The sun., 1916-01-08

state Comptroller Eugene ~ Travis's
opinion OF the hnancia. efficiency OF
Mayor Mtchel's administration WAS
pretty forcioly expressed In his address
before the Real Estate Association at
the Hotel Mc.>lpin last night by a quo
tsiion from +. T. Barnum:
Many a fellow thought he saved his
money by saving a nickel car fare and
then blew in s. on his girl"
II is doubtful II the Mayor and his
advisers were ever more scornful.y criti-
c.sed than by Comptroller Travis at the
real estate mems annual banquet. The
Mayors economy policies were referred
TO as "a seif-advertsing display" The
whole programme Of saving city money
by salary cutting was ridiculed as silly
pretence. and the Comptroller nred a
special shell AT City Comptroller WILL
lam A. Prendergast
The game department In New York
city, said NJ. Travis. which purposes
TO save si30.0o0 BY slash!ng salaries
spent si,5vO for rugs and hanginss TO
ut up IL private Office"
NJ. Travis called attention to the re-
suits of the .ast e.ection. which proved,
he SAID. ths. the people of the state by
the legislative progra ANNE OF Gov. Whit
man. tnd the people OF the city by their
vote for Aldermen had condemned the
programme OF Mayor Mitchell.
Asks Compkrison of Salaries.
without the desire OF offending" he
said. II must call your attention to the
persisten; unfricndly criticism Of Gov
Whitman. his associates and tho Lesis-
lature einanating from certain quarters
because OF legislation IN 1918. The first
opportunity the peop.e a. whole had "a
give an expression on this subject was
in the election OF Assenblymen last Mo-
! vemner. when there was a larger plu-
ral!ty for the administration than II re-
ce.ved tn. preceding year. The nrst
| opportunity The people of the city had
TO give expression to their approval or
| condemnation OF the city government
| was In the election of the Board OF
! Aldermen last November. Only twenty
members friendly 10 the administration
| were returned to the new board OF sew.
| enty-three
| We are told that economy should b.
/ practised IN the State, but a comparison
of salaries between the city and Stat,
! reflects favorsbly upon the state ad
| m'n.stra,ion and indicates economy OF
I It's pat In a self.adNert!sirg display %
/ economy We are told tha; one depart
ment In New York city after slashns
I salaries was able 10 save $4,000. Thu
I slash'rg was AT the expense of en-
ployees who deserved hettsr treatment
f, /. took the life and ambition out o
/ many hard workers who had earned Al
| advancement ny diligence and years o
service
The Sta;e Comptroller will save sl27.
oeo in his department IN the comir'
year. and this Is the frst puh.ici:.
given to the proposed saving Further
NOR : will t- done without cutting
salary. In fact some salaries hav
teen ra!sed. T. my judgment. base
on nearly eight years OF public life, -
cutting OF salaries IN the aggregate
% little moment Employees are en-
Titled 10 fatr compensation. To squeez
tho lower paid employees viii neSe
produc. the hes. results Begin AZ IN
top and rot al the bottom.
salary Cutting.
Certain people preach about cu,tin
salaries and then We are told that $50
coo. zoo Is 20 be spent for a court hous
IN Manhattan. That il followed by ir
formation that an ssio steaographer /
20 h- cut $40 because the city need
the money We are told that a ma
who has worked for the city fifteen g
twenty years j. 20 have 81; cu, froi
his 81 goo salary
Tn cutting ot s. from ne MONTH
, pay = wagon drive !u the Char.ti.
repa -tTlert counts :or LII. In cor
, parison with the building Of the Mar
: haitian Bridge al COS; OF s2s. 500, 00'
. wHsu tge o-.g!na! estimate was for s.
500 900 Does u not ,opk Ike Grimm,
waste 20 pay large sum 81 money
seven architects for plans for ne
, building and taen patch up the old builC
: NJ w. -,l.ll, ~. mining ~