New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-12

'"@S Tue examination or tho Mayor be
suspended until can have an oppor-
after which the Mayors examination
w'll be resumed"
Craig To Be Called Tuesday
Senator Walker had Indicated he
wanted to make some inquiries of the
Mayor, but declared he would wait
until the Mayor was recalled. The
hearings were then adjourned until
tuesday morning, when Comptroller
Craig Will be the star witness
The question of possible reductions
In the coS5 Of running the city govern
ment developed through MIR Brown S
submission that appreciable economies
had been effected in both the state and
national governments. Mr.. Brown has
pointed ont that the states expenses
had been cut about $4,000 900, but the
Mayor said it did not reflect much on
New York Ci.s's direct taxes. He un-
derstood that the states taxes had
been reduced, but didn't know how
much.
Mr.. Brown then asked
"Have you observed any tendency at
Washington to economic in depart
ments ?'
"Yes"
you understand they are making
great efforts 10 economic there?"
yes, SIR
and with some success?'
"Yes, sir"
"And you understand that in both
the state and nation the result Of these
efforts will be q decrease in the cost
of government"
ayes, sir, think so"
Don't YOU think that, in view of the
reduction in wages generally by large
employers. and the reduction in state
go-ernment and in national govern
ment, there is some way that we can
arrive at some reduction in the cost of
government in the City Of New York ~
"Not by reducing salaries to en-
ployees and per diem men," insisted
the Mayor.
"Nor by reducing the number of en-
plovees ?" asked Brown.
"Wen, that is a different question.
We ere irving to eliminate from time
to time the number of employees.
think something can be done along
that line"
Budget Growth Predicted
"But what you are unprepared now
to say"
Mr. Brown asked:
"Have you had any one engaged IN
estimating or preparing Statements
or estimates of what reductions can be
made from the 1920 or 1921 expenses
for the budget of 1922 2"
"The engineers and investigators in
the Board of Estimate and Apportlon-
ment are now investigating that" the
Mayor said.
"As they have been investigating in
every previous budget?'
Eyes, sir"
Odd they succeed ever in getting a
budget smaller than the preceding
budget, in the history of the city,"
81 don't think So" Mr.. Hylan replied
"And you don't expect it this time !"
"No, sir. l am trying hard to keep
it down"
"You cannot make any suggestion to
the committee of any plan that they
can adopt or that the city governme nt
can adopt that will reduce the cost
of the government mean outside of
mandatory legislation?"
81 think if the Legislature will give
us the same power, give this city the
same power as second and third class
cities have, to consolidate departra ents
and activities, we can work out sci
entifcally the affairs of the city and
reduce expenses"
"Have you got any suggestion along
that line which you are willing to
give to the committee or to it's counsel
by way of amendment of the law or of
the Constitution in relation to such
matters 7"
Except" replied the Mayor easily
chat ! would suggest that Section Az
of the laws of 1914 be amended so it
will extend to the cities of the first
class
Mr.. Brown here referred to the ap-
proval by the Mayor of a bill passed
in 1920, granting per diem employees
q three weeks vacation with pay, and
in connection with which the Mayor
wrote to all department heads request
ing that such vacations be accorded all
employees. The Mayor here engaged
in a little speech on the matter of
Vacations how he hadn't had a vaca-
ton in two years, but said that he "did
% down to Palm Beach," because he
had promised his wife to give her o
vacation IN the winter, and that he
had TO make good his promise.
Ideas on Retrenchment
The committees counsel then asked
the Mayor how this three weeks pro
posal and other such incidents fitted
in with his ideas of retrenchment.
Mr.. Brown asked:
Il call your attention to the very
strenuous declarations that you have
made in favor of reducing the cost OF
government, the great necessity OF
doing SO for the benefit of the com
munity, and l have read them in con
nection with your repeated recon-
mendations, which looked to the in
crease Of the cost of government, and
understand you to say that so far as
you are concerned you don't see how
any decrease from year to year car
be made. 1t must increase?"
ain regard to the personnel" the
Mayor asked.
al am talking about the total"
"The total, that is different. The
cost OF supplies and materials Of that
kind is going down, and consequently
the cost Of government will be re.
duced to that extent"
"a know that will be an element, but
you don't yourself look Cor any de-
crease in the budget from year tc
year. II is a mere question of how
much it will increase?"
Il don't look for any decrease in the
personnel Of the budget. except in sc
far as we can do without filling vacan
ces that arise from time to time, ane
consolidating activity, if We get thai
power"
81 find that the grand total for sup
plies in the budget of 1921 was only
$1,000, 000?"
81 hope it viii be great deal les,