The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-25
10000 ON CITY'S
PAYROLL T0GET
WAGE INCREASE.
Raise of $3.50 for Police and
Firemen on List Approved
by Estimate Board.
INCLUDES CIVIL SERVICE
Thousands of Street Cleaners
and Laborers May Get Boost
at Next Meeting.
INCLUDES CIVIL SERVICE


and 10000 city employees, including
$3.50 for each patrolman and fireman
were decided upon yesterday by the
finance and budget committee Of the
Board Of Estimate. AS the member
ship Of this committee and the Board
OF Estimate is the same the agree
ment appears to be final.
The schedule adopted provides for
the Police and Fire departments and
all civil service employees except those
who in the judgment of their depart
ment chiefs do not merit it. The
street cleaners, who are also sure of
advances, the laborers, and all those
in the so-called non-competitive
classes will be attended to in another
meeting of the committee. Teachers
increases are mandatory under an act
Of the Legislature.
In recognizing its obligation 90 the men
and women who work for the city and
whose wages virtually have stood still
while everything else went skyhooting
the city administration is raising sal
aries on by far the largest scale New
York has ever known. The increase to
be given the patrolmen and firemen will
alone add s3.435,00o TO next years
budget. The increases for other depart,
Hents, exclusive OF -education. may
amount to s5,000,000. But the Board
Of Estimate, persuaded that II has tn,
support of taxpayers and Influenced by
what the Mayor is pleased to call "agita-
ton on the part OF groups of workers
and their leaders. has become an en-
thusiastic convert to the cause of better
salaries and will see the programme
through.
Extra Taxation Planned.
II expects to get about s4,500, 900
extra revenue out of taxation next year
by a 5000. 900 increase in real estate
assessment, made possible by the marked
rise in building values. For additional
revenue to meet In part the heavier
payroll 1t looks to the city's share Of
tha new State income tax and the cor
porstion tax. Even II these sources
prove to be all that Is hoped for 1t is
unoficially predicted that there will have
10 be a considerable increase In the tax
rate This 1t is believed the taxpayers
will accept without much question In
view Of the obvious necessity of better
ing wage conditions alp along the line.
This is the statement which Comp
troller Craig, chairman of the finance
committee. made on behalf OF the COM
mittee after two hours OF discussion In
his office yesterday:
-The finance and budget committee
unanimously agreed upon the following
basis OF increasing the compensation OF
municipal employees for the 1920 bud
get:
Police (patrolmen) and nremen,
t2SO each, with corresponding increases
for the higher officers.
increases to civil employees are to
oe determined by the department heads
within the following limitations:
Up 10 and including $1,000 per an
mum, 20 per cent, with a minimum OF
slVo where any increase is given and a
maximum of $500.
Between S1,201 and $1,000 per an
num- Is per cent where any increase
gwen with a maximum of 5000.
Between $1.901 and $4,000 per an
mum 10 per cent where any increase
Is given and a maximum OF $3.50.
How to Raise Salaries.
II was clearly understood that de-
partment heads are not expected to give
increases to employees whose services in
tnelr Judgment do not merit It
The compensation of other classes Of
EMPLOYEES, including those of the Street
LEANING Department and laborers, will
DC considered at an adjourned meeting"
Ineso figures show the advances given
pauolmen: