New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-08
PROSPECTS OF 4 LOWER TAX RATE.
HEROIC EFFORTS TO KEEP DOWN THE BUDGEr-
A MLAUGHLIN K1CK-BUsINEsS PIiN-
CrPI.FS ALI. AROTND.

HEROIC EFFORTS TO KEEP DOWN THE BUDGET
MLAUGH1IN K1cK-BUsINEss PR1N-
CIPLEs ALL AROUND.
Although the budget has been completed the eS-
act amount Of the rate Will not be known Tor
some time 70 come. II s usually announced IN &C.
tober but there have been occasions when attempts
have been made to withhold It from the knowledge
OF the public until after the fail election. That was
the case when Mayor Chaplin was running for re-
election Il only account OF the vigorous pro-
tests made by the press and people against being
kept in ignorance on this point that the rate was
finally made known prior to election day.
Mayor Schieren estimates that II the State tax
rate is the as last year. the city rate VIII be
about ten mills less than last year. possibly IL may
be still lower. Any reduction at all. however. VIII
be most creditabe 10 the new administration. which
has labored under peculiar difficulties in reducing ex
penses In the endeavor TO keep the city and county
budgets within reasonable limits herouean efforts
had to be made but in most II not all OF the de-
partments there will be the hearicst cooperation
with the Mayor in the endeavor 10 keep the ex-
penditures within the appropriations. The only
formal protest against reduction has come from
the Board OF Charities and Corrections, the last
stronghold Of the Mclaughlin Democracy The
Charities Commissioners predict that they will have
a deficiency and with a considerable flourish they
are cutting of various items OF expense in the hope
of attracting attention 10 their economical DISPOSE
ton.
a
noteworthy as Mayor Scheren has had to contend
with an adverse majority in the Board OF Est-
mate, only members OF which-the Mayor and
the Supervisor "a -Large-are Republicans The
whole work of making up the budget this year
has been conducted in refreshingly business-like
way. Mr. Scheren has consented to appropria-
tons which could not be proved to be necessary by
the men who asked for them. In a few OF the de-
partments less money asked for this year than
was allowed year ago. but in others good deal
more wanted. The head OF one department
voluntarily consented 10 reduction OF his salary
for the year from 5000 10 5000 In order TO lower
the public interest before known IN
Brooklyn. The head OF another department said
long ago: II have been able to reduce the ex
penses OF this department slightly but OF course the
saving / have effected is a mere feabite. However
business man have proceeded on business
principles and have done here just what should
do in my own business In like circumstances.
doing this. and no doubt shall get more curses
than thanks. Still know have done the right
thing. and believe that the other heads OF city
departments have done the same Yet know II
will be very hard task 10 meet the popular expec-
tation that the Schieren administration Will bring
about a reduced rate There is one important
thing TO be taken into consideration. There can be
very little increase In the assessed valuation OF the
city this year. since there have been hardly any
count OF the business stagnation and naturally
there has been increase In the value OF real
tate worth speaking Of There has been an attempt
to secure larger returns by levyng taxes on person
al property but what the result will be II is too
early yet to determine "