The Washington times., 1901-10-06
A FIGHT FOR s26, 100000.
What Defeat Would Mean to the
Tnmmany Omceholders


NEW YORK. Oct. 5.-The Indictment
against Tammany which the campaigners
against that organization will use in
cludes a showing that besides embarrass-
ing the school system by lack of funds.
adding to the tax burden. and openly con-
niving at police protection OF lawbreakers.
it wantonly wasted public funds through
the payment of inordinately large salaries
to its henchmen. At the recent board of
estimate hearings on the city budget
Mayor Van wyck has asserted loudly
that no money could be allowed for in
creases in salaries: he said the same
thing last year, and the year before; but
here is what actually was done:
In 1898. the first year of the Van WyeK
consolidation, salaries were increased
nearly $4,000 This means increases. too,
not the creation of new places. In 1883
nearly 100000 was added to the cost of
running the city by the same means. In
1900 salary increases aggregated si79. .S7i.
All these amounts are based on figure S
which exclude mandatory increases. such
as legislative provision for additions to
the pay of policemen and firemen.
In making up the budget last year.
Mayor Van Wyck as at present, was ap-
parently firm against salary increases.
There must be no raises" he shouted .o
department heads, but taking his words
at their real worth. his commissioners
started in promptly when 1901 opened, and
by the end of June had effected salary
increases aggregating S501. .s54. OF this to-
tai. il should be said in fairness over
s216.0o0 was due to the new school law
and s165, 900 to mandatory Increases in tho
fire and police departments, but allow
ing for these. it is found that the arbi-
trary increases alone in the six months
reached total of about $4,000.
The tax budget, in four years of Tam
many rule. has grown from ST. 100000 to
the provisional estimate for 1902 of $110.
10000. an addition of $50. 10000. Fully
one-half of each years budget. it is es-
timated, is expended on salaries alone.
If this is correct, it would appear that
by means of salary increases and Of the
creation of new positions alone the city's
rule by Tammany has been made to cost
abou. s15,OO0000 more than was necessary.
This is without regard to the enormous
sums wasted in extravagant purchases of
supplies and in excessive prices paid
where Tammany men on the inside
have formed combinations to control con-
tracts.
II may De asked now itdds
are able to make those enormous salary
increases when the board of estimate
makes no provision for them in the yearly
budget. The explanation is simple When
a salary appropriation has been exhaust
ed transfers from other funds are made.
Contingencies" supplies" and the ike
are drained to make good the deficit
caused by Tammany benevolence.
peculiarity of the Van Wyck regime
has been the growth of the private sec
retary'' system. There were two such of
ficers at the end of 1897; now there are III.
drawing total salaries of 500. coo. They
are mostly relatives of their sIperiors.
or else political henchmen with a big
pull"
One Of the first duties of the fusion ad-
ministration, If. as declared. Mr.. Shep-
ards nomination ensures Mr.. Lows cleo
tion. will be to purge the payrolls OF
drones. and reduce salaries to a normal
level. Assemblyman Weekes tried unsuc-
cessfully last March to have the Legisa-
ture take up the scandal. AT that time
ne asserted that the elimination of sine
cures and the regulation of salaries would
result in saving of so per cent. He es-
timated that the city's yearly payroll ag-
gregated So. 10000. which would fix the
saving at SIC 100000.