New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-29

There has been a good deal of mis-
understanding of the purpose of salary
Standardization. Employees in the city
have got the impression that the sole
purpose of salary Standardization is
to reduce salaries. This is not so.
Some salaries may be reduced, but we
are more anxious to assist employees
in preparing themselves for more SER
viceable work, and therefore better
compensation, than we are to reduce
their salaries on the basis of their
present worth. Salary schedules must
be based on the work that must be
done and not on the particular en-
ployes who are now performing THIS
work.
Combined with salary standardized
ton there must be a complete revision
of the classified civil service lists and
promotional system. We want to make
promotion throughout the ranks of
city employment definite and assured
for the efficient and faithful en-
ploye. Salary regulation without
civil service regulation will get us
nowhere. | think that we are clear
on this. In the long run, scientific
plan will mean a great deal to tax
payers and will be an advantage to
city employees. We shall not tolerate
inefficiency, but we must organize and
encourage good service.
Employees Relationships Mr.. Mitche's
Personal Concern.
! propose to give a good deal OF
personal attention to this question, for
| am particularly anxious that we
shall make the City Of New York not
merely an exacting employer, but a
model employer. To this end we
have under way definite plans for es-
tablishing better relationships between
the executive forces of the govern
ment and the working forces of the
government.
A committee of department heads
has been appointed to consider a plan
proposed for establishing employees
conferences on work subjects and on
questions affecting the interests of
employees.
The commission on pensions ap-
pointed by Mayor Gaynor has been
continued under this administration to
work out a sound, just and scientific
pension plan in order that faithful en-
ployes who live out the terms of their
active user ulucSS va on
equitable basis.
All the world over it is now recog-
nized that no great business can be
efficiently conducted if there is hos
tility and conflict between those re-
sponsible for management and the
working forces. This is now so clearly
recognized in the United States that
the President, with the approval of the
Congress, has appointed a Commission
Of Industrial Relations to study the
questions involved in employment
throughout the United States. The
problems of fair dealing and justice
and mutual understanding that are
important in the management of pri-
waite business are as pointed and i'm
portant in public business. We are
going beyond this. Wherever the de-
partmental employees desire il, we are
establishing the semi-monthly pay
ment plan in order to deal effectively
with the salary loan evil, which for
many years has been the cause of very
serious hardship to city employees.
We have established a fair vacation
plan for salaried employees and by the
action of the Board of Aldermen,
which, as Mayor, 1 approved, we are
granting vacations of two weeks to
all per diem workers who are more
than six months in the service of the
city.
We do not propose to go to extremes
in these matters or go beyond the
limit of good business dealing. We
are not forgetting our responsibility
TO the taxpayers. nor do believe we
shall be asked TO forget this respon-
sibility by the city employees.
We are insisting upon a full meas
ure of service throughout all the de-
partments. We expect reciprocity
from the employees and | am very glad
TO say we are obtaining it. Except
during the summer months, we have
established the to 8 o'clock working
day.
The Mayor as General Manager.
Immediately in January undertook
To reorganize the Mayors Office. The
Mayor is the executive head of the de-
nartments under his control. He Is