The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
TINY WAR CLOUD IN
ORDERS TO BRUERE
Possibility of Clash With Board
of Estimate in Work
Mayor Lays Out.
PLANS SEARCHING SURVEY
Inquiry Into Standardization
Asked Already Is Province
of Prcndergast.
PLANS SEARCHING SURVEY

The amplifcd office of city Chamber
lain got its first marching orders yester-
day from John purroy Mitchell. The new
Mayor wrote a letter tn Henry Bruere,
giving him work which will last for six
months perhaps longer. The five sets OF
jobs which MIR. Mitchell put upon Mr..
Bruere viii take him into every depart
mcut under the Mayors Jurisdiction. and
perhaps into those presided over by other
city officials.
In that last feature Of the programme
lies the possibility of war, though all
members OF the new administration, cleo
tive and otherwise. are sworn to the most
sympathetic cooperation as Mr.. Mitchell
phrased II In his speech at the City Hall
on New Years Day.
As the case stands now, there IL only
the first appearance of Il delicate situa-
tion. But II IL should serve Mr.. Mitchefs
purposes to ask the City Chamberlain to
40 where other members Of the Board OF
Estimate feel that they are supreme, then
there may be trouble.
The point on which the matter turns at
present is a request from the Mayor that
Mr. Bruere report on the progress OF
standardizing supplies and salaries. and
recommend how it shall be continued.
Standa rdization had been Comptroller
Prendergasts own peculiar function. He
was chairman of the Board Of Estimate
committee on standardizing salaries. Bor-
ough President McAneny (now President
of the Board of Aldermen) and Borough
President Pounds of Brooklyn served with
him
Exhaustive Inquiry Made.
Working under Mr.. Prendergast was a
regularly established bureau in charge OF
George l.. Tirrell. secretary of the FL
nance Department. The investigators for
the bureau went through all the depart
ments to find salary inequalities. and to
gather material which will serve in put
ting men doing similar work in different
departments on a single footing.
The preliminary survey is completed
and the Board of Estimate is ready TO go
ahead. This work is the peculiar business
of the Board Of Estimate Under the
charter the Board of Aldermen techni-
cally has the power to fix salaries. but
II can only act upon advice from the
Board of Estimate which in turn Is sup
posed to listen to the recommendations
OF the heads Of departments But In
effect the Boa rd of Estimate is the active
force which controls salaries, and any
attempt upon the part of the Mayor or
any other city official to dictate its ac-
ton would be construed as an encroach-
ment on its powers.
Far from giving up any of its present
powers the Board OF Estimate In this
administration will extend them Mr..
Prendergast and Mr. McAneny will each
have equal voting power with Mr. Mitchell.
Mr.. MitcheI's Instructions.
This is the letter of the Mayor to Mr..
Bruere. the first open letter OF instructions
10 any of MIR. Mitchel's appontees:
For the purpose of carrying out the
plan of departmental reorganization dis
cussed at the time | requested you TO
accept the office of Chamberlain l sug-
gest that you take up the following mat
tiers at your earliest convenience:
81. A survey of the Office of City Cham
berlain and a report to me thereon, with
such recommendations for reorganization
as you find necessary. This report
should like to have at the earliest pos
sible moment. and assume that you will
be able to render 1t within the next two
or three weeks
"2 A review Of the recommends tons
submitted to Mayor Kline at my request
by the heads of the various departments,
pointing out the defects in their present
organization and submitting recommends
tiOns for an increase of efficiency.
''3. report to me outlining Il plan for
surveys OF the various departments OF the
city government as a basis for reorganiza-
ton where necessary and an increase OF
efficiency
~ An extension Of the accounting in
0tallation to the various departments In
cooperation with the Department Of FL
nance in order that 1t may be completed
at the earliest moment. II would appear
to me that 1t should be possible to conf
plete this work by June 80 II II be pushed
Will you be good enough to submit re-
port az soon as possible on the presen,
status of the work?
"5. A report upon the present status OF
the work of salary and supply standard
txation, together with recommendations
for a continuance of that work"
Mayor Sees No Conflict.
After the possibilities OF the letter had
been called to his attention, the Mayor
explained that his purpose was not 10
interfere In any way with the Comp
troller's function in asking for "A report
on the accounting reorganization. On th'
contrary, he said his purpose was 10
facilitate the Comptrollers work, for tn,
COMPTROLLER cannot accomplish "A complete
reorganization Of accounts without tn,
DEPARTMENTS cooperation. All accounting
work. he said, will be done, of course
under the Comptrollers supervision and
be subject TO his direction
Similarly with regard to salary stand
ardizatiCn the Mayor said his purpos,
was 10 facilitate the work of the Board OF
Estimates standardization committee and
10 do nothing In conflict with II.