Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-27

y
mise methods to avoid firing" many
political placeholders, an increase in the
I working hours of privileged employees
and an increase in the tax rate and, at
the same time, provide sorae extra pay
near the years end for policemen and
hremen. The method is a "fifty-ffty''
process involving delay.
Two ways have been pointed out by
which money could be obtained this year
to increase the pay of policemen and
nreTnen to equal salaries in other great
centers of population They include the
doing away with useless places and the
putting of the city on a business basis
Of a seven-hour working day. Both are
extremely unpopular with political
] powers. .r-
Another plan which may ultimately
have to be resorted to-is an increase in
the tax rate. This plan is fraught with
danger by reason of the heavy burden
already carried by property owners and
incidentally. renters. The last increase
Of fifty cents was bitterly opposed on
the ground Of lack of necessity and an
other organization fight with capital
tied up in realty will be avoided, if pos
sible, because of political possibilities
that may arise from ithe too frequent
hounding Of land owners.
Rely on Unexpected Revenues"
The compromise method is to postpone
nearly II not all increases until about
the end of the year and to then utilize
unexpected revenues" and any money
that may merge from departments.
These merging funds are hoped to be
larger than usual through an economy
and retrenchment plan" that may ulti-
mately involve some dismissals Of men
]. who can best be spared by their re-
spective ward leaders.
The hopes of members of the finance
committee of Councils for unexpected
/ revenues are bound up in part in pre-
/ miums paid for a recent bond sale and
that may be paid on a bond sale to
be authorized later to raise funds for the
completion of the Frankford elevated
l railway, etc. Still other unexpected
funds are hoped for from settlements
not included. by the Controller. in his
1918 budget.
One fact that may go far toward up
setting these rosy calculations is that
/ the Department of Supplies will need, in
the fall. about half a million dollars for
supplies to the end of the year. What
the city's total coal bill for 1918 will be
II problem for the future that may
Also upset present calculations.
Postponing the evil day is a favorite
course of procedure with councimanic
flAnciers. II was the course pursued
this spring when new jobs and salary
increase demands of 1900 employees to-
taling more than 100000 were held up.
These will now be piled on the demands
L Of policemen and firemen, which will
cost as much or more.
lat In
fember all the accumulated demands will
be placed before the members in addi-
ton to claims of lawyers for profess
1 nional services to the city for $4,000.
They will also find the budget demands
of departments for 1919 awaiting their
/ attention. II 1919 budget demands are
considered before the salary increases
I tor policemen, firemen and others these
/ can hardly be disposed of before Novem-
Der.
In the unlooked-for event of prompt
action, It is not likely that long-suffering
/ policemen or fremen will find any in
crease in their pay envelopes much be-
fore the first of the year.
Salary demands other than those of
the two bureaus upon which the city is
dependent for protection from crime and
I IRE cover a wide field and include large
increases for men now being paid $4,000
ito $4,000 salaries. They also include
demands for many so-called little fell
|loWs." In the latter are demands from
men who give the city but Ave and at
lnost six hours a day Of their time.
IN Million or More Needed
10 pass on these measures will require
time and, IL granted, 81, ,000,0 900 or more
II money. Councilmen believe cuts can
~ made, but TO what extent they will
Ehe Agroed upon remains to be seen. Many
0oeking increases might, IL thorough.
business-like investigation were made. be
z u1aced In the useless class" and dropped
knfirely and the money thus saved ap-
{ MED to cover other increases.
:. Mayor Smith has authorized the Civil
\ Twice Commission to make an investi-
don during the summer as to what
nr18ioris can be dropped and as to what
16Ioyes should be granted increases
Thing SO far has been said about the
nber Of working hours. Some reduc-
: &16o In the force Ia bound to result. II
{ ~ the period of the war.
I: How far the political powers that con-
51sss Councils will permit inroads to be
SAa In places remains to be seen. A
r 15ir example of an economy move can be
sEo1 from one inaugurated by Mayor
1r1f1h many months ago. At that time
- nareed TO the dropping of about 125
~ foIlows" from the payrolls of the
rtnent Of Public Works. This econ
nrnnram Was adopted with a great
- frampsts. only to flzxle out badly
- nnd. BY this tims many Of the
- tho very Positions from
49, I.s<<~