New-York tribune., 1909-04-11
FOURTH ARTICLE.

Z M in ALBANY where the legislature with the
most ulinuteness, determined upon appropriations
OF city moneys for city purposes Since that year
the Board Of Estimate has been allowed TO make
up the city budget. although never without some
legislative Interference, chiefly in respect Of sala-
Tfes Of policemen Grerlen and teachers This board
Which under the charter Of $50 consisted of the
Mayor. Controller. Commissioner Of Public Works
srd president Of the Park Department O1lll, Con
molly. Tweed and Sweeuyt was under the charteT
OF 1913 composed Of the Mayor, Controller, Presi-
dent OF Board Of Aldermen and President Of the
Department Of Taxes and Assessments IL 1888
the Corporation Counsel added and while tHe
charter 1881 made many changes in the city gov
ernnent II left the complexion of the board uIlai-
tered. In radical changes were made: hTs1'
the board was composed exclusively Of elected Of
hcials. she President OF the Tax Department and
the Corporation Counsel CeasluS To be members OF
il and being replaced by the five borough presi-
dents with voting power less than that OF t!e
three officials elected al large. and. second. by
reason cf tie administrative functions then re-
posed borough presidents, officials Fja-lE inter-
ested in expenditures were given degree Of appro-
rprIatins power The uew charter proposes TO rec
tIfy lass evil by depriying these officers OF al
administrative duties and vestins them IN CEN
fralized 1eEgartUent Of street control II lLe 9ol-
oush presidents a 10 be retained as commission
ers Of public works they must yield their places
IN The Board of Estimate and should not oe super
seded by borough representatives. for It would IN
faIfibiy happen thar each borough member OF tie
board by whatever name called. would be simply
the alter ego cf his borough president Borough
sentiment would demand that every appropriation
sough, by the borough president or borough admin
istrator should supported by the borough men,
Der Of the board
THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGAN
To the budgetary functions of this important
board there has been recently added exclusive
control Of franchises. AL these powers are con-
tiuued il the new board and new ones are given
making il hy far tile important organ OF the
CITY government and ~ effect central eNecu-
AZ
as expressed ~ the polls and TO the law by VAich
its powers ar deIlmited. The duties heretofore
vested IN the sinking fund commissioners have been
transferred 10 this board. d change which can be
made without infringement Of sinking fund pledges
TIE trust continue bus in different trustees
The board VII have charge Of the city map ana
may outline and carry out a policy OF city de-
,eIGpnleIt- II initiate all general improve
r7euts whatever their nature. make appropriations
subject 10 the limited power Of the council 70
reduce them ana determine the salary Of every IN
dif.dual paid of the city treasury, Win ll4e
exception o. the few officers. chiefly elective. whose
salaries are fixed by Law. The plan Of the com
mission is to take from the Legislature the last
vestge Of ;aat appruIriatng power "llch II
r-surped IL the decade cling II 1871 Ile
Legislature in Tyyeed's day ceased 10 fix all the de-
tails O. the budget: il should now cease 10 COM
pei tie city 20 make appropriations The extent
81 these appropriations IS not commonly Tea-lzeu-
y, city enjoys real horne rule 50 long as the
Legislature may a any time. even without knoWl-
edge Of the cirys financial condition. arpitrarlly
require II fo provide salaries improvements
which its chief nuaucial body might consider eA-
orbitar5 or uunecessaE Tals serVltuue oi ihe Gig
10 the Legislature in the matter Of local aproprla-
rfors is itHout parallel ia the case of other cites
the state
The revision commission of ra7 declared that the
c3tv ,,therities the direct representatives. OF the
electors should have complete control over It's eA-
peadiiures Cor local PURPOSES. T. said
Whether i, he the objects Of appropriations. the
fafa ia I.
to b. spent in Development or in uaintenance; the
purse should be placed in d responsible municipal
board without any. 50 me ms isfar5S
compelling aPpropria lions should lee repealed. No
mandatory calls lis purse as the Legislature,
from year to year. AZ the demand ~ personal ana
If the sitv oniciaIs elected at regular intervals
- The electTs ra1!s blame themselves for their
lack care IN selecting then servants and attend
abuse like the Tweed Ring period, may recur,
rarilv The voters must De impressed with the
Epousibility resting upon them q choose proper
duty. relying upon the Legislature 70 correct the
consequences Of their own neglect
OF the budget of 1908. amounting 10 upward Of
S4ncoooao $4rg1o0a alone represented salaries and
wages and 70 this must be added S2SOG0O for edu-
cational and library purposes, tie latter item con-
sistng 70 great extent Of salaries Of the teaching
and supervising staff under the Board Of Educa-
tYor which are mandatory under the Davis law
Tie appropriatiors for interest the city debt
and for tie redemption the city debt amount
70 100000 wlIch gives a graphic idea of the rate
~ which the city's funded debt IS increasing.
V-ngess halt Is soon called this will. IN q few
wears amount 20 3. .6taep1"o. Appropriations for
charitable purposes, apart from all appropriations
for tie maintenance Of the Department Of Public
Charities. reached the enormous figure of Si50Q,0Je
81 1903. and probably aggregate $4,000 in 1853
TIE DEBT service must be provided for, but all other
items IN the budget should be fixed by the local
k.z-s eyc3 IS the policy Of the charter. It's
theory j. that the people who pay the taxes should
control Eheir o+yn expenditures.
Reference 10 the budEet naturally leads to alu-
sion 70 2 desirable change which the new charter
would make One section Of 81 replaces numerous
sections Of the present charter. in which items
entering into tie budget are mentioned thus max
ing It possible by the reading OF single section
Cor .le taxpayer 70 discover for what matters the
budget may make provision Few things are more
important 10 him than 70 know that HIS servants
IN making appropriations no. oyersteppiug
law For the first time, think in all the citv's
experience oue section Of the law alone contains
provision Ter all appropriations. The financial
s-srs OF the city have reached crisis and nothing
Is more important than that the budget shall be
made ne subject Of profound study by citizens,
sr6 -or this = clear provision TO what il may
t,ortair Is eninentIy necessary This feature Of
the new charter should prove Of great value. Two
charters also have been drawn. treating Of the
I,,-,x sinking s.lnds and the other of the various
classes Of financial obligation which II may issue.
--+szs +uo subjects viii be discussed in later
=rtjcle: but It may now De stated that the new
chatter corternplates that corporate stock shall
,o ,onrer be ISSUED for the payment Of current
expenses sn Of which must be met out Of the pro-
- ~ taxation and. therefore, be provided for
A.. a.. annual budget. The city must husband its
,,,-oes. 20 DO go wisely. Il needs a great fiscal
- ,,,I, as tFe Board Of Estimate and Appor-
f,onr1ent is intended 70 be
ALL POWERS OF BOARD GROUPED.