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

+, said he thought the issue Of special
revenue bonds ought to be limited, but
not entirely curtailed
you said in Your inaugural address
that useless positions must be. abol-
ished:" said MIR. Brown, "as a result OF
the policy laid down b. you. Have
you list Of any positions that were
abolished as a result Of those orders o.
The Mayo, said "No," adding that
he could not recall if any were, an and
didn't make any Investigation to find
out.
Despite the Mayors stand that the
issuing of special revenue bonds should
be limited, Mr.. Brown pointed out that
these had increased from s11 ,0O0, 900
in 1917 to s27 600 900 for the first six
months Of this year.
$50 that in that respect" summed
up Mr., Brown, you had not succeeded
in carrying cut the policy you had in
mind when you took Office"
To which the Mayor replied:
~ don't want to answer that Qucs-
ton because l am not certain the fig
ures are correct"
In further discussion of .2ec.al
revenue bonds the Mayor once again
fell back on mandatory legislation, say
ing "There is great deal Of man
datory matters that come in where the
Comptroller must issue special revenue
bonds to get necessary money"
He had no suggestions for remedy
ing the practice of issuing such bonds,
Except it ought to be limited"
In defense of the practice of trans
ferring moneys from one department
to another. the Mayor said there
should be some hcxibility.
A letter written by the Mayor to all
department heads, dated March 20,
1918, was introduced, directing the
heads of departments to make no fur
Their applications for appointments or
increase il salaries and that all ex-
penses be cut and kept down to the
bone
Don't you think" asked Mr.. Brown,
chat the adherence to the principles
laid down here through your admins
tration would have been very hene-
fetal in producing smaller budget? ?"
Yes, Senator" continued the Mayor,
but conditions came up that | had
mo control over"
"And you did in fact depart from
that rule in relation to increases Of
compensation and salaries 2"
"Yes"
Another Economy Threatened
Another letter was submitted in
which the Mayor threatened to replace
any chief who did not give his sue-
gestions on economy immediate atten-
ton and asked for reports. He ad-
united he didn't get any reports, didn't
know whether any economies had been
effected, but that there were "ittle
conversations" about it which he could
not remember.
1t was at this point that the matter
of reducing the pay Of city employees
came up, and the Mayor delivered his
speech on his new stand.
He said:
And | want to say this, that the
increase in salaries of the employees
of the city was not advanced as greatly
as 1t was to private employment on the
outside. Private employers paid q
greater salary to their employees than
did the people of the city adminstra-
ton to the employees of the city, and
that is one"
"You are talking about per diem en-
ployees ?"
II am talking about them all, and
that is one reason why | stand now
strong on no reduction Of the salaries
of employees or the wages Of per diem
laborers."
The hearing chamber had at this
time become crowded apparently with
employees on their monday luncheon
recess. When the Mayor thumped the
desk hard TO push his stand on the
wage question home a loud cheer came
from the gallery followed by the vigor-
Gus stamping of feet
Chairman Meyer pounded his gavel,
but the noise continued. Through the
babel Of voices carrying good and bad
opinions Of the Mayor it could scarcely
be heard thai an adjournment had
been ordered Groups of admirers and
opponents of the Mayor then gathered
on the floor of the chamber and argued
in loud voices. AS the Mayor passed
out Of the room he was cheered again.
1t was a short time later that Secretary
Snnott got into an alteration with q
Rnr ll1hl In, Lei 4