New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-14
TEACHERS EQUAL
PAY LAW REPEAL
URGED BY MAYOR
Legislators Told Estimate
Board Should Control
School Appropriations.
TOO MANY COUNTY
EMPLOYEES. HE HOLDS
S2,000,000 Saving Predicted if
City Had Power to Reg
ulate Salaries.

Mayor Mitchell had hardly resumed
the duties Of his Office in the City Hall
yesterday. after a four weeks absence.
due 70 his operation for appendicitis,
when he was summoned as q witness
before the Brown Legislative committee.
which began It's investigation Of the
city's finances iu the Board or Esti-
mate chamber. Senator Eloa K. Brown.
chairman Of the committee. opened the
hearings at . p. m. and called the
Mayor as the first witness.
Controller Prendergast and George
McAneny, president Of the Board OF
Aldermen. appeared with the Mayor
City Chamberlain Bruere and Leonard
VI. Wallstein. Commissioner Of Ac-
counts, also were on hand to assist him
in any way they could. The Mayor de-
clared he understood the Brown COM
mittee had come in a spirit Of con
syructive helpfuiness." and he intended
TO help out the Legislators all he could
The legislative committee is made up
Of nine Republicans and three Demo
Gratis. The Republican Senators are
Chairman Brown. George Cromwell.
former Borough President of Rich
mond; Charles ". Wicks. Of Oneida
County, and Charles c. Lockwood, OF
Kings. Thomas II. Cullen, of Kings, and
Robert f. Wagner, Of New York, are the
Democratic Senator'S Sheriff elect Al
fred L. Smith is the only Democratic
Assemb lyman on the committee The Re
publican members from the Assembly
are Nathan d. Perlman, OF New York,
y. D. Shapiro, Of Kings; ". j. Maier. Of
Seneca; W. ". Law, jr., Of Westches-
ter. and II. L. II. Brereton. of Warren
County
Teachers Pay Law Attacked.
In the course Of his examination yes
terday the Mayor attacked generally
mandatory legislation, which burdened
the city with millions Of dollars Of
appropriations over which the munici-
pal government had no control" and
advocated constitutional provision
which would give the Board Of Esti-
mate the power to fix the number OF
employees and their salaries in all the
county Offices, which are now fixed by
the Legislature. Senator Brown de-
clared that he did not agree with the
Mayor that such a constitutional pro-
vision should be enacted. but that he
did agree with him to the extent that
the Board Of Estimate should have dis
cretionary powers in such matters.
The Mayor advocated the repeal Of
the public school teachers equal pay
law. and vigorously insisted that the
Board Of Estimate should have control
over the appropriations Of the Board
of Education.
at mas been the practice OF the
Board Of Education to come here said
the Mayor. land ask for millions more
than they need, in order 20 have mar
gin TO trade on. Such a situation should
not exist in any city department. The
Board Of Estimate should have the
power to segregate the appropriations
of the Board of Education. and not be
bound by the practice of shifting their
appropriations around in various de-
partments. which is now INDUCED in
by the educational authorities"
The Mayor stated that the city could
save more than S2,000000 a year If IL
regulated the number Of employees and
their salaries in the county Offices A.
one point he said:
County distinctions in the city arc
essentially artificial. see no reason
why the city should not be one county.
II you could do that for US you would
/ be doing a great thing as an economica
1 and administrative proposition. and
would enable US to save a great deal
more than 100000"
Chairman Brown went right after the
mandatory legislation as soon as the
Mayor took the witness chair.
I'VE would like TO know" he asked.
what mandatory laws seem TO you TO
interfere with the best government for
the City of New York? We would like
10 take these laws up measure by meas
ure."
Mayor Mitchell strongly disappfove
OF tho suegestion OF Senator Brow
'lat the various Borough President
might be given the power TO check u
on the sa,ag'es u The respective Sour.
ties The Mayor declared this would
tend TO Splj the city up into severa
cities again. and that the Board D
Estimate had shown itself fully COM
peteut to deal with the appropriations
in all the boroughs The people lookea
to the Board of Estimate for their tax
bills. he said, and the full responsible
ity should be placed upon the board