New-York tribune., 1922-03-22

go. All the arguments in favor of the
bill were to the effect that the Mayor
must put aside his personal views. and
whatever delicacy he might feel III the
matter, and consider the measure with
out reference to himself the Comp
troller or the aldermanc president. 1t
was pointed out that the salary did not
attach to the individual but to tho of
fee, and the question was, as the Of
flee Of Mayor in tho greatest city in
the world sworth S25,0 5,00o?'
Herman A. Metz, former Comptroller
one of the proponents, said that as
Mr.. Hylan would not be Mayor al
ways, he ought to help "the other fell
low"
position" said Mr.. Metz, "but in the
course of events you won't be Mayor
always, but ! think you will be for the
next ten or twelve years"
"Think | ought to help the other fell
low said the Mayor with a. laugh, in
which the audience joined
"Ycs, that's just it, Mr.. Metz went
on, "but, whether you need it or not,
the place is worth much moro. Future
Mayors if they think the office is not
worth the salary, will have a way to
return it through the conscience fund"
The bill now goes to the Governor.
Oppose Firc-PoIicc Raise
Mr.. Browne and the others objected
to the increases for the patrolmen and
firemen of the first grade from S22SO
to $1,000 a year, not on the ground
that they were excessive. but because
the legislation was mandatory.
'No body of employees in the city
should be allowed to go to Albany to
introduce mandatory legislation" said
Mr.. Browne.
"Browne," said the Mayor, "can't you
let the Republican politicians have
their fling and embarrass the Mayor?
That is a part of their little game.
Why worry about it?'
1t was remarked that no officers or
patrolmen in the Police Department.
except Patrolman Joseph P. Moran,
president of the Patrolmen's Benevo-
lent Association, appeared in favor of
the measure. The firemen's bill was
opposed on the same ground, as man
datory legislation, and was objected to
by representatives Of the battalion
chiefs. captains and lieutenants' as
soclatlons, on the ground that it was
50 worded as to preclude any further
increase in the officers salaries, but
PeiHiVIeu tne lrcmen salaries to be
advanced at any future time. The off
GERS said they were not opposed to the
increases for fremen.
In answer to questions by the Mavor.
Patrolman Moran and Albert E. Nj.
Gulncss, president of the Uniformed
tlremen's Association, admitted that
the pay of the first grade had been
raised $3.50 since 1918, or during the
first Hylan administrations They in
sisted, however, the present amount
was not sufficient to maintain family
decently. They declared hundreds Of
policemen and fremen were obliged to
apply to loan companies for money for
household necessaries, doctors and
dentists bills
Moran said the New York patrolman
received far less in proportion to his
superior officer than the patrolman in
any other city. He added that the
greater services and responsibilities of
the New York police had been recog-
nlzed in the salaries of their superior
officers and it was only fair that the
patrolmen receive like recognition. The
patrolmen, he continued, did not assert
the salaries of the: officers had been
raised too rapidly, but that the patrol
mems pay had not been raised fast
enough The Mayor took these bills
under advisement.