The sun., 1918-06-22
KENL0N TELLS
BOARDLOW PAY
ISCITY MENACE
Fire Chief Startles Estimate
Body With Figures on
designations.
HYLAN SEES MONEY LACK
"Sun's" Suggestion to Use
Salary Accruals Is Under
Consideration.
HYLAN SEES MONEY LACK

"Tt Is not . question Of saving 800
. man. more or less. 1t Is a question
ef protecting the city Of New York from
what I assure you Is a real peril"
Thus Fire Chief Kenlon, addressing
the Board Of Estimate yesterday in be-
half Of more pay for his depleted force
10 keep experienced men from resigning
and to attract new men into tho depart
nent. revealed to the rather startled
board tho plain truth OF the salary
problem.
Chief Kenlon. Fire Commissioner
brennan and Joseph ]. O'Reilly, editor
of the Chief who spoke for both the fire.
men and patrslmen in support OF their
request for ten per cent. increase,
starting July 1. found the members of
the Estimate Board willing to listen to
argument Alfred f. Smith. President
OF the Board Of Aldermen. was. for one.
so impressed by the Fire Chiefs blunt
recital Of the facts that he said:
The absolute necessity Of meeting
this situation is shown by Chief Kenlons
explanation We can't let the fire fight-
ing force of the city break down. That
would be calamitous.''
All suEgest Using Accruals.
All three speakers. in answer to ques-
tions from Mayor Hylan and others of
the Estimate Board as to where the
money could be found to raise the wages
Of patrolmen and nremen. suggested the
possible source which THE SUN pointed
out yesterday morning.
They said that salary accruals In the
police and hre departments-meanins
savings fromsthe money appropriated for
the pay Of men who have gone to war
or resigned and whose places have not
been illed--ought to be used for this
purpose. Police Commissioner Enrght
has said his accruals ought to be be-
tween 100000 and 100000 by the end
o. this year. Commissioner brennan
said yesterday the total accruals in his
department would be about 100000. Of
which. as Comptroller Craig indicated,
= good deal has been converted to the
purchase Of supplies.
But why purchase supplies with it,"
said Chief Kenlon after the meeting
Why shouldn't the money saved on the
salaries OF men who have gone away be
lsei in this emergency to raise the sal
aries OF the men who have given up half
their days of in order to get the de-
rar,ments work done?
Farther Inquiry Necessary.
The Estimate Board decided that fur
ther investigation was necessary. So
the application for the 10 per cent. in
crease was referred to the committee on
finance and budget. which was directed
~ t,s ,hot 10 In,
both departments amount to now. what
may be expected for the rest OF the
year, and whether this money could be
used as was proposed at yesterdays
meeting. This committee consists OF all
the Board of Estimate members. with
Comptroller Craig as chairman. 1t will
meet in the office of the Comptroller on
Monday. Before that time officers Of
insurance companies will assure the COM
nittee that Chief Kenlon's statement Of
the menace confronting the city was not
exaggerated.
Mr.. O'Reilly began yesterdays hear
lrg by telling the Board Of Estimate
that taxpayers and real estate organiza-
lions had been canvassed and found to
favor the salary increase. He also ex-
pressed his regret that Mr.. Munsey. who
went to the meeting ready to speak in
support OF the petition. had been called
away by an unavoidable business en-
gagement before this part Of the calen-
dar was reached.
mfr, Munsey as you know. has taken
special interest In this matter" Mr..
O'Reilly added.
brennan FavOrs Pay Increase.
Fire Commissioner brennan said:
Il am in favor OF the men getting a
ilvable salary. They do not have that
now and can do better outside the de-
partment'
II WISH" said Mayor Hylan. who pre-
sided. that these advocates OF salary
Increases would consider the question Of
where the money Is coming from"
I'VE can issue only 100000 Of spe-
rial revenue bonds year." remarked
Comptroller Craig. "and Of that $1,000.
900 Is exhausted"
The Mayor continued: I'VE are all
in favor Of giving city employees getting
sl'soo year or less some increase. but
where is the money coming from?
wish the people who advocate Increases
would tell us. particularly the business
men. We can't hold up the tax and rent
payers and take II out Of their pockets.
l wish We could be told where we can
get II honestly 80 that We could give
consideration to the proposal"
Mr.. O'Reilly reminded his Honor of
Police Commissioner Enrlshts estimated
saving Of between St00.000 and 100000
in his appropriation Tor salaries.
Yes" Mayor Hylan said. "the Com
missioner 10 doing good work In that
direction"
Saying that all city employees should
he considered. Borough President Dow
ling added: 1T is up to US to get the