The New York herald., 1874-06-25
The ComPtrOllor's New Budgct-Fslsc
and True Economy.

ment as his recommendation of the amount OF
for the expenses Of the current year requires
to be closely scrutinized. Like every state
ment that comes from the Finance Depart
ment it is designed and calculated to mislead
the people 1t shows reduction of S., OO2, 795
from the estimate before adopted; but when
we examine the items to find how this reduc-
ton is secured we discover that very small
fraction is due to retrenchment on the part OF
the municipal departments, and that the
abuses which exist in some Of the most ex-
travagantly conducted departments are con.
tinued and sought to be covered up
by this false show Of economy.
Indeed, it is now evident that the original es-
innate was made unnecessarily large in order
that the amount might be reduced without
the stoppage Of any of the leakages of the
government The announcement. made
amidst grand flourish of trumpets. that the
sum required to be raised this year by taxation
had been cut down FIVE million dollars, was
we'll calculated to blind the eyes Of our cili-
zens to the profigacy Of the Finance De-
partment, the rascalities Of the Charities and
Correction, and the squandering Of the peo-
ple's money on fancy projects in Central
Park. The action Of Messrs. Vance and
Wheeler in the Board of Apportionment has
spoiled this game. They demand such re-
duction of the expenses OF the government as
will effect a real saving to tho taxpayers, and
the necessity of the demand is made the more
apparent by publication Of the Comptrol-
ler's budget.
The demagogism and untruthfulness of
Mr.. Green's statement are exposed by the
manner in which he exhibits the figures of the
Finance Department. He states simply under
the head of Finance Department. Estimate
as now fixed s475, 600. Amount as proposed,
1871, ,15O." This would imply and is intended
to imply that the expenses OF the Finance
Department have been reduced $l03, $50. The
truth is that the difference is made by now
placing in separate item the sums required
which under the former estimate were in
cluded in the amount appropriated to the
Finance Department, and the former estimate
Of that department instead of being reduced
is increased 1886 on the salary list and
SIG, $50 on the rents and real estate expenses.
The reductions effected by the law of the
last Legislature, which authorized the reopen
ing OF the estimates, are as follows -
For new City Prison, law repealed. $250,0O0
For special contingencies prohibited Dy
For Fourth avenue Improvement bridged
FIR bonds due tls year. bridsed over BY '''0
law. ...s................... 4UV,UUU
Total reductions made by law. ,94s. 767
These reductions are provided tor by the
law, and the Board Of Apportionment has no
control over them. Out of the whole amount
only $3.50. 900 is saved, the remainder being
only payment postponed until next year.
When we examine the balance of the reduc-
ton made in Mr.. Green's budget we find
$50, 513 Of the amount to be q saving in the
interest on the public debt, which is cut down
from SO, ,120,513 in the former estimate to
$8, 250, 900 In the Comptroller's present budget.
We find in this another indication of the
tricky and deceptive character of the new
budget The exact amount required for in
terest this year was as well known in Novem-
Der last as it is to-day. There would have
been no object in adding on to the interest ac-
count in November nearly one million dollars
more than is required, except that of taking 1t
of again on the revised estimate and making
thus false show Of reduction. This leaves
only balance of triAe over 81, 18O, 900 as
the saving in oil the departments of the city
government after oil the Comptroller's stump
speeches on economy. The reductions ara
principally in the following offices: Public
Works, $ll6,5O0; Charities aud Correction
"a saving from buildings, &C., and not from
the exorbitant expenditures. for supplies),
$118,0O0; Board OF Education, $3.50, 900, and
City Courts, $163, 000 It will thus be seen
that the public parks, the Finance Depart
ment and the regular expenses OF the Chari-
ties and Correction are left untouched or the
demands for money are increased.
There is no honest economy in this budget,
and the work which Messrs. Vance and
Wheeler have undertaken has not yet been
performed They have resolved that the asy-
lums in the Finance Department and its bu-
reaus shall be closed and that no more "incom-
petent friends shall be supported in idleness
at the cost of the heavily burdsned taxpayers;
that the waste of the peoples money in the
Park Department shall be stopped; that the
scandalous extravaganza and corruption in the
Charities and Correction Department shall be
brought to close. Il is to be hoped that they
will pursue their praiseworthy object with
frmness until they compel that economy in
the abused public departments which will
effect real and substantial saving to the city
treasury.
Music In tho Public Schools.
We have received o number OF communica-
tions in reference to music in the public