New-York tribune., 1918-06-25
Estimate Board Unable to
Find Way to Provide
Additional Money
Bonds Not Available
Suggestion That Mayor Abolish
"Useless" Positions Is Called
"Ridiculous''

The Committee on Finance and Bud
get of the Board of Estimate again
took up the question of raising the
salaries of the policemen and firemen,
at its meeting in the Controllers office
yesterday, without finding way to
raise the necessary money. The COM
mlttee includes the Board Of Estimate.
and all the members are in favor of
meeting the 10 per cent raise asked by
the firemen and policemen for july i,
If only the means can be found for
obtaining the required funds.
AS last resort the committee con-
sidered the salaries accrung in the
two departments, which accumulate
when members of the departments
leave for war service or vacate their
positions for other reasons. 1t was
thought at first that the accumulations
might amount to enough to cover the
increase for the next six months, after
which time it might be provided for
in the 1919 budget. 1t was found.
however, that there were only $4,000
of such accrual in the Fire Depart
ment and $780, 900 in the Police Depart
ment, a sum entirely inadequate to
meet the demand.
The issue of special revenue bonds
for such purposes is limited by law t.
$2,O00,000, but this fund is not avail
able, as $1,100000 of bonds have al
mainder are needed for other purposes
| for the balance of the year.
Could Not Issue Special Bonds
The Controller ha the power TO is
| sue special revenue bonds, beyond the
I $2,00O,o00, for "any claims and ex-
penses against the city not otherwise
provided for" This, however, would
not apply to raise in salaries.
The report yesterday that Mayor
Hylan might start another drive in the
city departments to abolish many posi-
tions, which he might consider "use-
less," in order to raise the required
money, was branded as ridiculous" by
members of the Board of Estimate.
The Mayor would not discuss the sub
ject.
Early in his administration Mayor
Hylan started a crusade against
"shirkers" in the city departments by
writing a letter to the hea Is of depart
ments insisting that all "useless" en-
ployes should be weeded out. The
| crusade was called off, however, when
the Mayor was understood to have re-
ceived a tip from Tammany Hall that
he was alternating the support of the
city employees. A renewal of the Mayor S
policy in this direction would not only
cause him trouble with the Tammany
organization. but could hardly accom-
rlish the desired results, as most of the
positions which would be affected are
under the civil service, and the incum-
bents not removable except on charges
1t was pointed out that the only
"useless" positions which the Mayor
could hope to abolish, are those to
which the appointments were made by
/ himself or the commissioners in the
departments under the jurisdiction OF
the Mayor.
Problem for the Mayor
If the Mayor contemplated any
wholesale slashing of city jobs. the
question arose as to which of his ap-
pointments he would consider useless.
it was not thought likely that he would
touch his friends and relatives, many
of whom held city positions.
Some IF the politicians wondered ii
he had in mind to abolish the job of
Irving O'Hara, the Mayors brother-ih-
law, who is his special bodyguard and
political messenger, or the places OF
Miss Alma f. O'Hara, executive clerk
of the Police Department, another rela-
tive. and Of Francis P Bent, director
Of the Bureau Of Contract Supervision
the Mayors close friend and former
alderman from his home district in
Brooklyn. The Mayor at enc time ad-
vocated the abolition of the latter
bureau. Prior to the Mayors appoint
ment Of L. j. O'Rielly, w. R. Hearst'ss
political secretary, to the Board of
Water Supply at q salary of $4,000 a
year, he appeared in Albany and ad-
vocated the abolition of this board as
"useless." Mr.. Bent receives $4,000 q