68 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Finally, it came to pass that the Board of Estimate and the 

 Board of Aldermen did really increase by 10 per cent, the pay of 

 18,448 city employees ; but our own force was penalized by being 

 left out in the cold ! 



In view of the high character of our working force, its es- 

 prit de corps, its efficiency and its high standing with the pub- 

 lic, the treatment it received on the occasion described was a 

 stunning blow. During the past two years, the cost of living 

 has increased from 31 to 37 per cent., and the pay of our men 

 has, with but trifling exceptions, remained absolutely stationary. 

 That such a force should be so treated was not only dishearten- 

 ing, but positively demoralizing. The situation as it stood meant 

 for the families of scores of our men actual privations by depri- 

 vation of such prime necessaries of life as food, clothing and 

 medicine. 



In this emergency, an appeal was made to the Board of 

 Managers of the Zoological Society, for a subscription fund of 

 $11,600 with which to give to each Park employee, during the 

 year 1917 only, a monthly gift or bonus in cash amounting to 

 10 per cent, on all salaries under $1,300 per year. It was stipu- 

 lated that if done, this action would carry no promise for any 

 future year, for the simple reason that the Society could not be 

 expected to repeat this effort. 



The response of the Board of Managers was prompt and 

 generous. At the annual meeting of the Board, this matter was 

 given first consideration, as being the most important business. 

 The sum required was subscribed by the Managers named in 

 the following list : 



Emerson McMillin (20%) $2,280 



Edward S. Harkness 2,000 



Cleveland H. Dodge 1,500 



Mortimer L. Schiff" (10%) 1,140 



Wm. Pierson Hamilton 1,000 



E. C. Converse 1,000 



Andrew Carnegie 1,000 



Ogden Mills 1,000 



Grant B. Schley 500 



$11,420 



The first payment from this fund, for the month of January, 

 was made on the pay-day of February 2 ; and never was a sys- 



