New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-08
TIE FINAL TSTI.NiTES.

The Board Of Estimate and Appor; comment
will meet on December - 10 begin the work
OF revising the estimates of municipal oypcndi-
ture for the coming year. The provisional
estimates will then be taken up in detail and
increased or diminished with more or less
scrupulous regard for the welfare Of the city.
1t was formerly the habit of the various de-
partmentS 10 make cXtrayagant demands in
the expectation that the pruning knife would
finally leave them larger allowances than if
the original statement Of their requirements
wore more moderate. Under the dictation Of
Tammany leaders, who can be ShrcWd and
crcum>pcct when they choose 10 he, heads OF
departments have leaned to exercise greater
modcSty, especially in years when important
elections occur. Their estimates ar submitted
during the closing weeks Of The campaign. when
public opinion is supposed 10 be alert and
sensitive, and on the whole i; has been thought
wiser in recent years to preserve an appearance
Of decent regard for private pockets, without
going TO the extreme If what 10 the Tammany
mind would seem reckless frugality.
The provisional cStlmate; for next year haye
been subjected to criticism for several weeks,
and it does not appear that they are, on the
inflated standard of municipal expenditure.
But there is always tremendous pressure
put upon the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tionmcnt in the hope that extra allowances
may be squeezed out, and therefore it is al
ways unsafe to conclude that no jobs are under
way until the revision has been passed The
election Of November confirmed the Tam
many machine in its enjoyment of almost I'M
limited power, and there arc scores Of local
statesmen who will see in the popular attitude
warrant for unparalleled extravaganza, or ut
least a guarantee that no rcbuko would follow
record breaking appropriations. We do not
suppose that MesSrs. Grant, Myers, Barker and
Arnold regard the matter in just that light.
They have all felt, rs individuals and col
lcctvely, the weight Of hostile criticism. and
they cannot altogether lose the sense of r.
spOnsbility for the proper discharge OF q grave
and delicate task, even in the face Of con-
vincing proof that this is a tolerant and crcdu-
lous community And 50 it is not utterly alb
suid to suppose that tho Board Of Estimate and
Apportionmcnt will listen respectfully t. the
voice Of reason in making their final allowances.
Intelligent citizens want their local affairs
administered thoroughly well, without cxtraya-
rdnCc ana WITHOUT DdlSlmOnl. Many OF thcm
neglect TO give e1fcctual expression to their
convictions and desires on Election Day, TO be
sure, but it may be assumed that they would
approve a municipal government that was
efficient in all its parts and nationally
economical. They do not really like 10 see
oven small delinqucncics tolerated or useless
Injuries provided. They thought well Of MAYOR
Grant. for example when he bluntfy opposcd
the project to establish the Board of Educa-
ton in costly and elegant quarters while thou
sands Of children were crowded out Of the
schools. And they will applaud the Board Of
Estimate, we are confident, if il rcsiss the
appeals Of the Police Department for bcauii-
full new steamer in place Of the still commodi-
Gus and scryiccallc Patrol. On the other hand.
the people have derived unwonted pleasure
and profit from the Metropolitan Museum dur.
ing the last two years, and would resent any
official action which tended to cripple its use
fulness and diminish their enjoyment of its
treasures. Ii is reported that an effort is max
ing to obtain an inordinatc increase of the
appropriation for STRENGTHENING purposes. II
any such request is preferred we hope it will
be promptly rejected. Commissioner Brennan
has been treated with exceeding liberality,
and has 10 cause whatsoever for complaint
except against the stupid and shftless creatures
who are still retained upon his payroll and
possibly, the Tammany m1gnates who keen
them there. lie has n huge sum of money at
his disposal. and an admin able law to helD him.