Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-07
BUDGETS OF CITY
DIVISIONS TAKEN
UP FOR PRUNING
$23,1l1074.20 Asked for
Organization FL
nance Committee Lays
Down Iron-clad Rule
Against New Items.

Dissection OF the budgets OF the esti-
mated expenses of the city departments
for 1915 was begun today by the Finance
Committee of Councils in open session
at City Hall.
Mayor Blankenburg and the Directors
Of tho departments with the bureau
chiefs were invited to attend the ses-
cluded in the estimated cost sheets.
The Organization Councilmen. compos-
ing the Finance Committee, usually re-
gard the sessions at which the budgets
of the administration departments are
considered as an annual heckling frolic.
The Directors who have opposed Coun-
ellis and the bureau chiefs who have
come into disfavor with the organiza-
tion's representatives are customarily
subjected TO system OF questioning that
usually Is protracted and of doubtful
value from a standpoint of elcltlng real
information on the financial needs of the
city branches.
The total amount asked by the city
department heads for 1915 is $23 III, ,074 TO-
The amount appropriated this year for
PAY FOR MANY NEW employees.
The increase for next year includes pay
for many new employees deemed needed
as additional police, firemen and employees
in departments which are expanding to
meet increased demands OF the growing
city. Salary Increases are included with
other new expenses.
The Division of Housing and Sanitation,
made mandatory by an act of Legisla-
ture that Councils have disregarded, Is
included in the budget estimate of Dl-
rector Harte, of the Department of Health
and Charities.
mlttee, delivered his annual address on
economy, by way OF opening the delibera-
tions OF the committee, when the county
offices budgets were taken up last week
lie then said that no salary increases
would be allowed in 1915, that no new |
places would be created and that no ad-
Justment Of existing places would be
allowed excepting where absolutely |
deemed imperative.
BLOW AT BETTER HOUSING.
Those statements are regarded as iron
clad so far as the city departments ara
concerned. The epltaph OF the Housing |
and Sanitation Division that would bet
ter the living conditions in crowded
sections Is also included In
the declaration OF Connolly.
In the face OF Connellys economic as
sertions. however. the Municipal Court
has created new places at unusually
high salaries. The word further has
been passed among county ofices that
The budgets are to be kept down for ap-
pearance purposes and requests for ad- /
1itlonal expenditures are to be submitted /
10 Councils after the first OF the year /
IN less Ostentatious manner
Fourteen Of the county offices' budgets |
have been reported 20 Councils for pas |
sage by the Finance Committee. The |
three budgets still before the subcom- |
nittee on Appropriations, a subdivision OF /
The Finance Committee and the real |
body on making the financial allowances /
are the estimates OF the City Commis- |
sioners, City Treasurer and Park Com |
mission. The other IL bills are on Coun- |
eils calendar for passage at the next /
session. one or perhaps two all-day ses-
sions OF both branches OF Councils prob |
ably will be necessary to consider all |
appropriation bills and submit them to |
the Mayor.
AMOUNTS ASKED FOR.
The amount asked by each city depart
ment for 1915 and the sum appropriated
this year are as follows;