New-York tribune., 1920-06-23
Politics Behind
Pay Raise PLAN,
Says La Guardia
Attacks 2OPerCent Increase
for City Employees as
Discriminating Against
Poorly Paid Workers
Threatens to Beat Bill
One Vote in Board Would
Defeat 1t; Craig Again
Blocks Amendments

Major +. Il. La Guardia, president Of
the Board OF Aldermen, went into
yesterdays meeting of the Committee
on Finance and Budget, of the Board
Of Estimate in fighting trim, but the
occurrences of the day before, when
the Aldermanic President was re-
strained from physical encounter with
Comptroller Craig and Charles +.
Remington, secretary Of the Finance
Department., were not repeated.
The Mayor issued statement at
tacking the programme of the COM
mittee for d 90 per cent increase
in salaries of city employees. declar-
ing that political appontees were the
principal bcnetciaries under the plan
to the exclusion of underpaid munich
pal workers.
Major La Guardia and Borough
Pres idcnt Currar, Republican members
Of the Board of Estimate. proposed
fiat money increase Of $400 for the
policemen and fremen but they were
ovcrrulcd by the Democratic members
Of tie committee The Major. how
ever. succeeded in getting through
Monday, to include the teaching staff
of Hunter College in the salary in
creases. and providing for minimum
increase of 5000 Comptroller Craig
opposed both of these amendments.
Animosity Again Apparent
The animosity between Comptroller
Craig and Major La Guarda broke out
afresh when the latter made motion
that the 20 per cent increase de-
cidcd upon Monday be ignored and that
all Increases be limited to $500 with
a minimum OF $500 This motion i'm
mediately was ruled out of order BY
the Comptroller When La Guardia
called for vot, ou the notion the
Mayor and the other Democratic mem
oers of She committee voted against it,
At this point the Aldermanic Presi-
dent announced his intention Of vot-
ing against the increases when they
come Up before the Board Of Estimate
This action would Kill the entire prof
Get. as it requires a unanimous vote
Of thc board.
Borough President Currsn raised All
objection to the Board Of Estimate
committing itself against making any
further increases until 1907. He ad
mtted that 90 per cent increase was
sufficient now, but argued that if con
ditions warranted it t.e board SHOULD
be willing to make even further in
CreaseS.
"rhs bod intends under present
arrangements to make a 90 per cent
increase and then make 10 further IN
crcases for year and FIVE months"
MIR. Curran said "This is unfair. Sup
pose the cost of living should continue
to climb and swallow the small raise
given to the lower paid employees. |
say that if conditions grow worse. it IS
our duty to help our employees. and I,
therefore. move that the board refrain
from committing itself to such Jan"
The motion was ruled out Of order
by Comptroller Craig.
La Guardia Attacks Methods
Major La Guaroia's statement read:
"unless there is fair apportlon-
ment Of the s5,OA0O0O available for
the increase Of salaries of the city EN-
ployecs there is great danger tina, the
whole increase will be defeated. Mon
days meeting showed clearly thai the
whole matter was cut and dried. and
that the question was purposclv de-
laycd to the last minute in order to
spring the 20 per cent fiat increase.
This includes all political appointments,
with the exception Of the heads Of de-
partments, and the presidents Of the
borouchs, who had their salaries in
creased by the Legislature.
1.-THE 20 per cent fat increase IN
cludes all the Borough Presidents
commissioners, and every political APP
pointn1ent in every department. 1t is
attempted to do this at the expense Of
the underpaid employees of the library.
the aquarium. museums, geological
gardens, etc. While the Comptroller
says the funds will not permit taking
care of these undcrpaid and useful en-
ployees, vet every political appcntec
who enjoys from four thousand to six
and seven thousand, will receive !'and-
some increases of from $500 to S1.4OO
"My amendment making q maximum
increase of 5000, applicable to all above
the $4,000 rate. was defeated. The in
creases provided by the issue of spe-
cial revenue bonds require a unanimous
vote, and this is we'll for the board
to bear in mind"