New-York tribune., 1919-10-20
Bud get SSpoils'
For Politicians.
Says W allstein
Citizens Union Lawyer Finds
SUnheard of Number of
New Patronage Jobs and
Boosts for Big Sararies
'Opening Treasury Wide
ID equity Commissioners,
Some of Them Tammanv
Leaders, Share in Awards

An analysis of the proposed 1920 bud
get with it's record figure of more than
S316,000,000, reveals that viii e police
men, tiremen and street sweepers are
having to fight for increases in wages
the high salared district leaders and
other political favorites of the admin
| istration arc scheduled for increases Of
81 900, $4,000 and ever more. Scores
of new places for other political hench-
men at $4,000 a year and more are
being created. Some of these new
berths pay as high as $500, while
many political ot1iceholders receiving
this sum are scheduled for increases
Leonard M. Walstein, counsel to the
city government committee of the Cit
izens Union. who has spent the last
four days on the budget--it was not
available for inspect on until Wednes-
day yesterday made the following
statement on the budget as the second
instalment Of his report:
THE reason for the covert prepara-
tion of the tentative budget stands out
clearly upon a study of the new pa
tronage jobs and the increased sal
aries for present poitica placeho 'ders
which are provided in that document.
Such an analys reveals the hypocrisy
of the city administration professed
solicltude for the welfare Of taxpay-
ers and rentpayers. 1t reveals the
Willingness of the Mayor and his as
sociates to use the official powers
for tho distribution Of political re-
wards from the public pxrsc--very
largely to Tammany district leaders.
The tentative budget makes perfect
ly clear the purpose of the Hylan ad
minlstration to turn the unavoidable
legitimate increase in the budget into
an opportunity for opening wide the
public treasury to the political spoi S.
man by the creation of an unheard of
number of new exempt patronage ap-
pointees as compared with the present
years budget.
Wallstein Cites Cases
Examples of the purely political
items that have been found tucked
away III the tentative budget of more
than S3l6,000,0O0 are as follows:
Last March. Controller Craig pro-
cured the establishment Of the new
position Of special examiner in the
finance department at $2.940 per an
mum. Promptly application was made
and granted to exempt this new posi-
tion from Civil Service competition.
The tentative budget shows that the
other members of the Board OF Esti-
mate are unanimous, not only in fol.
lowing this lead OF the city's chief
financial officer, but in going him one
better, for not only the Mayor and the
President OF the Board of Aldermen.
but each OF the .nve borough pres idents.
IN addition, is provided with new
special examiner at 5000 per annum
"All seven of these new positions
will doubtless also be promptly placed
III the exempt class upon the same
grounds as the pioneer of these posi-
tions in the Comptroller's office. But
the Comptroller is not TO be entirely
outdone, because, while his original
special examiner is to receive
modest increase to $3.50 per annum,
the Comptroller is to get a second
new 'sp~N.al examiner az 9o oUu PEI
annum and new app aiser OF real
estate at $4,000 per annum and seven
new examiners. On the other hand,
the Comptroller appears to keep pace
with the Mayor and his departments
when the secretary to the Finance De-
partment Can exempt position recre-
ated at the beginning of this admin
istration) is put down for an increase
legal assistant "a brand place
created by this administration 1or
$3.50. to $o,750, and the cnlet account
ant OF the department Tor $2,UUU, to
$4,000. ass
One for Mr.. Hylan, Too
"In the Mayors Office Mr. Hylan is
to be provided with one of the new
places OF special examiners His su-
pervisor OF the City Record Peter
j. Brady, is to have his 1000 salary
increased by $500, to 5000 per an
mum. 1t is interesting also TO note
that the vacant position OF chauffeur
in the Mayors office is down Tor an
increase of $500 per annum, though
the position, created by Mayor hylan,
has never been filled. Joseph Lppsc,
on on nayrV % .nc
Police Department in the exempt place
of connocntial investigator but who
actually drives the Mayors automobile
as In the days or MS private employ
ment by Mr. Hylan, may eventually
take and pass a civil service cxaml-
nation for appointment to this COM
petitive position of chauffeur in the
Mayors Office.
he assistant secretary Of the
Board Of Estimate is down for 81 ,00(
increase to S5 900, the deputy chief en-.
gineer of the board is to receive $500
nc ease 20 So,UUo; IN the ,nce o.
the City Clerk new deputy city CLERK
is created, at $4,000
New Jobs in Law Department
an the Law Department nine new
places of Assistant Corporation Coun
sci. with salaries from $500 to 7,50t
each, are created.
I'm the office of the Commissioner q
Accounts q deputy commissioner il
given a $1,000 increase, from 50 600 tt
$4,000, and the newly created and re
Gently increased exempt secretary t.
| the Commissioner is awarded a fur
| ther increase of $500 to $4,000 while {
/ new examiner at $4,000 and a new ex
Il Il II