Even Moses’s strongest allies favored gradual salary reform, not sudden cuts.

Evidence

Then there began to be doubts about Moses’ proposals in the camp of his supporters. Even the most ardent had misgivings about telling men who had become accustomed to making—and supporting their families on—6,500 to 7,500 a year that they were now making $3,260 a year. Even the adoring Kaplan said “that was a little unfair, really. Put in a new system—okay. But don’t adversely affect people who had been working under the old system. Not everyone who was making a good salary in Grade Five was doing so just because of political connections, remember. Some had worked their way up on their own. And a lot of the people who had been given their chance through politics were doing good jobs and deserved the money. You shouldn’t suddenly take it away from them.” … Henry Moskowitz, declaring that “no one can deny [the] soundness and [the] justice of the principle of standardization,” said nonetheless that “a ruthless application of the principle…is unwise. In my judgment it should be gradually assimilated and apply to the vacant positions as they arise.” — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 347

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Allies perceived Moses converting a reform body into a personal political vehicle — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 587

Broader Connections

• Allies perceived Moses converting a reform body into a personal political vehicle #complicates (0.80) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 587