New-York tribune., 1918-06-22
City Lacks Cash
To Raise Police
And Firernen's Pay
Board of Estimate at Hear
ing Indicates Willingness
if Way Is Shown

The Board of Estimate yesterday.
while apparently realizing the argency
Of Increasing the pay Of policemen
and firemen, deferred the matter by
referring it to the boards committee
on finance and budget. The question
OF wnere to raise the money 20 meet
the Increases blocked any action yes
terday. Mayor Hylan declared that
ne dldn't know where the money would
come from. He said the men in the
departments and the people ought to
consider that question.
Ahe question came before the board
at yesterdays meeting on the request
OF the Patrolmens Benevolent Associa-
ton, and also from the Uniformed
flremen's Association. for the board to
recommend to the Board of Aldermen
lo per cent increase in the salaries
OF all patrolmen and fremen, begin
ning July /. Fire Commissioner
uhomas j. brennan and Chief John
henlon argued the case for the fire
men, men, and Joseph J. O'Reilly, editor of
he Chief" spoke for the men of both
departments. WV"
The Mayor and other members of tho
board declared that they were IN favor
OIL increasing the salaries of city en-
pioyes receiving less than 81 300 a
year, but that the city officials would
nave to take time to find out where the
poney could be obtained 1t was esti
mated that 10 per cent increase in
the two departments would amount to
ABOUT 100000 year. The usual
method OF raising the money would he
TO issue special revenue bonds. II WAS
pointed out that the Board of Alder
men is restricted to the issue of So
0ou,O00 OF such bonds in any one wear.
Hail of that amount has already been
issued Tor other purposes, and another
100000 is said to be needed for the
Dock Department and Bellevue and
allied hospitals.
Salary AccruaIs Suggested
1t was suggested that salary accruals
in the two departments, estimated at
hundreds of thousands of dollars dur
ing the next year, be used to meet ad-
vanced pay schedules. Fire Commits
sloner brennan said that the depart
inent would probably save $500, 900 dur.
ing the year from the accrual of sala.
Iles OF men in the military service.
Some of these accruals had been used.
and more would be used, he said, to paw
the extra cost of material and sup
pines. Police Commissioner Enright
has said that the saving in his depart
ment in next years budget would
amount to $1.000,00O
The question of using these ac-
cruals seemed to interest the board,
and the finance committee, OF which
Controller Craig is chairman, will in
vestigate their availability.
MI. O'Rellly in oDeniny tho diacus
sion said that business men and tax
payers generally were greatly inter
ested IN the question of better nav
for the policemen and the firemen. He
declared that they were not getting
llvabie" wage at the present time.
Commissioner brennan and Chief
kenlon argued vigorously for the fire
men. The Commissioner said the de-
pieted force now on duty is badly over
worked: They formerly received one
day off in five, but now they some
times manage to get day off in ten.
He said they often had time for only
two meals day, sometimes only one.
Have to Borrow Money
The Commissioner said he was "sur-
prised and shocked" to learn from q
committee of firemen that $500 out
OF the 5000 firemen in the department
were compelled to borrow money fron,
the MOTIFS Ran, or other sources in
order to live decently. He declared
the question was not one of dollars
but OF the safety of the whole CITY in
war time. All of the young men were
resigning, he said. to take positions
that paid better. or 70 go into war
service, and men could not be found
to fill their places at the present
wages.
There are 700 men less in the
Police Department to-day than wear
ago. Commissioner Enright estimates
that the number will be increased to
1000 by the end of the year, and to
5000 when the draft quotas are COM
pleted. The pay of policeman and
fireman upon entering the depart
ments is $1,000 year, and this is
gradually increased until they receive
$1,000. With his personal expense for
uniform and equipment, the police
mans salary for the first three years
averages about S2.92 day. When he
reaches the highest grade of patrol
man he receives 81 day. According
to Commissioner Enright the average
working time for policeman to-day is
fifteen hours q day