Inn
posing unlimited burdens on the city. Respect
fully submitted, EDWARD Hoos, Mayor"
When Clerk Finck finished reading the COM
munication President Henry Brautigam. who
had been moving uneasily in his chair. jumped
up Nrd exclaimed:
"It is strange that the Mayor should put a
question and then tell us that We cannot an
swer 1t. Does he not now should II he does
not-that there are more school teachers, moro
policemen, moro fremen than there were tve
years agoi Does he not know that the city has
grownf It strikes me he Is inconsistent. When
the bills were before the last Legislature to in.
crease the salaries did Mr.. Hoos appear to pro
testf When the bills were there to increase tho
pay Of the police force and add thousands Of
dollars 10 our expenses annually was he there q
fight tho billsi Was he there to combat the bill
to increase the pay Of teachers all along the
linei Did he oppose any OF these billsf No
Why mott Because he was then fishing for q
nomination. He did not dare oppose them. He
feared that II might hurt him at the polls"
Mr.. Brautigam said that the Board OF Finance
did have the courage to go to the Legislature
and fight the bills openly. They know that the
city could not stand the increases. "We hac
the courage to stand up for our, city" he ex
claimed. and we had not one word OF aid or en-
couragement from Mr.. Hoos."