The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-30
|hlLAN, RAISING own
PAY, VEYOES BILL TO
HELP UNIFORMED MEN
Politics His Excuse for De-
nying s2,5OO to Firemen
and Policemen.
8AcTION RoUsEs MEN
Mayor Also Refuses to Make
Vehicle License Car
of Drennen.
SILENT AS TO PRESIDENCY
Too Busy to Discuss His Polit-
ical Future or Chicago
J Junket.
SILENT AS TO PRESIDENCY

sterday and before the day was over
Ahad caused CONSERVATION in many
lv.uarters by his action on legislative
bills before him. This is part of what
he did:
Disapproved the measure increasing
the salaries of first grade policemen
and firemen to $4,000.
Announced he would veto the bill
transferring the Bureau of Licensed
Vehicles from the Department of Lii
censes to the Police Department, be-
cause it would make a czar of John
Drennen,,' it's chief.
Indicated he would reject the bill to
put in the hands OF the Pogt Authority
the freight tunnel to be built from
Brooklyn to Staten Island.
Held hearings on half dozen other
legislative measures.
: The Mayor had nothing to say about
his Western junket or the talk of can
kdates for Governor or President.
Indignation filled members OF the
Nee and Fire departments when they
med they would not get their salary
crease. They recalled that only a
eek ago the Mayor had signed a bill
Increasing his own compensation from
| $4,000 to $4,000. the salary OF the
Comptroller by the same amount and
that OF the President OF the Board OF
Aldarasen from $500 to $4,000.
IAr ago similar hills.yeaehed the
Mayor at the same time. He vetoed
both. This year it was so arranged that
the Mayors increase was pushed through
ahead of the bill providing for the uni
formed men. The hearing on the latter
was held last week.
Bill Politics, His Excuse.
The Mayor made public no memoran-
DUN on his veto. but explained he be-
licved 1t bit OF politics. The police
men and the firemen. he said. had re-
ceived increases of $3.50 during his ad-
ministration. which was the greatest
boost in history. He did not think the
men had acted fairly in going over his
head 10 the Legislature to get more
money.
1T was just little game OF politics."
he asserted, played to embarrass me.
The question of whether the policemen
and firemen should receive another raise
in salary Is one with which the city
Board of Estimate can cope without any
interference from Albany. / want TO
say right now that any legislative bill
calling for pay increases to city en-
nloyees will receive little consideration
from me IN those instances where the
Board OF Estimate has the power to
make the increase"
Advocates OF the bin to turn the IL
censing OF motor vehicles over 10 the
Police Department tried desperately to
overcome Mayor Hylans belief
Joker was being put over on him.
The Police Commissioner will have
the responsibility OF the whole thing
without the authority" he declared.
How that provision about Drennen got
In there is more than l can say"
1t Will be calamity, IL this bill fails
to be signed" protested Miss Sophie
Irene Loeb.
Il am afraid there is going to be a
calamity then" shot back the Mayor.
After the hearing there were those
who expressed the opinion that Tam
many Hall had induced the Mayor to
keep the bureau in the hands of John +.
Gllchrist Commissioner OF Licenses.
True, tho twenty or twenty-five places
are all under the civil service. but there
Is much power to be welded there. n
was said. Gilchrist is a good Tammanv
man. Police Commissioner Enright is
not.
Sees Drcnnen a Cxar.
I'm in favor OF turning the bureau
over TO the Police Department. replied
the Mayor. but here Drennen gets the
power and the Police Commissioner all
the odium that goes with it,
Let's get rid of this Halifax ghost
who Is supposed to have put Drennen
into the bill" broke In Chief Magistrate
McAdoo after the Mayor had continued
to make mystery as to who had tried
to put something over" on him. II am
responsible. Nothing was further from
my mind than the idea OF making a
t'rankenstein or a Mogul out OF him"
The Mayor listened In silence while
Arthur Taylor. his Street Cleaning Com
missioner. urged him 10 sign the Wells
bill making permanent the wages now
paid TO members of the force. It's advo-
catcs frankly said they were for II be-
cause II would tie the hands of any sue
eeeding administration that might want
70 reduce wages Such law would
make for more efficient work. as the
men would feel secure. Not n word was
said about mandatory legislation or
home rule
Approval Of the bill that would per-
NIT the Comptroller to audit and pay
the expenses OF Inspector Dominick
Henry In defending himself against an
Indictment following Charles s. whit
mans investigation of the Police De-
partment was announced by the Mayor
About 80 per cent OF the members
of the. Fire Department favored incrcas-
ing the maintenance fund OF the life
insurance fund OF the department In
order to increase death benefits from
$1,000 to $4,000. Mayor Hylan was told
by Lieut.. Francis J. Sempie at the hear
Ing on an enabling act for that purpose.