New-York tribune., 1909-11-19
MASK OFF METZ
WHAT HIS "MODIFIC4-
TTONS" REALLY MEAN.
.4ffempt 10 Make Board of
Estimate StuIhfg Itself m
Salary Increases.

controller Metz viii urge to-day AT 'he
meeting Of the Board Of Estimate the
ssorrion of q resolution which purports
90 be a harmless mobilization OF the
budget salary schedules Of the Depart
.r-ent q Finance for the current year An
efrorr was made al the meeting II the
hard last week 10 get this same resolu-
tior through by unanimous consent, but
objections were made.
careful examination Of these proposed
rchedules made by The Tribune dis
closes the cact that Il they are adopted
more than So. coo VIII be added 20 the
salary appropriations ot the Finance De-
pertinent next year.
It vii also render necessary an entire
adjustment Of the salary appropriation
schedules in the budget for 1910 70 bring
them into agreement with the payroll for
January az next year as based upon the
changes contemplated by the Controller
fr his so-called modified schedule for
Novenl Der and December Of the present
ver-
Provision rs made in the new schedule
f-r increasing the salaries OF some
seventy employees Of the department.
places N which the salary is now $4,000
ard f-~ which the budget of 1910 pro-
t-ses q like amount. would be changed 10
5000. ot1er places from $2,2S0 70 s2.40o;
f-rn S2.650 70 s8.50O: from S2.550 10
$4,000. new places would be created a
$4,000 not crowded for IN the salary
srhecuIe OF the budget Il 1910. and
many Other changes made
These would SO increase the salary
81 yruu for TIE month of January, 1910
ss 10 necess.tsts an entire resdjustment
a+ The salary schedules by the new
F-erd ~ Estimate and an issue 81 spe-
-s-1 reveuue bonds 10 enable the salaries
-- be psid from Cne-twelfth proportion
~ -he appropriations. the rest 20 be pro
vlded for by q proportion OF the issue Of
sreclal revenue bonds
roDIFICATIoN" MASoUERADE-
These proposed salary Increases
which range from $3.50 Up 70 $1,000
wear. are oloaked under the pretense that
rre schedule presented by the Controller
As merely modification or the salary
schedules by changing items here and
there. orsetung increases by decreases
r--. bur in reality II consists cf very
large lumber q Increases
These contemplated increases have
nor been provided for in the salary sp-
rropriauo IN the budget Of 1910. and
--nseouentlv the Board q Estimate IL
sezed. under the Euise OF apparently
harmless and uniupor-snt changes 20
s--cUcn and rarifv an action which
,.ouls s-ultfv tae board as 6o6y in the
staaa which Il proclaimed ard took dur
tra ths making OF tire budget OF 1870 not
- aad any salary Increases thereto be-
vo-d those which hse already been
sanctionsd and provided for prior TO the
budget hearings
Tn the general description OF the new
--4rer- cf accounting installed in the
FINANCE Department. and recently pub
'H@-ed by the Controller he ASSERTS that
r- the improved form OF Departmental
tudget appropriations introduced by
lin Ia this years budget and the budget
~ 1910 he has rendered difficult the
practice by depar-meuts-
Cf decreasing the number OF employees
a-C using The funds mus released 10 IN
crease The crlp-nsari0n Of favOrites on
-re competitive list or 10 pay the SAL
aries lf exempt positions created for Ia
vO~ed employees
Cf using lie year-end balances Of sal
aries and wages appropriation acouunts
.- r wasreful manner. instead OF per
~.rrirE THESE balances 10 revert 10 the
general fund
The proposed increase IN salaries
which -te Controller asks the Board of
Estimate ro sanction and approve of in
r-. so-calied modified schedule IS strik-
nc Hl1strsticn oF one of the very prse-
tees which re says ne had made diff
cult CT scro- plishr7e7t ~ the new form
~ experimental approp pr atoms ~ the
buassts OF 1909 and 1870.
one 1f tre verv practices which he
-s-rlse trat cf decreasing the number
1f employees or ~ using the salaries re-
leased tv rhe res 'Enation. death or trans
--r cf arrlc lcvee 20 other departments 70
.r-reaee rh, compensation Of favoritss
r- no provide salaries for exempt posi-
rols created FOR favored employees. and
which ne claims 20 have made very hard
20 accomplishment on the part Of de-
Harr-entaI heads. he IS seeking 20 per
netgste through the guise Of = so-called
md apparently harmless mod ifcation %
rle salary schedules which he asks the
Board of Estimate 20 sanction and ap-
rrlve
- rs -re ~ the most hsgrant illus
rrafcns ~ fhe misuse - vesr-end bal
a.r-- NJ ur-v0sni-5 salaries and wages
.rrrrr-iaron accounts. which in the
manual of-the new accounting system
-eo-rr'v published the controller says
should be turned into The general fund
instead - used in a wasteful manner
WHAT SANCTION WOULD MEAN
- the Board of Estimate sanctioned
rfee- increases asked for by Controller
r--r7 t would mean that the board ap-
proved ri net only adding Thousands of
cellars 10 the salary list of 1910 entireiI
urr~cypced fer - the budget. but =
folIc spprcve his making Increases At
t-ls late hour, the propriety and sdVls-
soIity % which should be eft 20 his
s4coessor in Office, and this latter course
81 an t1e r~ore incumbent because Of the
tsct that provisions for these proposed
ez'ary increases have not been made ~