Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-12
MAYOR APPROVES
BUDGET AND TAXES
Announces He Will Sign Both
Bills, Although He Does Not
Favor Bonuses
BELIEVES FUNDS SUFFICIENT

Approving the SOL 10000 budget for
1920 and the 50. 10 city tax rate, Mayor
Smith will sign both measures just as
soon as they are submitted to him. The
financial program. he said today is adc -
quate for the first year of the Moore
administrati ton.
Mayor Smith has repeatedly insisted
upon straight salary increases for city
employees as against the bonus system
finally fixed by Councisl in the budget.
His one complaint against the com
pleted budget is that it contains few
salary increases but provides blanket
bonuses
In speaking of the financial program
and of his conference with Mayor elect
Moore. Mayor Smith said, IL did not
take up with Mr.. Moore the tax rate
or the financial program. Those Ques
tions 7 considered solely for Councils
and myself to decide. Mr.. Moore knew
! would see that proper provision was
made for administration.
81 will sign both the budget and the
tax rate bills just ms soon as they are
brought TO me-. | approve both meas
the bonus plan does not appeal to me-
as the proper course to pursue. II EN-
ployes con only get more money by
bonuses then ] am for bonuses. I hp q
lieve, however, that straight salary in e
crpases should have been allowed.
Certainly the fremen and policemen
should be given q salary increase. do
not know why bonuses were decided
upon. The matter is ended, however,
and | will approve the notion Of Coun
ellis. | am not prepared to talk about
the demands of the Bureau of Water.
This will have to be taken up later.
Didn't Touch on Finances
"Mr. Moore and ] went over. mu
nicipal affairs in a general way. I
told him of work done during the last
four years and of the plans for the fu
ture. We discussed many features of
city government, but not finances.
Councils action will put an end to
further discussion of money. | believe
that Councils have done their duty.
Supplemental appropriations will have
to be made by Councils If the 1920
budget is to provide sufficient money
men The only other method is to
rely upon sufficient suspensions, fines
and deductions of pay to provide added
funds.
This fact was brought to light last
evening in bitter factional debate
which preceded the passage of the
budget aud tax rate In common Coun =
cil. Independent members, in placing
the blame for an increased rate and
increased demands for money upon the
extravaganza of the Smith administra :
ton, were met with the statement that
the increase was due to pay bonuses.
Gaffney In Answer
Chairman Gaffney, Ware floor leader,
contended that So 900 900 had been set
aside for salary bonuses for city EN-
ployes receiving $4,000 or less year.
Pressed to find this item he succeeded
only in bringing to light S2,5OO,00o
saying the missing half million was in
salary budgets for police and fire.
Independent members, led by Sheriff
elect Robert E. Lamberton, started
hunt for the bonus money for police
and fremen and said they found the
pay items allowed to be insufficient tc
meet pay and bonus demands. The
fact discovered was that the budget
for next year allows less for police
nay than was allowed this year.