New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-19
INCREASED CITY EXPENSES.
PRESIDENT AsTENs OPPOSITION.

| WHY THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF
ESTIMATE FAVOR LARGER APPROPRIATIONS.
| The Aldermen will meet this week TO consider the
provisional estimates prepared by the Board of Ap-
portionment and will follow their usual practice OF
recommending increased appropriations for those
departments in which they as politicians have the
greatest interest. Then the Board Of Apportonment
will proceed to make final estimates. In previous
years the recommendations of the Aldermen have
had no weight. They have always been eXtravagant
and the Board Of Estimate has laid them on the
table. This year, however, it is expected that q
different course will be followed and it is likely to
lead to a new trouble.
1t is well known that Mayor Edison believes that
the Aldermen represent majority of the voters OF
the city and that it is his duty therefore, to keep in
harmony with them. Hence it is thought
that the expressed will of the Alder
men in regard to appropriations viii be needed by
the Mayor. Controller Grants term will expire next
year. when he hopes to come before the Aldermen for
confirmation for full term. He is not likely to op-
pose their wishes and in all his actions as Controller
he has been faithful representative of the Mayor.
John Reilly will of course favor large appropria-
tiOns for every purpose, as heretofore This VIII
leave President Asten alone in his contest for de-
creased expenditures. But the law has put in his
hands power which he can use to great effect.
LEAVING THE CITY WITHOUT APPROPRIATIONS.
The City Consolidation Act requires an affirna-
tive vote Of all the members of the Board of Esti-
mate in making the provisional estimates. II does
not state that the same concurrent vote rs required
in making the final estimates but practically tho
same provision is reaiiirmed by requiring the mem
bers to sign the final estimates before the sums ap-
propratcd can be used by the departments. There
has never been time when member has refused
TO sign the final estimates because TO avoid the trou
BILE such cOurse might cause, the Board has gem
orally agreed upon appropriations that w0uld be
satisfactory to all the members. Tie attempt,
however, to increase the citys expenses next year
will meet with stubborn opposition from President
Asten. He says that he will not sign the hnal
estimates unless the provisional estimates are
largely reduced. In order to secure that result the
recommendations of the Aldermen will have to be
disregarded And there is general belief about
the City Hall that the majority III the Board OF
Estimate will not only refuse TO disregard tho
wishes of the Aldermen, hut will resist the attempt
to cut of a million dollars from the PROVISIONAL
estimates. If that proves to be the ease, fIesi-
dent Asten says that there will be 40 final esti-
mates.
Alderman Reilly has accused Mr. Asten of seek
ing notoriety and has endeayOTed IN other ways ID
force him TO desst from his efforts Tor economy.
Various Influences have been brought TO- bear in
order to get HIM to withdraw his opposition TO the
practice of increasing appropriations Dy making
transfers of uneXpeuded balances; but so lar
without avail If Mr.. Asten refuses to sign mo
final estimates, the city VIII HdNe ~ ~ w Aiio
Legislature in order to get money TO pay the eN-
penses of running the municipality III 1881. III
that event, the Republicans could pass any law ap,
plicabe to the subject they chose, when would
be approved by the Governor, and the city eX'
penses could by that means be cut down Two OF
three million dollars. -
THE EXTRAyAGANT CLAIMS OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
President Asten said on Saturday that he hoped
the necessity Cor extreme measures would be
avoided, but he would not consent TO such largo
increase of the tax rate would be necessary If
the sums appropriated in the provisional estimates
were adhered to in the final estimates.
Some of the items in the estimates submitted by
the departments are regarded as peculiar. lie
Controller. for instance was allowed in the proyi-
sional estimates an increase of $4,000 for clerk
hire for next year over the amount asked by Con-
troller Campbell for the present year. HE Con-
troller also asked for and allowed IN the pro-
yisiona estimates $4,000 for cleaning the mar,
kets IN 1884. In 1881 Controller Campbell dd
the same work for $22,3l7 and last year II only
cost the city SlS.II2. For nine months OF tho
present wear the cost of cleaning the markets has
been Sl6I2i or at the rate of S2l .49s for the
wear There are two new market buildings now
and ex-COntr0ller Campbell said that It would
cost less to clean them than II cost To clean the
old buildings; yet Controller Grant wants SS,OOo
more with which to clean the new market bulld,
ings i'm 1854 than it cost the city To clean the oid
buildings in 1882. These are samples OF the way
in which the appropriations are increased IN
nearly all the departments.