New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-05
SAYS C1TY's HELP IS UNDERPAID.
Employe Declares Big Salaries Are Given to
MANY Who Do Not Earn Them.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: From time to time in the public prints
notice remarks the remuneration OF city en-
ployes. Mr. Fornes, at meeting of the Board or
Estimate and Apportionment the other day, SAID
that city employees were overpaid- take exception
to that remark because am city employe and
underpaid. II Mr.. Fornes any other city official
will investigate he will find that there are great
many city employees underpaid. I have investigat-
ed and found that there are also a greater number
overpad; for instance messengers whose salaries
run as high 900 per annum- Why Is II that
men having no particular learning and in a po-
sition requiring none should get such salary
when first class mechanics engineers, marine and
stationary employed by the city in some instances
cannot get the prevailing rate. which rate Is
below 81 500. Yet mechanic must be able 70 DO
any work In his line in a first class manner and
must have had years OF experience In that partic-
ular line. Engineers must have passed an examina-
ton before the city board Of examiners as to MT
ness to take charge OF steam plant, and again.
before the city will employ them, must pass an
examination before the Civil Service Examiners
Who will say that a messenger, a prison keeper.
a street gang boss. policeman, ought to be better
paid than an engineer capable OF running a large
modern steam and electric plant, or a machlnlst
capable of rebuilding engine. steam or any other
kind?
commissioner of a city department once COM
planned to me that could not get competent men
to run the and electric plants in his depart
ment and asked II I knew why. 1 told him
that way. The fact was. he would not Yet the
plants speak OF would in private hands each pay
a chief engineer 5000 and have at least two as
sistant engineers. etc The city has IN some OF It's
large modern plants three engineers mo chief)
Each engineer IS chief during his watch OF eight
hours and is responsible for the running OF the
plant during that time. In some cases he has none
but prison help. Each engineer Is paid S. 90 per
diem. Yet in the end the plants cost considerably
more for running expenses to the city than they
would under a private corporation.
Engineers have to work every day In the year.
with no vacation. Clerks keepers and messengers
all have vacations during the summer. Clerks,
messengers street. building elevator and all man
ner Of inspectors duty but five and a half days
a week and are off duty legal holidays yet all
are better paid than the who have to work
every day of the year, in charge OF steam and
electric plants. for the most part underground.
where the air is beautifully sweet and free from
dust and gas and conducive TO health
How would you like to live on $40 per annum, or.
say. $500 and raise a family? Some hospital at
tendants in Charities Department have to do H.
Ii would be an excellent thing for the taxpayers
and the service of the city If the list of Civil Ser
vice employees and salaries were thoroughly inves-
tigated. 1 believe there would be quite a number
found who draw salaries in positions for which
they never certified and for which they are
totally unfit. ONE OF THE CNDERPAID.
Brooklyn October Is, 1904.