The sun., 1916-12-13
CITY SALARY CUTS
VETOED BY MAYOR
Aldermen Charged With At
tempting to Manufacture
Political Capital.
ONLY THRILLING ECONOMY
Mitchell Lays Budget Reduc-
lions to Blunder Of Demo-
cratic Majority.

Mayor Mitchell. As was expected.
vetoed yesterday the action Of the Board
Of Aldermen In cutting u20,%20 from
the 1911 budget Of S2i1.1ib.o1s. and in
doing so accused the Democratic ma
jority In the board Of attempting to
make political capital by making the
cuts.
Practically all the cuts made by the
Aldermen were In salary increases and
new positions. And the Mayor pointed
out that the Democrats had dlsallowed
increases in the salaries Of certain Of
fcials who.- he said. had incurred the
enmity OF little politicians" The
Mayor further said this action made
perfectly clear the purpose Of the Demo-
Gratis to mako a political issue Of the
cuts In the forthcoming municipal cleo
ton.
The Mayor. by his veto. restores the
appropriation Of $4,000 a year for ex-
ecutive manager Of the Board OF Edu-
cation. for which place Leo Arnstein Is
slated the increase Of $4,000 a year
In the salary Of Frank Bowling. Presi-
Ter OF the Board Of Aldermen. and all
| other cuts In the salaries OF minor en-
ployees.
Political Move Charged.
In his attack on the board the Mayor
said:
at is quite possible hi a body OF
men such as the Board Of Aldermen. in
considering the budget for the city.
might properly come to the conclusion
that items included by the Board of
Estimate could be reduced without in
jury to The city's business. or indeed
TO its positive welfare. Because. how
ever. OF the discriminating nature OF the
action Of the Board Of Aldermen In
making these reductions. because of
the undeniable merit or positive neces-
sity Of the amounts and Items lifted
from the budget. because OF the method
OF the boards action and all OF the
surrounding circumstances ! am driven
irresistibly to the conclusion that the
action OF the Board OF Aldermen this
year was not the product Of a convic-
ton that It would serve the welfare Of
the city or the efficient conduct Of Its
business. but "A laundering attempt OF q
partisan majority to make political capt.
tai out Of the appearance of economy.
where economy has not In fact been
practised. and In tota! disregard Of
the merits OF the subject.
at Is my duty to resist this kind Of
interference with the due and .orderly
conduct Of the city's business and to
point out that to permit II would be to
invite a return to conditions which the
people Of this city are striving to Danish
permanently from their municipal life"
Wouldn't Aid Taxpayers.
HAA G,- ala -.
all the reductions made by the Aldermen
not only wou he detrimental to the con
duct of the city's business during the
coming year but would work n continu-
ing and permanent injury. He called at
tention TO the fact that the amount the
Aldermen sought to cut out OF the budget
was but one-twentieth OF I per cent. OF
the total budget and onc-tenth OF I psr
cent. Of the total city pay roll OF $685.
sb3.0So.4l for 1917.
you have not therefore," he con.
tinued. achieved n substantial econ
omy. You do not assist the tn payer in
any material way. You only NEEDLE
with and upset the carefully considered
plans OF those departments OF the city
government which are charged with re.
~ onsibility for carrying on the city's
wrok. a responsibility which you do no,
share. Nor should you find II com-
patible with our dignity to attempt to
gain credit for false economy at the ex.
pense of hard working and efficient EN-.
ployees OF the city government whose &C.
tivities in one way or another may cxc,t,
the personal animosity OF members oil
your bic body"
The Mayor took up each salary cut In
detail. and gave II as his opinion tina,
every man slated for an increase anc
every new position created IL meritet
and necessary. He said tho cut Of IS, O0l
in the $4,000 appropriation for Prof
William Writ of Indiana. who In install
ing the Gary system in the public school,
OF the city. showed ''provincialism'' or
the part Of the Aldermen. Prof. Writ, h,
said. is the best fitted man to do tn,
work and the city sought him out ant
asked him to do It.
The school Probe m.
The objection OF the Aldermen to M
executive manager of the Board of Edu
cation Is another indication. he said. tina
the Aldermen were not guided by judg
ment or sense in their action.
w will not obtain the best results II
our schools until honest and straight
forward thinking regarding the schoo
problem II substituted for maudlir
generalities that serve no purpose excep
10 confuse the ISSUE" said the Mayor.
Regarding the public employment bu
rsau maintained by the city. the stan o
which was reduced by the Aldermen L
three clerks and n stenographer. tn,
Mayor admitted that the contention O
the Aldermen that the State should pro.
vide an adequate bureau was right, bu
pointed out that the State has not don,
this. and until 1t does 1t Is the duty o
tn city to go on with the work. which
has In the past proved necessary.
The Board Of Aldermen will act on tn,
Mayors veto next week. 1t will requir,
a three-fourths vote OF the board to over
ride the veto. and there Is little II an,
possibility that this will occur.