The New York herald., 1922-04-13
GOV. MILLER VET0ES
HYLAN SALARY GRAB
Or $4,000 A YEAR
Rebuked for Asking Albany
to Increase His, Craig's
and Hlllbert's Pay.
BLOW AT HOME RULE
Told, as He Told Others,
Boards Of Aldermen and
Estimate Have Power.
OWN WORDS A BOOMERANG
Mayors Reasons Applied With
nnuhJa Eoroa n 0nJv Groh
OWN WORDS A BOOMERANG
Mayors Reasons Applied With
Double Force to Only Grab
Signed by Him.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.

New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, April I:.
Gov. Miller to-day vetoed the bill
signed March Fl by Mayor Hylan in
creasing the salaries of the Mayor and
Comptroller from $4,000 to s25.O0O
each and of the President of the Board
of Aldermen from $4,000 tc $4,000.
In his veto and in memorandum
accompanying it the Governor rebuked
the Mayor for seeking salary increase
through the Legislature rather than
the governing bodies in New York.
where, he said the power rests prop
erly. This salary increase was the
only one approved by the Mayor. He
vetoed similar measures calling for in
creases in the salaries of policemen,
f1remen and other officials.
In his memorandum the Governor
referred to section Sc of the charter.
providing that the Board OF Estimate
and Board of Aldermen have full au-
thority for fixing the salaries of city
officials and further that nc change in
salary shall be made during the Of
ficials term in office.
Hoist with own Petnrd.
1t is proper. the Governor said, that
city salaries should be fixed by the
local bodies representing the taxpayers
who must pay those salaries. The true
power of the Legislature is to confer
adequate power on such local bodies
he stated, adding that in this instance
there is adequate authority to deal
with the Mayors salary without COM
ing TO the State capital for help.
II concur in the Mayors reason for
yetoing number of special city bills
increasing salaries and disapproving
other salary increase bills submitted to
him: /. e., that the power TO fix those
salaries is or should be vested In the
Board Of Aldermen and The Board OF
Estimate" said Gov. Miller. THAT
reason applies with double force to this
bill because OF the express limitation
upon any change in TIE salary OF the
Mayor or Comptroller. during their re-
spective terms of office. The creator
OF that limitation. the State Legisla-
turc. should respect 1t. II it is un-
sound it should be changed or repealed.
not violated.
The way to secure home rule is for
the Legislature TO conser suitable
powers over local affairs upon the local
officials and then scrupulously to re-
frain from itself exercising those
powers.
Matter of Local Cognixancc.
"The fixing of salaries OF local off,
cials Is peculiarly matter Of local
cognizancc. so much so that / have
referred to the Mayor various bills in
creasing the salaries of county officials
within the city and shall follow his
recommendation In dsaprrcving them.
1 think the constitution might we'll be
amended to require such bills to be
submitted to the Mayor like special city
bills, especially as such salaries are
now made a charge upon The entire city.
but, while waiting an amendment to the
constitution. such salaries should be
fixed, not by the Legislature. but by
the Board of Aldermen up n the recon-
mendation of the Board of Estimate. the
same as the salaries of city officials are
fixed.
''It would appear that sections 56 and
1883 of the charter are h-oad enough
TO confer such power, except possibly
in particular cases where the peculiar
wording OF the statute applicable to them
may prevent. In any case the remedy
Is to confer adequate power. There Is
row lscls of uniformity and Of suit
able grading Of salaries In the different
counties within the greater city That
ds.iiculty should be cured by the appli-
cation OF general prime pies, not by
lcgislating for particular cases
This subject may well he considered
by the charter revision commissioners.
who viii necessarily have to deal with
the difficult problem OF overlapping,
duplication and waste presented by the
present city. borough and county gov
ernments."
The Veto Memorandum.
In his memorandum OF veto the Gov
crnor wrote:
This bill Is plain violation OF the
principle OF home rule. 1t increases ii.
salary OF the Mayor and Comptroller OF
New York from $4,000 to s25,00O each
and the President Of the Board Of Alder
men from $4,000 to $4,000.
Section 56 of the charter says: 'Ex-
ccpt MS this section otherwise provides
ii shall be the duty Of the Board OF All.
dcrmcn, upon the Recommendation OF the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment
10 ix the salary Of every officer or rer.
son whose compensation Is paid out OF
the city treasury other than day labor
erg. and teachers. examiners and MEM
rers OF the supervising staff OF the DE.
partment Of Education, irrespective OF
the amount fixed by this act. except that
no change shall be made in the salary
or an elected officer or head OF de-
partment during his tenure of office
aT'ho mower ID thus vested I'm the