New-York tribune., 1919-10-08
Board Votes by 50 to 1
to Adopt Scale of Adj
vances Asked For by the
Policemen and Firemen
Favor Civic Forum Plan
Increases of 10 and 20
Per Cent i'm Other De-
partments Are Indorsed

Proponents Of substantial salary in
creases for patrolmen and tiremen, as
we'll as for other city employees, yes
terday succeeded in lining up the Board
Of Aldermen solidly on their side.
After two-hour discussion on the
report of the Special Committee OH
Salary Increases, which gave a public
hearing at City Hall week ago, the
Board Of Aldermen voted, by 81 to i,
to adopt the committees report. which
advocates the figures named by the
patrolncn and fremen in their peti-
tions to the Board of Estimate, and
the increases nominated by the Civil
Service Forum as desirable for othe r
civic employees.
The single negative vote was cast by
Alderman Beckerman (Socialist), who
said he voted against the report be-
cause he did not think it gave the men
half enough"
Increases Declared Inadequate
There was no opposition 70 the in
creases recommended on the ground
that they were overgenerous. Several
aldermen went on record, however, as
favorng even larger increases than the
resolution provided for, and there was
some discussion as to the advisability
of accepting q minority report which
nominated increases considerably in
excess of those designated by the ma
jority finding.
The report on the public hearing
reads as follows:
'Thc committee finds that there
is virtue in all that Was said, and
believes that the trend Of public
opinion and the feeling of the tax
payers in general are favorable
toward a general increase in the
compensation of city employees. The
committee offers for adoption tho
accompanying resolution in lieu Of
Introductory numbers 1872, 1928
and 1909:
"Resolved. That the committee
recommends to the Board Of Alder
men for presentation to the Board
Of Estimate and Apportiooment, rel
ative to increases Of salaries to city
employees, as follows:
"That patrolmen and iiremen re-
seve $1,000, $1,000 and $4,000 a
year.
"That police matrons receive an
increase of $3.50 year.
That the officers Of these depart
ments are given proportionate in
creases.
Ten to 20 Per Cent Fixed
"Ihat city employees generally re-
ceive al increase Of 20 per cent in
the cases of those who now receive
up to and including $4,000 q year,
and Of 10 per cent ia the. cases of
those n-ho receive above $4,000.
That substantial increases be
granted to the uniformed forces in
the Department OF Street Cleaning.
THAT city inspectors generally
receive q minimum salary of $1,000
year.
THAT substantial increases be
granted in special cases. such as
positions in the Health Department.
court stenographers and court in
That laborers shall receive So
day, and that mechanics in all cases
shall promptly be granted pay at
the prevailing rates n their respect-
i've trades.
The report Is signed by Aldermen
William kenneally. cnairnian: Franl
Cunningham Edward c. ". Curlcy
Edward J. Atwell, William r. Collins
Hugh a. Allwell, John S. Gaynor, and
Arnon l.. Squires, n%mbers o? the
special Committee on Salary Increases
Thus from the meeting which the
Mayor at first forbsd de the firemen and
patrolmen to attend. there developed
a definitely crystallzed sentiment 1T
the Board Of Estimate for increases
higher than those suggested in the
tentative budget.
Mayor Proposed $50 Rtise
The first increase proposed b. the
Mayor for patrolmen and frcmen was
$3.50. Later Controller Craig suggested
"a schedule for these deartments OF
$1,450, $1,65O, and $1,000. This vas
adopted by the Budget Committee. The
Board os Aldermen. on the strength
Of the evidence submitted at last weeks
hearing. now has declared itself rs
ievoring increases as asked by the
men.
Officials Of the Patrolmen's Bencvo
lent Association and OF the Uniformec
Firemen's Association declared them
selves greatly pleased with the out
come. They said Borough Presidents
Van Name, Connolly and Reigelmanr
had voted Tor the committees recon-
mendation, which, with the Board Of
Aide rmens votes, would give theil
case seven Of the sixteen ballots ir
the Board of Estimate. With these
votes assured. the men who are con.
ducting the employees campaign pro
fess to believe their cause is near vic
tory. They declares they will be able
to swing the other two votes necessary
to get a majority for their proposa
in the Board of Estimate before the
Aod