New-York tribune., 1902-03-30
CIRCUIT SOUNDS A WARNING
BOARD OF ESTIMATE WILL KEEP
ECONOMY PLEDGE
ANSWERS AN OUTBREAK FROM CoMMIs-
sIONER DOUGHERTY. WHO CALLS THE
BOARDS POLICY INANE

Commissioner DoUgherty Of the Department OF
Water Supply. Gas and Electricity yesterday.
in discussing the Board Of Estimate, lost control
OF his temper and attacked the board in no
certain terms. He was thoroughly aroused. and
in the course of his remarks took occasion TO
refer 70 the policy as insane and "inane" and
decidedly shortsighted. He said in part:
ask SOS GO for lights This I'm was left out of
the Old budget by an oversight or error. l do not
make any charges. II IT is not allowed some sec
100000 in damage suits. Is this economy? Is 1t
chesPer for the city 70 pay SOS 900 for lights or
as $1,000 for meter nsRestorsa "a and fully believe sE
revenue from water rents but this IS outlay, and
I want 5000 to $500 for salaries TO establish
bureau of supplies. 1 can probably save the city
$4,000 year but this IS not economy. Nhep vas vas
had made this argument to the board Of directors
Of private corporation they would the force of
the argument; that the corporation would profit in
SGeqq3Le % Waeg Ter SpPpy .F bt re4Icsd 30 o6o dSo
I do not know what TO make OF II. II S an insane
policy of economy
Controller Grout said last evening:
Either Commissioner Dougherty speaks in ig-
norance Of one Of the issues IN the last & e4mPasdd
budget the increases IN indIviduaI salaries and
the needless creation Of thousands Of places for
political purposes When the acquisitions were
compare his salary list with that Of 1898, This was
for the express purpose Of enabling the Board OF
trayagant increases and the needless places,
able literary prodGcfon. but it makes no com
partson Of his present or proposed salary Inst WITH
salary and contains nothing but an array of in
creases and new places. against which he appears
Doubtless much OF the work he proposes is
PsTtment has no been % ncressed [ drng the last
four years, and does not permit q any reductions
/ notice cashiers on his roll who seem 70 he rated
cashiers in the Department of Finance handling
many times as much money as any cashier in MI
per annum and only one ont Of the fourteen who
receives $500, and ne handles millions where the
hundreds of thousands. I find he has assist
ant cashiers at $500 and $500 per annumi, where
get from 1920 to 1880. This is only an ilustra-
The real trouble with Mr. Dougherty's estimate Is
tb no. MS plna @ f, LOT IA t'r4I |" @ 40 49, ~ new w C
omy in his SALARY list Such economy might very
increase Of appropriation. At any rate the EFFORT
Il may be that the demand for economy is both
name and insane In that case the reproach should
be made, not against the Board OF Estimate and
the voters who elected the fusion ticket last fall
It may be useful at this point in the work Of the
ett or me several heads OF dePartJnen.ts 20 quote
taU and TO say that the Board OF Estimate and
APporronment intends 70 live up 10 IT, as FAR as It
is In its power do
In the four years during which Tamnsny Hall
the budget has been increased from $1,000 400 10
the enormous amount 81 S9S. 00OO00. and TO raise
this sum by taxation the tax rate has been In
creased annually in spite OF the constant increase
IN the valuation Of real and personal property
How this enormous amount paid by taxpayers has
been expended by Tammany Hall appears In the
vast and increasing roster OF the municipal Civil
Service
Thousands Of places have been made IN the de-
partments solely for the purpose OF supporting
Tammany workers at the public expense. Salaries
have been increased without reason or excuse.
FavOrttism and extravaganza In the purchase u
supplies and IN the conduct OF public business
orally have disEraCed almost every department Of
the city government. X viii be the special duty
Of the candidates Of this convention, II elected 70
abolish all useless Offices. to cut down the public
den OF taxation