The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-24
MAYOR FAVORS
PAY BOOST FOR
CITY'S FAITHFUL
Would Give Increase to ALI
Employees Getting $1,000
A Year or Less.
CRAIG WILL HELP POLICE
Promises to Ask $3.50 Raise
for PatrOlmen and Firemen
Justice, He Says.

formal statement from Mayor Hy-
ian that he not only favored substantial
salary increases for the police and fire.
men but for all faithful" employees
getting $500 year or less; an an
nouncement from Comptroller Craig
that he would recommend an increase
of $3.50 for the police and flremen, and
assurances of support for budget in
creases for these purposes from Presi-
dent Moran and other members of the
Board Of Aldermen, seemed last night TO
have taken the wind from the sails of
the recently exploited organization OF
municipal employees
Officials of the Patrolmens Benevo-
lent Association and the Uniformed
Firemen's Association were particularly
gratified over the attitude Of Comptroller
Craig. The Comptroller. while admit
ting that he had not made up his mind
with respect to other city dencrtments,
came out fiatfootedly for an increase OF
$3.50 for the police and firemen as "a
matter of simple Justice
The claims of the men of the Street
Cleaning Department, it was promised
also by the Mayor, will receive imme-
diate attention.
Mayor Hylan yesterday morning met
q delegation of city employees repre-
eenting the Civil Service Forum, headed
by Deputy Comptroller Frank ]. Prial
as president of the organization. He
had an hours conference with the dele
cation, which included representatives
also Of the women employees of the city.
during which the Mayor was told that
the Forum was the only organization
that spoke for the mass Of city em-
ployeeA
Mayor Gives His Views.
After the conference the Mayor issued
the following statement:
Il am not only in favor OF increased
salaries for police and nremen but
hope to be able to increase the pay of
every deserving and faithful employee
getting $500 or less per year. New
York's firemen and policemen are to be
commended for their constant willing
ness TO render service without regard to
their own time, convenience or even their
lives.
IT had occasion to visit the big fire
ut Greenpoint few days ago. Hun
dreds of f1remen had gone without sleep
for many hours, lighting the most dan
gerous conflagration the city has ever
known The fact that this fire was SO
quickly checked is one reason why so
few of our people realized what great
DANGER tney were IN was present
when several tanks blew UP and the
ire swept into Newtown Creek, which for
quite distance was o.. fire, which
threatened the whole Williamsburg sec
ton, composed mostly Of frame build
fngR The firemen never fiinched and
had to be frequently ordered back by
their superior officers and to drop the
hose and run for their lives.
"There is another branch of the pub
40 xvbf lob, 10 70 OH
est commentator from our citizens.
refer to the employees of the Street
Cleaning Department Upon them de-
ponds the health of the community to
great extent These men have never
enjoyed the public applause which comes
TO f1remen and policemen for the per-
fcrmance of heroic acts, and they are
just as important as either the hremen
or policemen.
81 am certain that the Board of Esti-
mate and Apportionment will grant lib
eral increases to the policemen firemen
and street cleaners, as well as to all
other deserving employees
simple Justice, Says Craig.
Comptroller Craig in statement
said:
while have not made up my mind
as to the salary establishments for other
CjASStS Vi City clHplOgScS nave NeleI-
mined to urge upon the finance and
bridget committee that 1t recommend to
tho Board OF Estimate and Apportion-
1nent an increase of $3.50 a year in the
compensation of policemen and firemen.
This will make the salary OF the first
grade policemen and firemen $1,000
year. 1 do this as spontaneous and
voluntary act and because I believe SIM
pie Justice requires this increase. !
make this statement at this time in
such a course there may be ample oppor-
order that If there is public objection to
tunity for It TO find expression.
''The policemen and firemen are en<
titled to the highest commentator for
their manly and thorough American
stand against the use OF the strike as
means OF obtaining redress OF griev-
ances. The strike has no place in pub
tic employments of any kind whatever.
and, so far as ! am concerned. l shall
not be influenced in the slightest degree
by any threat or intlmation of the use OF
the strike by municipal employees to
force the granting Of their demands"
Aldermanic President Moran's contri-
button to the cause Of increa sed remune-
ration for city employees was contained
in communication submitting a survey
of wage and living conditions In the
country the last four years. Attached
20 his letter was a resolution providing
that the Board OF Aldermen give care
flu consideration to applications for in
creases and requests the Board OF Esti-
mate to make such increases as a care
1ul study of living costs would Justly
warrant. The resolution provides for the
creation of committee to hold public
hearings on the question.
On adoption of the resolution Presi-
dent Moran named a committee consist
ing OF Aldermen Kenneally, Collins. At
well. Curley, Squiers. Gaynor and Cum
bingham. Hearings will be held begin
ming probably next Wednesday.
Backing by the American Federation
OF Labor for the so-caled Central Coun-
ell OF City Employees, which was or
ganized last Thursday night, was prom
ised In a statement from Bert l..
Schneider, president OF the Union of
Technical Men. The right Of this or
ganization to speak for the city en-
ployees generally was repudiated yes
teTday to THE SUN by Deputy Comptrol-
Ter Prial. speaking as president of the
Civil Service Forum. Schneider's state
nent said in part:
IT wish to emphatically refute the
statement that has been made that the
union or technical men consists of but a
few hundred city employees More than
half OF our membership, which is now in
the neighborhood OF 1000, consists OF
city employees. Some departments arc
organized 100 per cent. and furthermore
This union includes many OF the most
rapable and expert engineers employed