New-York tribune., 1912-12-03
SWELL BUDGET PROTEST
Women in League for Civic
Education Raise Voices.
CRITICISM FOR THE MAYOR
Robert Bruere Says Reductions
Are False Economies and
Costly in the End.

''If we didn't have q philosopher. but a
man Of action for Mayor. we could easily
get that $4,000 for library"
This was only one of the polite things
Robert Bruere said about the city admin
istration yesterday afternoon at the
emergency meeting called by the Ma"
tiOnal League for the Civic Education OF
Women, at No. West 9th street, for
the purpose Of registering the women
protest against the budget reductions.
Their objection to the library" said
Mr.. Bruere. referring 10 the Board OF
Aldermen is because no one they can
control is competent 10 hold the jobs
Hence they have no interest in il, and
hence these Pecksniffian tears"
The Municipal Reference Library, Mr..
Bruere explained, had long been desired
by municipal progressives as a clearing
house for information on up-to-date city
administration. Milwaukee and other
wideawake cities, he said. had demon
strated the efficiency of such library
but year after year It had been cut out
of New Yorks budget
I'VE have an old library in the City
Hall, and an older librarian said Mr..
Bruere. but nobody there ever knows
anything. When our city officials want
to learn they have to take expensive
trips to other cities, and even then they
car see only what has been done before
in those places They can't keep in touch
with the new things"
Besides the library, the women dis
cussed the fate Of three other appropria-
tions which the Aldermen cut from the
budget. The first was for $3.50 for SUI
pervisor OF infants milk stations. The
city spends s1lS.32O on milk stations, II
was said. but does not provide for the
supervision which is necessary for their
efficient conduct. The second cut against
which the women protested was that for
Sll. 900 for medical inspection for parochial
schools.
But why can't private schools have
their own Inspection" asked a woman.
You forget the plea Of poverty,
answered Mr.. Bruere THE Aldermen
give as their reason for this cut that
these schools all have proper supervision
anyway They don't though
The fourth cut is that for '3,7O fol
social service nurses IN the Department
of Charities The social service nurse
has proved her value IN Bellevue anc
Allied Hospitals. the women contended
and is really an economy for the city be-
cause through her patients can return &c
their homes sooner than they otherwise
could. thus saving the city the cost OF
caring for them.
Tho meeting was addressed by Miss
Edith Hall and Frank II. Mann OF the
Charity organization Society, and Henry
Thomas Of the State Charities Aid A.
sociation. At the recommendation OF Miss
Geneyieve W. Beavers, executive secre
tarv of The league. a resolution was sen'
10 Mayor Gayncr asking him to veto the
Aldcrmanic cuts
There was quite a lively discussion
after the speeches came TO an end, due
10 Mr.. Bruere's efforts
you remind me of the Board of Alder
men themselves" he remarked scathing
Is. the way YOU sit and listen "lthou
EXPRESSING an idea The Aldermen lister
FOR hours 10 those good social workers
never ask question. anu 'ucH r." "i'
do as they please. It's positively painfu
10 see people in such receptive mood.
Wont these cuts reduce taxes vent
ured one brave soul.
About one-half Of one point said Mr.
Bruere THE tax rate is N.S now; II
might be ST. S2i2 II these reductions We're
allowed. II Is an injurious kind OF econ
-. ,horgb and enlightened people
know these reform measures are econo
mics IN the endb 1t never pays to save
money on the children"