New-York tribune., 1919-07-12
Mayor and Controller Hold
Up Increases for Week
Over Protest of Others
on the Estimate Board
Delahunty's Plea Fails
Jibe at Ettinger Marks
Request of A. S. Prall;
City Employees Rewarded

Mayor Hylan held up increases in pay
for the marine workers employed on
most Of the city's steam craft at yes
terday's meeting of the Board of Estl-
mate, over the protest of other mem
bers of the Board of Estimate, with
the exception of Controller Craig
Captain William A. Maher, manager
of the United States Association, No. l.,
of Masters, Mates and Pilots, and
Thomas L. Delahunty, vice e-president of
the National Association of Marine En-
gineers, made vain pleas to convert the
Mayor.
"All we are asking for is justice"
said Captain Maher. "We are asking
for increases to bring the wages Of
these men up to the prevailing rate of
wages established by the unions, and
which Is being paid by the United
States Shipping Board, the army and
the navy, and by private individuals.
The biggest increase is less than SIS q
month"
The Mayor broke in to say that he
was against giving the union men who
recently went on strike any increase
whatever.
"They had Just cause to STRIKE" re-
piled Captain Maher. "The city has
always been trailing six months or
more behind private concerns in the
treatment of its unionized labor"
"Where can the men find better con-
ditions than those given them by the
city ?" broke in Controller Craig.
Everywhere" replied Captain Maher.
THE railroads pay better, and the men
are never idle a day. | know men who
never lost a day working on the boats
of the railroads in this harbor and who
are now retired on pensions, and they
have a life pass on the roads OF the
company good for themselves and fam
lies The City of New York is treating
its employees worse than private con
Germs. And, further, believe that the
men EMPLOYED on the boats of the Fire
Department should be included in these
increases. They are working f1tteen
hours a day, instead of eight hours, in
violation of union rules"
az advise no interference with the
uniformed force" said the Mayor.
"They are pilots and union men,"
replied Captain Maher. 1.-THE men on
the boats of the Dock Department also
should be included in these increases.
The mates on the Thirty ninth Street
ferry are now doing not only their own
work but that of the quartermasters."
"The board is placing itself in a
narrow light by holding up these
raises" said President Moran, of the
Board of Aldermen, looking at the
Mayor.
At this point Mr.. Delahunty arose to
address the board. He was interrupted
before he had uttered more than few
words by the Mayor, who said:
"Mr. Delahunty, you're only wasting
you time talkinN"
I'm surprised at the Mayors ac-
tions," replied Captain Maher. 81
thought he was for u.s."
To this the Mayor made no reply.
The Mayor said he wanted the matter
put over for week. To this there
were several objections, and Pres ident
Bowling moved that the increase be
adopted. The Mayor and Controller
voted against it, and their six votes
held up the matter.
"Never mind" said President Moran,
nine votes will be enough to put it
over, but on the first time up twelve
votes are necessary and we have only
ten
During the course of the debate the
Mayor said he would not object to in
creasing the wages of the marine work
ers who did not strike, but that those
who went out need never depend on
him for higher wages. 1t is possible
the increases will be put through over
the Mayors protests at next weeks
meeting.
When Aiming S. Prall, president of
the Board of Education, appeared be-
fore the Board to ask that action on
the request of the Department of Ed.
ucation for the creation of a new DO.
sition, that of Superintendent of Plant
Operation, be deferred a week, the
Mayor said:
Il want to congratulate you on the
adoption yesterday by the Board ot
Education Of the new rules referring
to the shearing away of most of tn,
powers Of Dr. William L. Ettinger, Su
perintendent of Education
Heretofore" continued the Mayor
the tail has wagged the dog. | hope
hereafter that the dog viii wae the
tail Now that you have the rules
hope you can put Ettinger to work. II
YOU can put him to work to educate
considered most kindly by every man
woman and child l have heard man,
business men say that the children
can hardly spell and do not know the
multiplication tables. Put Ettnger tt
work and you will be doing somethin.
for the people of the city,
President Prall merely nodded.
Charles Schneider, a retired schoo
teacher, who does considerable educa
tional work among the negro people
protested against the adoption of
resolution permitting the building o
houses on the block bounded by Eight
and Ninth avenues, and Fifty-eightl
and Fifty ninth streets, twice the widtl
OF the street in height, instead Of on,
and one-half times the streets width.
"On one Of these blocks" said Mr.
Schneider, Give number of poor ant
honest negro families. Another blocI
IS filed with dsrcputabe houses. Tn,
negro people, if you permit this to gt
through. Will be driven from then
homes"
AS the clerk began to call the rol
the Mayor, leading with his vote au
thorizing the change, Mr.. Schneider OK
claimed:
''The question before you is, Are yo,
going 20 stand by the disreputabl,
house keepers or are you going te
stand by the decent people in the CITY p
ignoring him, the board adopted tn.
resolution.
Scores of city employees had, as a
almost all meetings Of the Board Of
Estimate, their salaries raised ycster
day, at the request Of the heads o1
various departments.