The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-20
P~RENDERGAST NOW
ALONE FOR PAY CUTS
Pity for Some on City Roll
Takes Mayor From Comp
trOllcr's Side.
PRIMERS SPARE a FEW

Comptroller rrcndergast IL the Casa
blanca Of standa rdization. He stood
alone In yesterdays meeting OF the
Board Of Estimates main budget COM
mittee IN uncoupromisirg insistcnce
upon the salary cutting programme
recommended by the Bureau of Stand
arde and the budget subcommittee.
Mayor Mitchell. who OF the previous
day was paired with tn. Comptroller
In a minority Of two gains the other
members Of the main committee-Mesers.
McAneny. Pounds and Mathcwson--dc-
oided yesterday that half a cut was bet
ter than zone and voted for "A series OF
compromises. which saves the city
something. hut not as much as was con-
templated. Hut In every instance save
one on which there was 81 difference OF
opinion Mr.. Prendergast was heard say
ing
The Comptroller votes No."
The only exception that he made vas
In favor of John T.. konney. an exam
liner under COMMISSIONS of Accounts
NdIIsttln. MI. NcDntN, formerly a
newspaper man. served ten years In the
Finance department, and has held his
present job five years. He gets $500
. year. The Subcommittee voted that
his position was worth only S2.S20. MIR.
Wallstein insisted in yesterdays meet
Ing that Mr.. kcnney was worth at least
33.060. In deciding upon this salary the
committee for once was unanimous, the
Comptroller voting YES with the
others.
Wslistcin Pleads for Ills Men.
COMMISSIONS wallstein believes in
Standardization. hut appealed to the
committee in behalf OF about a dozen
subordinates who were slated for de-
Crcascs. one OF them was "A. r.. Shields.
an examiner at S2,1Oo. for whom the
sub-corhmittce had advised II cut to
$1,000.
This man. said Mr.. Walisteiu. "has
served the city eighteen years. | admit
that the value OF his work is properly
appraised at $1,000, but if you con-
sidcr the fact that Il cut of 5000 means
upscttinr his standard of living II is
unjust. ] recommend that his salary be
made si.S0o.'
what YOU say" remarked the Mayor.
presents the issue squarely. Are we
to proceed on a purely economic basis
OF what these jobs are worth. or are
We also to consider the value of years
Of service"
But these men have been getting
Tor years more than they really earned"
spoke M In" Comptroller.
"rherc's another point of view to be
considered" replied MIR. Wallstein.
well" conceded the Comptroller. "tn
cases like that of Mr.. Shields I'm will
Ing To do what | am doing in my own
department not making such radical
reductions and trying to give the men
more work to do
Calls ~ Cutting Out Heart.
"a cut Of saoo-that's cutting a mans
heart ont, not his salary alone" said
MIR. Wallsteln.
The Mayor said "you are departing
from the principle of Standardization.
Our proposition has been not to pay
o man more than he's really WORTH
Yes" added MIR. Pounds. some Of
us b,!icvc that length and quality OF
service should he included"
well" said th. Mayor. Tets not
deceive ourselves into thinking that II
We allow this man NOR, thar s1.2O0 we
ore doing the thing IN an economic basis. |
It's a concession 10 past mistakes OF 4
the city government. I'm willing to carry
that sort of responsibility. I'm willing
- '"H '''' 'A'A' A''T Wv " "a shNs Q
Wallstein is appealing for is gradual
instead Of complet" Standardization. I
think that could be lone Ia some cases"
The Comptroller protested that the
had already voted against
"gradual sta naturalization" which means
making the financial drop easier by let
ting "A man drop a little each year
He said that there was no gradual
naturalization In private business.
There employees We're in the habit Of
getting blue dismissal envelopes on Sat
urday night.
Bettrr Example.
'The city ought to set a better ex-
ample said Mr.. McAncny.
Mayor Mitchell ended the debate by
saying: I'm willing to violate my
conscience TO the extent OF $3.50. Let
that be Mr.. ShieldS's salary" 1t was
so agreed. Mr., prendergast voting NO.
There was also the case of II. NJ. Cara
cher. an accountant supporting nine
children ON s2,lO0 a year. The sub
committee had recommended reduction
TO $500.
I'm for keeping the salary at s2.l0O.'
said Mr.. Pounds. mot because OF the
nine children but because this man is
worth IT."
"Im for 1t too" said the Mayor. but
not for the same reason"
The Comptroller laughed THE har-
mony OF reasons actuacirg this commit
tee Is delightful II not edifying," said he.
Mr.. Caragher stayed at s2,1OO, the
Comptroller casting the usual negative
vote.
Sc~hncidcr's Son Gets Less.
BY personal appeal and argument
County Clerk Schneider got better terms
for several of his employees thar the
subcommittee had recommended. His son,
Supervising Clerk W. +. Schneider, Jr.,
was cut from $1,000 to s2,5sO.
"This is a delicate matter and I'm not
saving anything" the County Clerk said.
Edward J. Stapleton, law clerk in the
county offices for thirty-six years. was
slated for reduction from $500 TO
s2.s20 a year. The budget committee
ruled that he should stay at s3,50O.
Daniel j. Reglcy, equity clerk, was cut
from $4,000 to 81. $50, instead OF 81, $40,
the sub-commi,tee's figure. Joseph Il.
Moss. II clerk ~twenty-nine years in the
service, was reduced from s2,l00 to
$3.50, instead OF $1,000, the figures
recommended. Ten clerks. each OF
whom has served At least fifteen years,
were cut from $500 10 $1,000.
The compromise habit also struck the
budget subcommittee yesterday. II
post poned action on the bureau OF stand
ards recommendation that Nelson W.
Henry, water register in the Department
Of Water supply, be cut from $4,000 to