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

A".A' i' NuiNU inc mayor SalQ.
II have been assured by the heads
dents that they will make the greatest
possi bic reductions that can be made,
which it is hoped will average Z per
cent in all departments"
Nov, what | want to know" queried
the committees attorney, "is if the
expenditures in the departments under
the budget of 1921 for the first half
of the year indicate any such reduc-
tion?"
They indicate some reduction,'' re-
piled the Mayor, "but | do not think
anywhere near 7 per cent"
Another Statement Read
When the question of possible econ
omies was first brought up, the Mayor
asked leave to read statement in con-
nection with his position on the reduc-
ton Of employees pay.
! The investigation that stated was
being conducted' he said, sis one by
the Board Of Estimate into per diem
wages of skilled trades only, the rate
for which is mandatorily fixed by the
prevailing rate Of wages law This is
being done so that the Board of Es-
innate may not by its action violate
that law. My personal position is that
the highest wage permissible should
be paid to competent per diem skilled
men and other laborers."
This was complete switch around
from his stand Of the previous day,
when he insisted that he was in favor
of retention of the present scale of
salaried employees, but thought it
possible economies might be effected
through cuts in per diem workers, and
that an Investigation to that end (, was
being made.
Whereupon Mr. Brown said:
i nave been put somewhat at loss
IN regard to YOUR position as to sal
ares and wages, as result of look
ing over your various declarations on
those subjects, and | wish to call your
attention to some previous statements
with view to giving you an oppor-
tunity to making me understand the
reason that controls your present
statement. ] notice in your inaugural
address of January l, 1918, that you
say:
"'The government of the city must
be put on a war basis. That means
actual economy in every department.
1T means reduction in the cost of
government, and charge you to elimi-
nate waste and extravaganza wherever
you find them Useless positions
must be abolished. Nothing is to stand
in the way. Influence of no kind must
be allowed to serve the lazy or the
dishonest employee. Commissioners
will revise salary lists and reduce
those salaries which are excessive. |
say here, so that it may be plainly
understood throughout the admins
tration, that there will DO no salary
increases for employees now receiving
more than $1,000 year
Payroll Increases Shown
Now, taking that statement" said
Mr.. Brown, "and referring to it. l
rather gathered from your testimony
that you did not see the way to make
any reductions. In the first place,
there have been a great many raise
OF salary where the compensation was
800 or more during Your administra
tion hasn't there?"
Yes, sir, owing to increase of prices,
cost of living and the like of that"
offered the Mayor.
II would like to ask you what saving
you can trace during your administered
ton to the reports you have received
from the Commissioner of Accounts %,
Gust offhand," the Mayor replied,
81 can't remember
And it has cost million dollars. in
round numbers, during the four
years? 7"
no SAedt poftlOH OF tnat increase
was increase in salaries" offered the
Mayor.
There was no mandatory legisla
ton increasing the cost of that depart
ment 2"
mo, but the increase of salaries was
due to the high cost of living and high
cost of rents"
Mr.. Brown then offered voluminous
data purporting to show there had been
large increases in the expenses of al
most all departments during the pres
ent administration. In reply to ques-
tons as to whether he had looked into
the matter and found out if any econo-
mics could be effected, the Mayor re-
/ piled in each case that he had not done
so personally and didn't know whether
such economies as he had directed to
/ be made by the various department
chiefs had been made OR not. He said
he had little conversations about it,"
More Expenses Multiply
II notice." pointed out Mr.. Brown.
that there has been an increase in the
expenses of the Board of Aldermen and
| the City Clerk from $2S9,15S in 1917
to S408,000 in 1921. Do you know where
the principal increase in cost there was p
"Not offhand. There was an increase
in salaries for the aldermen One
thousand dollars; each alderman got
an increase of thousand dollars"
"How many Aldermen are there?"
III think seventy three"
"That accounts for large part of
that?"
Eyes, sir"
"And the other expense was increase
of employees salaries?"
Some part Of it,"
Nov, l find that in relation to Belle
vue and other hospitals that there has
been an increase from 1917 of 1885,
1858; none of that increase is due to
mandatory legislation ?"
"No, sir, don't think 500
THAT is due to increase in salaries %
'Increasc in salaries and possibly
supplies and materials"
Have you made any investigation
yourself as to whether or not there
could be any economy effected at the
present time with reference to that
service ?"
"Not personally other than what the
examiners of the Board of Estimate are
now taking up in preparation of the
next years budget"
Exactly. You have had no report
upon the subject down to date"
"Not yet"
II notice that the appropriation for
charitable institutions has increa sed
from $5,500,000 to 100000 since 1917,
or an increase of over So $500 900. Have
you made any investigation at any time
during your administration to see
whether this rapid growth in cost can
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