New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-01
URGE SCIENTIFIC BUDGET
Estimate Board Asks Mayor to
Uphold $4,000 Appropriation.
TO VETO CUT OF ALDERMEN
Will Oppose All Salary Increases
Unless Provided with Money
for Standardizing Salaries.

There is food for reflection by the Mayor
IN a brief that will be presented to him 10
day on behalf Of controlling majority
Of the Board OF Estimate and Apportion-
ment It urges him to use his veto power
over the cut by the Board Of Aldermen OF
500 90 from the 1912 budget, this money
being intended for use by the Board or
Estimate and Apportonment In making
scientific budget in the future, standardlz-
! ing salaries and continuing its efficiency
studies I'm the Board of Education and
other departments.
The brief. which is signed by Controller
| Prendergast. President Mitchell or the
Board Of Aldermen and Borough Presi-
dents McAneny. Steers, Miller and Crom-
well. practically places them on rec
| ord as being opposed TO any salary IN
! crcases unless this appropriation for
standardizlng salaries is permitted to go
through on this point the brief says:
The board has for two years declined TO
provide allowances for salary increases IN
! the budget on the ground that u was frst
necessary TO learn the facts regarding tne
/ citVS salary lists. II will have to continue
| 10 postpone all salary increases until facts
are obtained. If the required filnds Tor
I
must adhere to its present policy OF declm-
! ing to make salary increases which, though
apparently merited by the recipients, may
mean discrmina ton against many other
equally deserving whose claims are not
presented TO its consideration. At the same
, time il will be forced to continue MAKING
employees. resulting in waste of public
funds
The submission OF the brief follows an
oral argument in favor Of the veto. which
was made 10 Mayor Gaynor in his office
following the meeting Of the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment on Wednes-
day. Al that time Mayor Gaynor said he
would he glad TO receive a brief and would
have another conference with members Of
the board on Monday. Unless the Mayor
sends I'm his veto 10 the Board Of Alder
mon by Tuesday the action OF that body
will stand.
Summarized. the points made in tho brief
arc as follows:
In attempting 10 strike out the appropria-
ton Tor efficiency studies the Board or Al
dermen exceeded their powers with respect
to the budget as vested I'm them by Section
226 Of the charter.
Tho appropriation is necessary because
the studies which il will make possible ave
INDISPENSABLE to scientific budget making.
The appropriation should be restored TO
the budget because II makes il possible for
the board to establish as a part OF its own
organization a budget making division.
To strike out the appropriation for 81
fcienCy studies Will postpone New York
Citv's taking steps which are essential 10
it's financial welfare and business reputa-
tion.
The appropriation should be allowed be-
cause in no other way may the board es-
tahlish standard costs for various classes
Of public work. and without standard costs
II cannot make just and proper budgetary
allowances.
The appropriation is required, among
other things TO enable the board TO stand
ardZe llar.es.
TO deny the allowance for efficiency stud
ies will bc 10 put stop to the school m
Quirv. admittedly needed ana promising
farreachug results.
To strike out the appropriation VIII mean
the cessation Of the budget punnCitY pro-
gramme notably successful in the last two
Granting the appropriation will not mean
that competent city employees are not TO
be used.
The brief goes on 10 say that budget
making IS science and should be dealt
with scientifically 1T is the responsibility
of the Board Of Estimate and Apporton
ment" II says. land IT is a responsibility
which the board should be allowed to dis
charge IT cannot discharge it without ade
quate means OF obtaining information"
Reference is made TO the fact that Presi-
dent Taft has organized a commission on
economy and efficiency TO apply efficiency
methods 10 the business OF the federal gov
eminent New York. however, has only
made a beginning in that direction and
should be permitted to go further.
II is pointed out that the Standardization
of salaries alone would result in a saving
many times the amount Of the appropria-
ton desired.
Each days delay the brief says, 'in
the work OF standardizlng costs the city
in the end infinitely more than the amount
Of the appropriation requested to begin the
work Of Standardization. 1t is signif-
cant fact that the daily disbursement for
salaries and wages by the city of New
York is in round figures $4,000, approx
imating the total amount requested for the
work Of Standardization"
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