The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-19

In view Of the fact that the tax rate
next year viii. be much higher than for
a good many years-the rate Will pc
about 2.05, II is expected-the Ad-
visory Council of Real Estate Interests
is doing it's utmost TO get property own
ers to attend hearings before the Budget
Committee OF the Board of Estimate to
scan every item In estimates for the
next year OF departments under the
Jurisdiction Of the Mayor. The prepara-
ton Of the 1915 budget IL now In prog
ress and estimates have been submitted
by all but two or three OF tho larger
city departments. Some of tho depart
mental estimates Indicate that tho re-
quests Tor appropriations Will be
smaller than IN 1915 but many OF the
larger Il plrtments, like the Police,
Park, Health and Board OF Education.
have requested increases.
In vie " of the fact that II In almost
impossible to analyze the budget In de-
tail because OF the vast array OF figures
and mass OF statistics, taxpayers are
urged to at this time direct their efforts
more toward u consideration Of the
general principles OF economy than en-
deavor to recommend economies which
may. for the most part. be impossible
to effect because OF mandatory legisla-
ton. OF the s199, 100000 in the
1915 budget approximately $4,000, 900
represented obligatory appropriations
for debt service and deficiencies In the
CO lection OF taxes. OF the remaining
9l33.0 900. 900. 26 per cent. was manda-
tory legislation, IS per cent. was partly
mandatory. leaving So per cent. I'm part
discretionary with the city budget
makers.
During the past Ave years the de-
partments under the Mayor ave in
creased their expenses on an average OF
about IL per cent, while those depart
ments over which the Mayor has but
partial control have increased 80 per
cent. When II Is further understood
that the Board of Education. the county
governments n many OF the city
salary expenses are mandatory to a
certain degree, although included within
the So per cent. OF the budget now
being examined by the committee. II Is
evident that the degree of saving which
can be accomplished by the city admin
istration Is limited to a great extent.
One very vital principle now being
enforced which will shortly come before
the Board OF Estimate for approval is
the Standardization of salaries n
grades among city employees. There
are approximately 100000 employees
paid by the city. T~wenty-one thousand
come under the head of the Board Of
u dNiOIl' iisVOV ullutI TIC IOlltc Dt-
partment. 5000 under the Fire Depart
mcnt and 35, 900 laborers. The tenta-
tive specifications with regard to the
classifications of salaries relate at this
time to those In professional and clerical
service. OF which there are approx
mately 5000. II nay be quite pos
sible that classification OF salaries and
grades may be accomplished in the Po-
lice, Fire and labor departments in the
estimates OF these departments for 1916
but wins TO the fact that the Board
Of Education Ia Il separate corporation
under the Jurisdiction OF the State, the
classification Of employees can only be
put into effect there after the home
rule amendment to the Constitution is
approved next November.
II has been estimated that II the
classification of salaries and grades
alone were to be put into operation i'm
all departments the saving TO the city
would he close to sl3, 900 900. !. tn.
Board Of Estimate should approve of the
tentative specifications now being APP
piled by the budget Subcommittee to
the professional and clerical services of
the city il has been estimated the saw
ing in salaries would be about 81. 900, 900
and the saving from positions abolished
would b. approximately SO. 900, 900.
Real estate interests have been repre-
scented at these hearings by members of