The sun., 1919-01-25
SMITHS AID ASKED
IN SUBWAY CRISIS
Big Cut in Budget May End
Construction, Whitney
Says in Letter.
JOBS FOR EX-SOLDIERs
Needed Work Will Require Adj.
ditional Force, While Cut
Is Ordered.

Having failed to get the Board a,
Estimate to reconsider It's action in cm.
ting down the budget OF the Public Ser.
vice Commission to a poin, where II
was necessary to discharge over 800
employees vitality necessary on the work
OF subway construction. Travis Whitnev
acting chairman. has written TO Gov.
Smith. The letter followed q visit tina,
the Commissioner made TO Albany las,
week. 1t Is understood II was arranged
that Senator James A. Foley should an.
pear before an executive conference o,
the bossd this week and urge that I:
reconsider it's action. but nothing re.
suited from his representation
In his letter to the Governor, NJ
Whitney says the commission "reluc,.
antly and respectfully brings to the al.
tention of the Governor a crisis existing
in respect to the proper performance Of
public functions and the performarc.
of public work that. In the opinion 9.
the commission, requires executive con.
sideration that irreparable damage may
not be done 20 the publ, interest
Fail to Understnna Work.
The Board OF Estimate In hamperrr
the work of the commission ny rs
budget resolution cutting down the 81.
lowance and potting it under rigid rules
s charged In the letter with 70 lack o,
understanding of the nature Of rapid
transit work the necessity for adequas
inspection OF materials and OF work ami
the failure to comprehend the legal and
moral obligations requiring utmost e1.
pedltlon in the prosecution Of essential
public work"
Some of the immediate results Of TIE
80 ri nf Tg,I,
given as follows:
work on final estimates has h..a
stopped.
Adequate supervision and inspection
of work in progress has been difficult. Il
not impossible, with the result that (.
may not be possible for the engineers
to certify or the commission to approve
estimates for work done by contractors
during the month OF January.
THE serious reduction in des .gnes
and craftsmen has brought to stand
still prepare ton Of plans for new work
particularly Incidental contracts essential
TO lines under construction. as well as
detail and working plans for work IN
progress. n result harmful to the prog.
ress of the work and a possible basis for
additional claims by contractors.
Inspection of material at points %.
mas pttI lpIHlN iNlFt L'4rI
with and interrupted. with resulting ser.
Gus consequences as to the quality o..
material that may enter irto the work
Employees Quit Job.
The continued layoff is resulting IL
many employees. particularly the more
experienced and valuable ones. securing
employment elsewhere, thus making
them unava!lab for reinstatement, re.
sulting in permanent loss OF efficiency IN
tho engineering force.
The unjust treatment accorded yuah
employees has affected seriously the
morale of the rema!ninS employees and
will cause them to seek employ ment else.
where"
The letter goes into the details of me
various conferences that led up to tas
action Of the Board Of Estimate, and
tells how the Commission after the sign.
ing OF the armistice had increased is
request for money in order that the slh.
way work might be speeded up and en-
ployment given TO some of the returning
soldiers and sailors.
In reply to the request OF the comm >.
sion for a reconsideration OF the art' Of.
OF December 30 the Board of Estimate
asked for mass Of iuformatio- which
the Commissi Toner states woui nQg.ge
such length of time the regular work
Of the body would be obstruCt,d THIS
request is described as "triarg With a
situation so critical as 20 require re-
straint of language in an effort to sei
forth. either generally or specifically, ths
effect upon It's work. the contractors t"s
financial responsibilities Of the city %
the public safety.
Charges are made there were ra'or.al
changes in the resolution as pa sod 10.
fore a certified copy was received b" tie
commission January Is. Ute rr'!soH
of the resolution" the letter says, evsa
leaves a doubt as to whether the com
mission should continue in its eTpoy
any employees engaged upon rapid t-sn'
sit work"
such readiness 10 settle claims Ns'a'9
the completion Of work increases 'h' o.
ficulties OF supervisory discipliNc OF the
contractors, for Il produces tie pose
bility that contractors may disregard re
structions of engineers. safe IN ,,' prs5e'
dent that claims may hcresf'': be pres
scented for the work as done aHI Ia Sc"
tied by the Comptroller"