The sun., 1919-02-01
ESTIMATE BOARD
GIVESP.S.C SS15,564
BY Unanimous Vote Provides
February and March Sala-
rics as Per Truce.

Without a dissenting vote. the Board
OF Estimate appropriated s315.564 yes
terday 20 cover the expenses OF the
Public Service Commission for February
and March. This is at the yearly rate of
s1.?52.431, and the administration and
rapid transit part OF the appropriation
was In accordance with the schedules
presented by the commission.
The commission. however. did not get
sl4,ei6 it wanted for new bureau to
audit the operating accounts Of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company and
the marlborough Rapid Transit Com
pany under the dual contracts. The
Hylan administration could not see this
fire bit of patronage go to the Public
Service Commission, which is Republi-
can by two TO one.
The proposition was made 10 the com
mission that inasmuch as the Comp
trolier's office was supposed 10 audit
these accounts after they had been re-
ceivtd from the Public Service Commits
sion. a Joint bureau be established. one
half Of the employees 10 be appointed by
the commission and onc-halt by the
Comptroller Acting Chairman whitney
of the commission protested and the pro-
posed appropriation OF s14,2+6 for the
auditing bureau with such n provision
was put over for a week.
1t was said last night that unless an
agreement could be made with the conf
mission TO divide the places the Board
OF Estimate would give the bureau to
the commission, but only in a much at
,enuated form, inasmuCh as the work
would have TO he checked UP by another
bureau OF the Comptroller's Office.
or the money appropriated Tor the
commission yesterday for February and
March the s3lb,564 wac divided as fol-
lows. For salaries In general admin
istration and the legal department, Sla,-
s20: for salaries in the engineering de-
partnent and the bureau Of electrical
equipment and inspection. s22S.,42; for
supplies. $33.334 FOR salaries under the
Fenner law OF men on military duty.
s23334: for expenses OF the Corpora
ton rounsers office in defending rapid
transit construction suits. s6,666; for
janitorial service of the Lafayette street
headquarters s3,55S.
Commissioner Whitney wanted 10
krov- II anything was 10 be done about
til. January pay of the men WHO were
left out of the appropriation as passed
by the Board OF Estimate on Decem-
bcr 81
II understand you laid these men off, -
said the Comptroller.
Yes, for lack Of an appropriation"
said tho Commissioner But they have
certain legal and moral rights"
What are you going 10 do with the
men you laid off?" ssked Mr. Moran
President OF the Board OF Aldermen.
"Reinstatn every man who wants 10
come back" was the reply
'NNith back pay"
Not all Of them only those who had
vacations due, who were away in mill
tary service and those who voluntarily
remained on the job
II was decided finally that this was
fair proposition ana uaS agreed to by
tho Board OF Estimate. When the com
mission furnishes the names OF such men
and further particulars a special appro-
priation will be granted.
There are many nice plums Ia tho
$751; Q0 bureau Of audit as planned by
the commission. including chief ac-
countant at $4,000, an engineer OF rapid
transit operation at $4,000. an Inspector
of maintenance at $1,000, n special ex-
amincr at $1,000.