The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-01
The Board of ApportiOnment Adopt the
Provisional Estimates.
MAYOR AGAINST COMPTROLLER
A Hot Tempered Controversy Between
MI. Cooper and Mr.. Kelly
WE'RE BOTH POLITICIANS

that they meet every year. just previous
to November l. and consider tho estimates of the
various bureaus Of tho city for the next
ensuing twelve months. In the performance of this
duty Mayor Cooper. Comptroller Kelly. Commits
sioner Wheeler. Of the Department of Taxes and
Assessments. and President Mott Of the Common
Council. have held executive every day for
q week past. Yesterday. when the members
came together. Mayor Cooper suggested that the
sessions of the Board be public. and although such
u thing has been done before, His Honors
motion was adopted The Mayor sat at the head of
a long meeting table. and aanked on the right
by Messrs Mott and Wheeler and on the left by
Comptroller Kelly. Deputy Comptroller storrs and
Mr.. james J. Martin. The open session was tho
~cene of many spicy discussions between the Mayor
and Comptroller, in which the other members OF
the Board occasionally joined Mr.. Kelly apparently
thought that the Mayor was bent making reduc-
tions n those departments and bureaus which he
fancied were still under Tammany control, and
sharply questioned the Chief Magistrate as to why
he did certain things.
Tho estimates which were reviewed yesterday will
now be sent to the Board Of Aldermen. and the
members Of that body may recommend an increase
or decrease OF any item. the may be. No
recommendation. however. is of any force unless it
receives final approval Of the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment
Mayor Cooper reduced the estimate for carrying
on the bureaus under his control by some $4,000.
The proceedings opened by Mayor Cooper
proposing to proceed to take up the appropriations
item by item as they appeared in the provisional
budget. To this Comptroller Kelly objected. saying
that the Board would not get through the work
within tho time provided by law. He thought the
appropriations should be taken up by departments,
considering the legislative branch first and con-
tinuing until the work was completed. The Board
then went on in its work. When the Mayor read out
tho appropriation of $4,000 for salaries of cerks
and officers Of the Board of Aldermen he moved to
reduce the amount to $4,000. and when asked by
Mr.. Kelly for his reasons replied
IT think $50 is enough for the clerk of the
Board and $4,000 for the deputy I think there is
no assistant librarian needed assistant mes
senger. That makes $500 deducted. I move to
take off 5000 instead of So 300.
Mr. Kelly suggested that the attaches Of the Com
mon Council had not had hearing as other defend
ants were accorded but the Mayor replied that the
President Of the Board Of Aldermen was present and
could speak on the subject Mr.. Mott said that he
had no doubt some of the clerks could be dispensed
with, but their services were often needed He was
there in the interest Of all departments and not in
particular for the Common Council. He should
vote he thought best.
you please. Nobody objects to that. SO have other
people. But we must get all the information pos
sibe the subject before taking decided action.
The item was laid over for the present..
The estimate OF the Finance Department was then
read by the Mayor, who turned toward Mr.. Kelly
and said that he had observed that there had been
increase in the salaries over what they were in
1878.
''rhe total appropriation" continued the Mayor,
as he glanced at some memoranda on his desk Twas
1925 600 in 1873 Last year S250.000 appropri-
ated. The appropriation for cleaning markets was
S25 900 last year"
The mpfroller listened until His Honor stopped
talking and then turned round and said in calm
eve should know more about this than you do.
There has been additional market in the past
month or two. which requires more money to run
it, We have gone these matters very carefully
and ought to know the amount OF money want to
run the department and we know perfectly well we
cannot run it for less than what we have asked"
THAT is what every department says" smilingly
..As 10 the salaries being high" continued the
Comptroller. not noticing the Mayors remark .they
There may be more people than are necessary"
suggested the Mayor
.'.There are not any more people than neces-
sary to carry the business of the department"
rejoined Mr.. Kelly. Then the Comptroller sharply
asked His Honor why he should suppose that no Mr
Kelly would employ more people than were ncces-
sary?
apply the same rule to every department?
COMPTROLLER kELLN-When reach tho depart
ments will act according to my judgment. know
at was run in 1878 for less" said the Mayor
rather impatiently
II don't know how it was run in 1s7s." retorted
the Comptroller, sharply "From careful exami-
nation OF the matter know had not sufficient
money to it and we had to ask for additional
sum to close up the business Of the year."
The item of s25.oOo for market purposes then
passed. and the appropriation of 500 for Contin-
soncies- Comptroiler's ONCE" was taken up, the
"Only $1,000 was set apart for that purpose in
matt mr. mi fho Rnar6
voting to give $4,000.
Mayor COOPER moved that the salaries of all en-
and that the amount appropriated be 1920 His
Honor in this connection. took occasion to speak rs
This is the only department of the city govern
ment that has not been cut down in salaries. do
not see why this should be So The Comptroller is
member OF this Board, but that should not make
any difference"
Tho COMPTROLLER, in reply TO the Mayors re-
THAT is making charge which needs explanation.
You told me in the beginning that you proposed to
cut down the salaries of certain employ S. and take
1t for granted you know all about it, therefore 1t is
not right that you should mako a reduction. SO
with the Board OF Aldermen Now we know all about
our department; we know perfectly well that there
Is no more money appropriated Tor that department
than is necessary to run 1t properly"
~ think you can run your department with the
amount have named." said His Honor ut this
point.
piled Mr.. Kelly, and then he added II don't think
you do" at which the Mayor passed to another
branch OF the subject. lie wanted 10 know the office
hours of the clerks in Mr.. kelly's department The
Comptroller replied from nine until four and some
times until ten o'clock at night From the 1st OF
November" continued Mr.. Kelly from forty to
nifty clerks have to be employed who work all day
aud until midnight. or even later You cannot
poet tho clerks In tho Finance Department to DO
transferred because they have work enough to do al
ready. think 80 far AS the Finance Department
is concerned IL will compare favoraby with any
other department OF tho city government, and to
the credit of the department will say we have done
great many things for the benefit OF this city. and
the facts and figures will show that the debt OF tins
city has been reduced in three years by 400 0O0
The Mayor expressed the opinion that he did not
think the Finance Department had anything TO do
with the matter.
"Bn 1t has great deal to do with it," retorted
Mr. Kelly.
The Mayor inquired where the reduction camc
from
"By economizing." responded Mr.. Kelly,
promptly.
Isn't 1t true" asked the Mayor. that the rev.
cnues OF the sinking fund make up the amount OF
the reduction
There are a great many things" replied the
Comptroller, ''that probably you know nothing
about, but we know about them, because II IL our