New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-20
4 GRE6T PUBLIC CAIN.


day on the question of unexpendcd balances
will prove q source of qualification to property
owners when they come to pay their annual tax
bills. The sum of 7S,OoO-uncxpehded
balances Of appropriations made III 1857 ana
previous years-was transferred 10 the General
Fund and will to tlat extent reduce taxation
for the current year. Excluding any additions
made to the tax levy by action of the Lcgisla-
ture, the rate will now be about - 20 as
against So 20 last year. If President Asten
had not secured the transfer of that large sum
to the credit of the General Fund, the tax rate
would at least have reached 81 10.
Such a reduction at a time when the burdens
of taxation and governmental exactiOus weigh
upon the commerce aud monetary Interests OF
the city with great weight. will be d0ubly ap-
prcciated. The people will not be likely To
forget that il is due 10 the pcrslStency with
which President Astcn has fought their battle
i'm the Board of Estimate. When he took firm
stand, nearly Il year ago, against the practice of
increasing appropriations by the system OF
transferring ncxpcnded balances, he incurred
the displeasure of a large number Of officials.
They had been in the habit OF securing a rcgn-
lar increase, unknown to the public, iii the sums
by that system of transfers. 1t was shown, for
instance, that in the Public Works Depart
ment, in one bdreau, Mr. Thompson had regu-
lary each year since he came III Office eX-
pended much larger sum 'hau that named In
his annual appropriation. While the taxpayers
were watching the final estimate. IN tho de
lusivc belief that any reduction made there IN
questionable appropriations was so much
saved, Commissioner Thompson was laugh
inc in his sleeve, well knowing that during
the following year, by tins system of transfers,
he could nave restored what WAS cut ont III the
final estimate. While it took a unanimous
vote to carry through the iinal estimate. Il ma
iority of the Beard of App0rtionment could
make a transfer in this way defeating the pur-
pose of the law.
The practice was carried to such an extent
last year that over half a million dollars was
transferred in uneXpended balances. rs soon
as the public came fully to understand the
method of procedure it was unanimously con-
demned. While they could not unite on any
other point, yet on this one every member OF
the Senate Committee on Cities agrecd-all
recommending that a law should be passed
making such practice legally impossible. The
Assembly OOulilltltt It'ttiiCu d ilhC 'oi'iuoi'A'
In the case OF the Commissioners of Accounts
the courts decided that transfer could not be
made Now, as IL further gain, the remaining
members of the Board of Estimate have begun
to realize the importance of this reform. Their
action Yesterday in voting with Mr.. Asten to
get rid of the greater part of this dangerous ac-
cumulation of unexpcnded balances, by using it
to reduce taxation is great public benefit.
This reform, however will not be fully ac
complishcd until a law is passed by which all
appropriations will lapse at the expiration Of
theyear for which they were made. There
should be no accumulated fund, such as that of
unexpended balances, which can be made avail
able to cover the reckless expenditures of an
extravagant or corrupt official. The apprOpri-
atons for contingencies each year should be
sufficient to meet all unforeseen expenditures
AS it is now, the unexpended balances have been
used for double purpose-tO offset uncollected
taxes and as fund to draw upon at convent
ence.
One of the bad bills passed by the Legislature
directs the appointment of 800 more policemen,
at a cost of half million dollars. to be paid for
the current year from this fund. Ii is a good
thing to get the fund out of the way before the
Governor signs that act. In that event he will
have to take the responsibility of increasing
taxation to that extent, i'll case he signs the bill