The sun., 1918-10-17
STANDARD OIL STIRS
BUDGET WRANGLING
Mayor Objects to Comparison
of City Payroll With That
Of Corporation.
SCHOOL BOARD YIELDS
Building Programme and Sal
airy Increases Not Pressed
by President SOmers.
SCHOOL BOARD YIELDS

buugetary appropriations Ior t'c
Board OF Education and the Public Ser
vice Commission were the most impor-
tant considered at the public hearing
Of the Board of Estimate yesterday.
There was heated wrangle between
Dr. Charles Norris, Chief Medical Ex-
aminer. and the Mayor and other MEM
bers of the board when the doctor
undertook to cast aspersions on Will
lam J. Flynn. who was sitting as act
ing President of The Bronx.
Timothy p. Heaiy, national head OF
the Union OF Stationary Engineers, APP
peared to inquire IL the prevailing rate
of wages was to be maintained Tor
members of his union. He exhibited
pay envelopes of the Standard Oil
Company to show that II was paying
more than the city.
I'VE can't compete with the stand
ard oil Company" said the Mayor. 1T
ran the city until this administration
came into Office. As soon as we can
get back some Of the money the old
administration wasted maybe We can
raise salaries"
A little later Mr.. Healy referred again
to the Standard Oil. "Oh. please. talk
about something else!" tho Mayor
snapped.
Mayor stands by Flynn.
Or. Norris was pleading for an as
sistant. saying that two of his examin-
ers were sick and that his force was
overworked because of the prevalence
OF influenza. He could not seem to
understand that by the time the money
from the new budget became available
the epidemic would he over.
The Medical Examiner seemed to
think in some way Acting Borough Pres
ident Flynn had prevented serious con-
s!deration of hts requests for additional
appropriations and intimated that some
times the statements of Mr.. Flynn could
not be relied on"
''We have the highest confidence in
Mr.. Flynn" said the Mayor. land will
not permit that sort OF language here"
Then there was a general exchange OF
pleasantries. and the Mayor finally sug-
gested that DR.. Norris withdraw his re-
marks about Mr.. Flynn. so that they
might be expuhged from the minutes.
IF you wish them withdrawn l will be
glad to comply with your Wishes said
the doctor.
III IL Is necessary for me to make a
request" said the Mayor, tho action
will be OF little value. II your request
did not come from the heart the words
had better stand"
President Somers of the Board of
Education said they had given up the
Idea OF increasing the salaries of asso-
ciate and district supertntendents and
principals and the $500 and 5000 In
creases for teachers had been aban-
doned. but they did think that all teach
ore at inv
should have an increase OF 800 a year.
Drop school Building Programme e.
The building programme. involving an
expenditure of s6.000,0O0. the Board
would not press, President Somers said.
because of the attitude taken by the
War Trade Board ON the supplying OF
materials The Board was also willing
to curtail It's schoolbook estimate in
view Of war necessities.
DR.. S. NJ. Berg. representing the West
End Association. asserted that with "A
good board OF bankers he could furnish
for SS2.000.000 as good education for
the children of the city as the present
Board of Education did for $4,000, 900.
lie opposed increasing the teachers
salaries. declaring that they were get
ting enough and should not be raised
faster than their yearly increment 4
further discussion OF the school budget
will take place in executive session to-
day.
President Hubbell. of the Public Ser
vice Commission, asked that the budget
of that body be withdrawn from con-
! sideration. as 1t Is not under the law
a part of the city budget 1t seems that
the budget committee had severely
slashed the budget and 4 was suggested
by President Hubbell that his board and
the city authorities could get together
before the first OF the year and come to
an agreement. He insisted that the
amount as put In by his Board was es-
sential and had already been reduced by
the Commission by over $500. ONu