New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-22
RAISE SALARIES,
MAYOR ORDERS
Work Of Pay-Slashing by
Budget Committee
Gets Setback.
INCREASES URGED
WHEN DESERVED
Revision Should Be Upward, as
Well as Downward, Mitchell
Tells Department Heads.

The work Of pruning salaries in city
departments by the BOARD OF hsti-
mates committee on .the budget en-
countered an unexpected setback yes
teraav. Il was discovered that with
the exception OF three departments
there he'd been mistaken idea about
Standardization" among The depart
ment heads iu falling 20 recommend IN
crease, where he grade demanded IT,.
All the recommendations so far have
been for decreases. with the exception
Of the Finance, Law and Health de-
partments. The recommendations In
those departments were both ways.
Mayor Mitchell summoned the heads
OF departments TO the Office OF CITY
Chamberlain Bruere, after the meet
ing Of the budget committee, ana IN
structed them 10 revise their budgets.
He asked them 10 get IN touch WIN me
Bureau of Standards and the bureau
OF Contract Supervision, and wherever
positions were underpaid, according TO
the Standardization, to raise salaries
to the grade in which they belonged.
II was admitted that The sub-com-
mittee on the budget had been instruct
ed bv the main committee not 10 rec
ommend any increases unless requested
by the department heads. II was eX-
piaincd that some department heads
had failed 10 recommend increases be
cause they were unfamiliar with the
standards. The public hearings on the
budget which we're scheduled 70 be
given by the full Board Of Estimate
on Monday and Tuesday were put over
a day. The Mayor declared that the
revision Of the department budgets
would mean that the committee would
have TO work all day Sunday.
We Want to be Fair, Mayor Says.
"Any idea that Standardization means
merely decreasing salaries is wrong
said the Mayor. at means going up as
well as down-an equalization. Where
il is found that employees are being
raid less than the salaries called for
in the grade their position IS rated
they may receive increases to the min
inum Of the grade above, and where
the incumbent is receiving more than
the appraisal of his position calls for,
they may lie reduced to the maximum OF
the Grade below. In three departments
this has been done. In two or three
ether. departments it has been partly
done. We intend to bo fair to the en-
ployes as well as to the city"
The Mayor explained that the re-
visions OF the budgets did not neces-
sarily mean that all underpaid en-
rloyes would get raise. In many in
stances, re said. department heads
might not consider that the value OF
services warranted raise In salary,
and their recommendations would have
weight with the committee.
City Chamberlain Bruere called atten-
ton to the situation when he appeared
before the main budget committee and
declared that the Health. Law and FL
nance departments were the only ones
that appetred to have the right idea
about star dardization.
"In these Departmental he said, "re-
auctions have been made to grade and
increases have also been made TO grade.
In other departments the subcommittee
has made the recommendations down
ward. none upward The Board Of Es-
innate should eoualize things