The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-25

CIRCULAR ABOUT ST. AGNES HOS
PIFAL SENT TO THE ALDERMEN.


Homer Folks Can't Elnd That IL EXISTS.
Although Down for $50. OOO Last Year
and &l5 500 This G~ear-Dther Points
on which Aldermen Mediate Attack.
Alderman John n. Davies. chairman OF
the Finance Committee Of the Board OF
Aldermen. authorized tho following stats
o 10 bc given out yesterday with respect
TO the final Taxpayers hearing on the budget
increases which will be held this afternoon
In the Aldermanic Chamber at ? o'clock:
The Board OF Aldermen has received
numerous communications from oitizsns
and civic organizations protesting against
certain increases proposed by the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment for the
year 1908. While 1t is true that the Board
OF Aldermen has no power to increase, IL
has owe to cut down any increases that
IL may consider excessive. Even II the
Mayor vetOes the amendments passed by
the Aldermen. we can at least lodge squaTeIy
ON his shoulders responsibility for u%njusti-
fable increases.
For example: We cannot vote additional
funds for nurses and food for hospitals
managed by the city. but we can cut out
increases Of s4OO 900 for private charitable
institutions against which protests have
been received, especially from the State
Charities Aid Association. II we find, as
has been alleged. that an institution that
does not exist has been promised several
thousand dollars. we may cut this allowance
out OF the budget. We cannot vote adj
dittonal funds for the Tenement House
Department. but we can cut out the in
crease for the Borough President OF Man
haitian. the Department Of Water Supply,
and other departments. II is barely possi-
BILE that IL we save money intended by the
Board Of Estimate n A-pportionment
for purposes not approved by the general
public. the Mayor will be willing to recon-
mend that the amount thus saved be given
to public schools. public hospitals or the
Street Cleaning Department
Alderman Davies later explained his
statement about a charitable institution
that does not exist receiving an allowance
under the budget by saying that each
member % the nance committee had
received a circular from Homer Folks,
secretary Of the State Charities Aid Associa-
ton, stating that there was such a hypo-
thetical institution, a beneficiary under the
budget, n that Representatives OF the
association would be in attendance on the
hearing to-day to tell the Aldermen just
what institution IL is. Alderman Davies
said hat he had no idea what institution
was meant. His statement continues:
Those people who are so nxiOu to
have the Board Of Aldermen abolished will
find ample reason in the budget sent over
TO us this year by the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment for some second de-
Lucrative body to serve as a check upon the
appropriating body"
As furnished 10 the newspapers the
statement originally read: "A check upon
the extravagances of officials interested
in voting to themselves large sums Of public
funds"
81 did not authorize thai statement
Alderman Davies said last night Il am
not throwing mud at anybody
Mr.. Folks stood by his circular last night.
The institution | refer to-" ne said. lis
st. Agnes Hospital for Atty ical Children.
| have not been able through the regular
channels to find out that this institution
is In existence. Last year. however, 10
appeared on the list Of appropriations for
100000 donated by the city. Whether It got
this money | cant tell. But the a~ppropria-
ton was made. On the roll now under dis
cNssion II appears again for Sl7. 500. Since
l sent out the statement in regard to the
matter I have learned through indirect
channels that this liz an institution which
is going to be established up DObbs Ferry
way some time in he future by a Catholic
sisterhood. OF course it is unusual to
appropriate sums from the city treasury
except TO institutions already in existence"