The sun., 1919-01-31
P.S. G. AND ESTIMATE
BOARD SIGN TRUCE
Commission to Get Money
Originally Asked to
Carry On Work.
MUST MAKE ACCOUNTING
Detailed Information Regard
ing Use of Each Dollar
Will Be Furnished.
MUST MAKE ACCOUNTING

Arrnistice terms have been signed IN
tho great war between the Board OF Es-
innate and tho Public Service Commits
sion over the appropriation TO carry on
The work OF the Commission. The
board IL 20 get the detailed information
n asked IN regard to the exact use TO
which the Commission wished TO put
each dollar and tho Commission IL to
get an appropriation for February and
March at the yearly rate fixed In Its re-
quest.
In the course OF the controversy the
Commission wrote to Gov. Smith, who
appeared personally before tho hoard
70 appeal TO Il to grant tho necessary
money.
The Commission really will get. or
have charged against IT. more than It
originally asked or wanted. According
to the resolution drawn UP last night.
which will be passed by the Board OF
Estimate at It's regular meeting to-day.
unless something goes wrong overnight.
an appropriation will be made for the
Commission for the months OF February
and March at the yearly rate OF s1,577,-
sos for salaries and yearly rate of s173,-
e4< for supplies and rent of branch
Offices. The city owns tho building in
lafayette street, where the main offices
OF the commission are located.
This 10 a yearly total rate OF sl,751,-
Gt2 for the two Items which Is the
amount asked for in the revised request
Of the Public Service Commission made
on January 90. II was said last night
That this would enable the commission
10 reensase the 877 engineers and other
the Board Of Estimate had slashed the
commissions budget
Money Provisions Made.
In addition to the amount to be ap-
propriated for salarieb and supplies and
rent the resolution provides money for
February and March at tho following
Yearly rates: $4,000 for payments
under the Fenner law TO men in the
military and naval service Of the United
states; $4,000 10 pay the expenses Of
the law department in defending the
suits for damages caused BY loss OF
light. air and access during subway con-
struction (Which the Board OF Estlma tie
contsnds must be charged up to subway
construction). and &2l, $3.50 for the jani-
torial service OF the building occupied
by the commission. The latter will be
spent by the Borough President
All OF the money which Is to be spent
on construction work will be raised by
the issuance OF corporate stock. The
remainder will be in the shape OF reve-
nue. bonds.
Controller Craig said last night:
"On January 20 the commission made
new application for an appropriation.
Tho following day the Controller sd-
dressed a letter to the Commission stat.
ing the information that would have to
be Furnished "a basis for the appro-
prlation.
''On January 20 the commission re-
piled that the Information would be fur
nished as speedily as possible. Up to
Tuesday at S o'clock the information
lad not been received. and before pro-
ceeding any further the Committee on
Finance and Budget OF the BOARD Of
Estimate required the attendance Of
commissioner Whitney. He stated that
the information was being prepared and
would be furnished forthwith.
Schedules Are Submitted.
AT 6 40 o'clock this afternoon the
Controller received twenty blue print
schedules which purport 10 contain most
Of the information required and a letter
saying the additional data would be
forthcoming at the earliest possible mo-
rnent"
Tho information requested was IN
regard to the number of employees the
commission wished to employ, and the
eNsct nature OF that work. on (a) con-
tracts finished. but for which the final
certificates had not been issued tb)
contracts not yet finished. tc) contract.
get TO be awarded. Further, each of
these contracts was 70 be divided into
tho particular kind of contract and also
SIS 10 whether II came under the city's
contract with the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
tit Company or with the marlborough.
with the aid OF this information II
!s the intention OF tho Controler's
ONCE to check up on all work. Never
before has 1t been necessary for the
Public Service Commission to furnish
euch detailed Information in regard to
tho money required by It.
In September the commission asked
Cor s1,75l,o77 for the year 1919. This
was increased TO $4,000 900 in December
on the ground that the end of the war
would enable the commission 70 do
more work than had been planned.
Claiming the commission had failed to
give the required Information, the Board
OF Pstimate cut the budget to pieces and
made an appropriation Of s4ll,O0 for
the first three months of the year The
following day II was Announced by the
commission that they had 10 lay of 377
men. Various engineering bodies took
action, condemning the budget cut.