New-York tribune., 1920-08-10
Board Passes
CityPay Raise;
Greed Charged
Craig Assails Presidents of
Boroughs and Refuses to
Vote; e;CompirollerWanted
$4,000, Says Connolly
Mayor Gets Into Battle
Denies Hint by Firemcn
That Higher Up Caused
Change From 2Ofo Plal,

The Board of Estimate Yesterday
refusing to vote, passed the new plan
for the increase of the salaries of the
city employees. Major La Guardia
President of the Board of Aldermen.
announced that he would call meet
ing of the Aldermen for Thursday, to
concur in the resolution and pass the
authorization of $4,000, 900 in special
revenue bonds to meet the increase.
Before the vote was taken several
city employees protested against the
change in the plan from the 20 per cent
nat increase. The same amendments
that were voted down at the meeting of
the committee of the whole last weel,
were offered by Borough President
Henry II. Curran, and again voted down.
In explaining his reasons for not vot-
ing for the new plan, the Comptroller
said:
Every member of the board knows
that there can be no increase IN sala-
ries unless legislation is passed. Every
member knows that the nigh cost Of
living Will at least operate until the
end OF this year, and yet, not a single
member of this board, if may eimi-
nate the Comptroller, took any inter-
est in having legislation passed Mem
bers of the board, however, took
great interest in approaching the Leg
lslature to grant relief to the poor
Borough Presidents and the President
of the Board OF Aldermen. The Bor-
ough Presidents of Manhattan, Brook
yn and the Bronx were increased
80 1-3 per cent, and the poor suffering
Borough Presidents of Queens and
Richmond 100 per cent"
Charges Craig Wanted Raise.
Borough President Maurice E. Con-
molly, of Queens, interrupted the Comp
troller saying:
The Comptroller wanted his salary
increased to $4,000 year"
"There's not word of truth in it,"
replied the Comptroller, while the
Queen Borough President insisted
that the records would show it,
"The President of the Board of AL
dermen wanted his salary increased,' -
continued the Comptroller, "and a bill
was introduced in the Legislature but
It took an emergency message from the
Governor to pass it. Luckily we have
emergency in increasing the salary of
the President of the Board of Aldermen.
The Mayor had withheld his approval
of the Borough Presidents increase
until that time, and after that his
conscience ceased troubling him, and
he approved the bill. Now we are con-
fronted with plan conceived in poll
tical iniquity and against the higher
class of employees who have not had
their salaries raised in years. l refuse
to be a party to it and decline to
vote"
The new plan of increases adopted
increase for those resolving $500 or
less year, 20 per cent for those be-
tween $500 and $4,000, a $500 fiat in
crease on salaries from $4,000 to
$500 and no increase above $500.
1t is expected that increases in the
higher salaries will be considered in
making up the 1921 budget.
Curran Bares the Secret
In explaining his affirmative vote
Borough President Curran said he
would let the public into secret. At
the meeting of the committee on budget
and finance Of the Board of Estimate
he said, the Comptroller stated that it
was his plan to put in the budget for
next year salary of $25,OO0 for the
Mayor and Comptroller and then have
amending the Charter to that effect.
This would give the Comptroller
$4,000 to help him pay the high cost
Of living" said Major Curran. Il
think 1t is time the public knew of it
SO that no such thing can be put in
the coming budget ana no such bill
introduced in the legislature"
After the roll call the Comptroller
SAID that the Borough President was
wrong and what he proposed to the
Mayor was that the heads of DEPART
ments should have an increase provid
ed IN the next budget and later bill
be introduced in the Legislature rati-
flying the same.
81 have always objected to having
salaries Increased during terms of of
tice," the Comptroller said. Il think
the Comptroller's salary should be
S30 200 year, and if l can get it
through there will be such bill passed
IN the next Legislature for my sue
cessor."
1T may not be absent from the mind
of the Comptroller that he might sue
ceed himself" Mr.. Curran said
Mayor Backs Up Comptroller
Mayor Hylan said that he had never
heard the Comptroller say that he
would include an increase in salary
for himself and the Mayor in next
years budget.
representative of the officers of
the Fire Department appealed for the
increases for the higher salaried Of
fcers of the department. He intirnated
that some one high up" get to men,
ters of the Board of Estimate and in
fuenced them to change from the fat
20 per cent plan.
mo one brought any influence to
bear on me-" said the Mayor 'My
conscience troubled me and l had
change of heart