The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-19
TO SAVE
OWNERS MONEY
BY BUDGET CUTS
Several Departments Have Requested
Lower Allowances-.Ability
to Save Limited

the Advisory Council. which acceptea
the Invitation OF the Board Of Estimate
to sit with its Subcommittee In the
preparation OF the budget. Taxpayers
are In no way committed to the accept
ance of the budget AS recommended by
the subcommittee and. with the Ad-
visory Council. will have the privilege OF
appearing before the board OF Estimate
to protest any items that have been
included in the budget. The entire re-
sponsibility for the making of the
budget Is imposed on the Board Of Esti-
mate, SO that II liz essentially important
.that taxpayers be prepared to attend the
public hearings to be given at City
Hall.
In connection with the Standardization
of salaries the Bureau of Standards has
prepared several reports showing condi-
tons that must be considered. The first
is on the cost OF living for an unskillei
laborer's family In New York city, in
which this bureau maintains that the
minimum wage for an unskilled
tween $720 and $40 to be consistent
with American ideas. This would apply
principally 20 salaries in the Street
Cleaning Department.
Many reductions OF salaries have been
recommended in the reports on profess
siona service and clerical service. while
many positions will remain untitled or be
abolished IL the reports should he
adopted. The classlfcations cover prac-
tically all employees except depart
mental heads. The basis for the rates
OF compensation which the Bureau Of
Standards recommends for the various
positions are based upon five factors.
which are: First. the market value of
the particular kind OF work performed
second, the conditions peculiar to certain
e~mployments In the city service third.
the experience OF the Municipal CIvil
Service Commission in examining and
certifying for positions In the city ser
vice ri the existing rates OF compensl-
ton fourth. the assumption that New
York city wishes, as far as II Is finan-
cially able, to be a model employer {:
ffth, the theory that n range of salaries
rather than a fxed rate should be estab-
l!shed for the majority of positions in
the city service. These specifications are
being carefully analysed by the eNecu-
tive committee OF the advisory council In
conference with the director OF the
Bureau OF Standards.
In view of the fact that nc taxpayers
association can intellisently or wisely
analyze the budget. because Of its com
pleNity, the Advisory Counc believes
that II will he expedient that the Bureau
Of Standards, the Bureau OF Contract
Supervision and the Office OF the Com
missioner OF Accounts be combined into
a central bureau OF organization n
control. Possibly under such a plan the
office OF Chamberlain could be merged
with that OF the Comptroller and the
City Chamberlain could be designated
TO act as the head OF such a central
bureau. The duties OF such a central
bureau would be TO ~reorganize the city
administration along the lines OF efh-
cheney. abolish unnecessary committees
and Departments n continue an active
Investigation. for the benefit OF the tax
payers, OF the entire city budget, as Is
now being lone by the Commissioners OF
Accounts, the Bureau OF Contract Super
vision and the Bureau OF Standards as
separate organizations.