New-York tribune., 1920-10-01
Board Cuts All
New Pay Raises
Out of Budget
Passes Mayors Resolution
Opposing - Amy Increase
IN Salaries Other Than
Those Granted in August
Saves Several Millions
Action Will Hit Higher
Paid Officials and the
Police and Firemen

the Committee on Finance and BUDGET
yesterday, by vote of II to s, de-
e'ded not to grant any further salary
increases to municipal employees in
the 1921 budget above the increases
granted on August 20. This was the
hrst action of the committee IN slash
ing che enormous increases requested
Tor 1921 by the various city depart
ments. 1t will mean reduction of
several million dollars in next years
budget. which, if left to stand on the
departmental estimates, would total
nearly $4oo,oOo,00o The budget slash
ers are hopeful of bringing it down
to s35o,Goo 900 or less.
With several of the budget estimates
OF the larger city departments still to
be submitted, the new salary increases
requested amounted to about 10000
600. 1t probably will be half again
as much when all the estimates are
in. All these requests were denied by
the action of the budget committee
yesterday.
This action means that none of the
city officials receiving salaries of from
$1,000 up will get any increase next
year. OdidIleS dDONe LNdC URuTe were
not included in the August increases.
1t also means that the policemen and
fremen will not receive the maximum
of S2,500 requested by, Commissioners
Enright and brennan of those depart
ments. The policemen and fremen re-
.ceived an increase for first grade men
from 81, $50 to S2,29O under the Au-
gust advance.
La Gnardia Opposes Resolution
Aldermanic President F. H. La Guar
dia and Borough President Henry H.
Curran voted against the Mayors res
olution yesterday to preclude any
further increases over the Angus t
schedules. They explained their votes
500 salaries for the policemen and fire.
men, and some other salary increases
of employees who they derlared had
been minated against. The Mayor
promised that if any cases of actual
discrimination developed they would be
attended to-
Comptroller Craig at first refused to
vote on the Mayors resolution, leaving
the situation deadlock, but finally
joined with the majority in adopting
it. The Borough Presidents of
Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Rich
mond were reluctant in voting for the
resolution, explaining that there were
certain salary increases in their de-
partments which were badly needed
and justifiable. They were inclined to
interpret the resolution merely as an
announcement of policy on the part of
the committee, but it is believed there
Is small chance of the pollcy Delng
changed.
In presenting his resolution the
Mayor warned the members of the COM
mittee that the departmental estimates
from which the tentative budget is to
be made up are so inflated with salary
increases and other estimates for con-
struction purposes that unless radical
retrenchment is made the 1927 budget
will be in excess of the constitutional
tax limit.
in fact he said, "even with the
strictest economy, the budget will come
dangerously close to the constitutional
limit because of the mandatory legis
lation which saddles on the city many
millions of dollars Of salary increases"
Limit Approximately 1855 100000
The budget is not supposed to exceed
2 per cent of the total assessment
values on realty and personally in the
city, with the addition of the general
fund and the debt service totals. The
total assessed valuation Of real and
personal property this year was S8,922,-
$4,000 1t is expected to be about $10,-
600 100000 for next year. If the gen.
eral fund at about $80,000,000 and the
debt service at $74,811, ,538, the figures
for this year, remained the same, the
constitutional limit on the 1921 budget
would be approximately $355,000,0 600.
The general fund and the debt service,
however, are likely to ba increased for
next year.
Mayor Hylan issued formal state
ment setting forth his reasons for
opposing further salary increases at
this time.
"In regard to the proposed increases
in salaries of the employees in all the
departments of the city," he said, 81
wish to say that | am always in favor
of aiding the faithful employees of the
city The members of the Board of
Estimate have another duty to perform
and that is to see that the tax burden
is kept down to the lowest possible
point. When taxes are raised the land
lord passes the burden on to the ten
ant and raises the rent, so in reality
the tenant pays the increased taxes
and thereby the increases in salaries.
Says People Are Taxed to Death
"The people of this city have been
most generous in their attitude toward
permitting the increased salaries that
have been awarded to the city en-
ployees since 1918. The truth is that
the people are taxed to death now.
The millions that must be added
because of mandatory legislation
passed at Albany last winter; the mill
ions necessary to be added because
of justfiable increases in wages and
salaries of the employees of the city,
and the millions which must be added
because of the increased cost of sup
plies and necessary equipment to prop
erly administer the business of the
city, will increase the budget to the
extent of millions and bring it danger
ously near the constitutional limit.
feel it is the duty Of every member of
the Board Of Estimate, notwithstand-
Ing our desire to help, in so far as
we can, every employee of the city, to
deal with this budget in business
like way by curtailing every possible
expenditure that is not absolutely nee
essary."
The budget committee yesterday be-
gan considering some of the minor de-
partmental estimates for preliminary
pruning. Most Of the items considere
however, were laid aside on the
suggestion of one committeeman or
another for further and more de-
tailed scrutiny. The committee will
meet again to-day and is expected to
take up the suggestion of Borough
presideDf Curran that all cOpst r1rt ION