New-York tribune., 1920-10-05
Salary Raises
Denied i'm Hot
Budget Fight
Patrolmen Will Not Get
- $500 Maximum Asked:
Similar Action Taken ON
Fire Department Estimate
500 More Policem e N
Question by Curran to
Enright Causes Mayor
TO Revive Old Trouble

Mayor Hylan was the first of the
budget slashers in the Board of Esti-
mate to lose his patience yesterday.
The board, sitting as the Committee on
Finance and Budget, had been function
ing smoothly all day in whiting down
the large requests of the various city
departments for the 1921 budget. An
apparently innocent question, or one at
least within his right as member of
the board, asked by Borough President
Curran, of Manhattan, of Police Com
missioner Enright, who was before the
committee regarding his departmental
requests, stirred up all the old Board
of Estimate scrap in the Mayor with
his Republican associate
The Borough President asked the
Police Commissioner to submit list
Of the men in his department assigned
to special activities. Commissioner
Enright started to reply that he would
be very glad to submit the list, when
the Mayor interrupted.
"No, he won't!" said the Mayor "If
you wanted this for an honest purpose,
all right; but I know what your pur-
pose is. You want to use it politically"
'You dom: know any such thing"
said the Borough President
Mayor PAGES the Floor
"Oh yes. l do!" shouted the Mayor,
rising from his chair and starting to
walk about the Comptroller's office.
ave all know you better than the
Commissioner does"
you'll know me lot better before
we get through" Curran retorted.
"Yes, indeed" said the Mayor. con-
tinuing his pacing about the room, land
you'll know me lot better before
get through with you. Pay no atten-
tion to him. Commissioner"
do you mean to say that you will
not allow your Police Commissioner to
give this list to the Board of Esti-
"He will give nothing to you,' re-
piled the Mayor, "but he will give any
thing to the board that it may re-
quest"
"Well, then will ask Commissioner
Euright to submit the list to the Board
of Estimate" said Mr.. Curran.
ooh, no." said the Mayor, "you will
do nothing of the kind. If the board
wants it they will ask for It,"
The Borough President did not press
his request further. Comptroller
Craig suggested that if they were
done playing" the board should get
down to business. The Mayor held q
whispered conversation with the Police
Commissioner in the back of the room
before he returned TO his seat at the
committee table.
Salary Increase Denied
Prior to the Hylan-Curran contro-
versy, the committee had taken away
from the Police Commissioner a good
many of the requests made in his
1921 estimate. All salary increases
above those granted on August 20 last
were excluded. This means that the
patrolmen will not get the s2,5oo. maxi
mum asked. The salaries of first
grade patrolmen were raised to $2,250
in August. The Police Commissioner
asked for ,25o new men IN the depart
ment He was allowed 500, and 100
additional horses. Many other re-
quests for supplies and equipment
were denied.
A similar pruning was made in the
Fire Department estimates, including
the denial of the $4,000 salaries re-
quested for the fremen. The commit
100000 as a contingent fund, which
he explained was to be used chiefly in
cooperating with the Federal authori-
ties in running down the criminally radi-
cal element. He had asked for only
Sill 900 for this fund
The Fire Department got about one
half what it had requested. The Police
Department Jared a little better.
Comptroller Craig explained, however,
that the decisions of the committee
now merely affected the tentative bud
get, which has to be ready Saturday
night, and might be mod ed later. The
committee DECIDED to hold public hear
ings on the tentative budget October
IL, IA and IS, and seek public express
sion at that time as to what depart
ments could best afford the greatest
sacrifice. Some of the temporary de-
ductions in the Police and Fire depart
ments estimates may be replaced be-
tween that time and the final budget,
which must be ready October 81.
Craig Urges Delay
Comptroller Craig pointed out that
it would be physical impossibility to
pare the tentative budget to the CON
stftutional limit before October 10
when 1t has to be ready, and propos ed
that they go along with the knowledg
that the budget will be over and above
the amount for which taxes NAV be
levied. In answer to questions by
Aldermanic President La Guardia. ano
Borough President Curran, Comptrolle,
Craig said that there would be annie
opportunity between the 10th and 20th
OF the month to squeeze the last dron