The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-03
The New York Fakir and the Tax
Levy.

The Worlds prize fakir p%retends
this morning to take up THE JERSEY
CRY NEWS analysis of the city bud
get for the purpose of answering" 1t
and presumably refuting the con-
illusions arrived at. His method of
procedure is to ignore everything
that the News articles proved, to
ignore it the more, the more con-
clusively it was proven. to substitute
assumptions of his own for distinctly
ascertained facts, and then to draw
any conclusions he chooses from his
own preposterous premises.
For instance, our final conclusion
on the deficiency question was that
the budget would fall short $50, $50 al
together. Addressing himself to this
point, the fakir coolly assumes that
the deficiency is $1O4, $50. He does not
state our figure. formally take excep-
ton to it, and show his reasons for
differing from it. He simply imposes
his own figure upon us, makes us re-
sponsible for it, SO far as in him lies,
and then makes it the starting point
for his argument.
1t is hopeless to argue or contend
with a controversialist of this descrip-
ton. When a man feels bound neither
by rules Of logic or fair play. it be-
comes at once undignihed and I'M
profitable to prolong argument with
him, Indeed an attempt to grapple
with the World article of this morn
ing would degenerate from a discussion
of facts and deductions into an ex-
posture of the disingenuousness OF
the writer in his pretended
criticism OF our own anterior express
sions. For a contention of this kind
we have no liking. We are prepared
to discuss important questions with
anybody in a reasonable and becom-
ing way, but we have no intention OF
taking part in a dispute in which the
tactics of our opponent are those OF
the gentleman with the thimbles and
the elusive pea
One point in the World article, VIZ
will notice, because it seems to AFFORD
a clear issue. The World says
Apart from this it is believed that the defend
ers OF the budget misrepresent the attitude OF
the Free Library Trustees. What right have
they, II Is asked, TO surrender any Of the moneys
to which the act entities the Institution which
the public has placed in their keeping.
Nothing of the kind is believed,
even by the writer of the above. II
he believed it, nothing was easier for
him than to go to the Trustees and
get a positive denial of our statement.
He did not do this because he knew
he would be told that our assertion
was correct; that the Trustees would
be content with $40, 900 for this year. 1t
would have been hard for him to keep
on falsifying in the face of such
a declaration, SO he took great
care to leave the matter unveri-
fed, while he evolved a doubt out
OF his own fertile imagination. Now,
we repeat, the city will not be asked
to supply any more than these $40, 900
to the Library on account of this year,
and we believe the universal good
OF the community will uphold
the Trustees in showing moderation.
They have plenty of money 10 expand
the Library, and it is their duty,
speaking broadly, to avoid making it
a milestone about the taxpayers neck.
The World fakir may or may not be
right as to the letter OF the law. But
Justice, common sense and public
opinion all favor the arrangement
that has been made.