New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-02
BUDGET BOARD ASKS
MAYOR TO VETO CUTS
Prendergast, Mitchell and NC
Aneny Appeal to Gaynor
in Letter.
SAY ACTION is HAPHAZARD
Special Stress Is Laid on the
Reductions in Appointments
for Libraries, Health
and Education.

Controller Prendergast. President Mil
chel Of the Board of Aldermen ana bor-
ough President McAneny, comprising the
budget COMMITTEES of the Board OF Es''-
mate. have Joined in a letter to Mayor
Gavnor urging him to veto the action OF
the Board of Aldermen in cutting s'SS'-
IA 81 from the 1913 budget, at least IN
part
The letter Analysing the cuts sho"
how little regard TO actual needs was oo-
served in making them and now oaoly
they will cripple the departments con-
cerned unless the Mayor restores the
items to the budget.
The letter begins:
The undersigned members OF the ouu-
get committee of the Board OF E-SlIiiae 70
respectfully submit that the lnolvIu ,sse
cuts recommended by the Finance CoInr ny
fee of the Board of Aldermen We're III .iIe
main, made without regard TO the nec t,s :.
sary requirements of the depdI tHle eI.,
and offices affected; without pIIpTd enart-
sultation with the heads OF such uepai
nents and offices, and Wlthout supIii %
sion either to the Board or Aldermen Vi
10 the public of any supporting IaIt VI
argument AS we are OF the opinio ~.
mat the cuts in question, IL permitted 10
stand, will operate greatly TO the detIl-
ment of the public service, we very re-
specially submit the following stSIeiii ,en,S
Of their actual effect, In order that you
may use the power OF veto vested IN you
by the city charter, in such cases as may
seem to you wise.
The committee points out how it pruned
the estimates of the various departments
10 the bone before submitting the Dudset
10 the Board of Estimate and how the
latter body had given many pubic near
incs on the matter before passing the
nudge. and turning it over TO the BOARD
OF Aldermen for action.
The letter goes on TO say that the ma
iority of the Finance Committee OF tne
Board of Aldermen in recommending the
cuts did not permit the other members
10 examine the cuts, and allowed no oe-
partment head to be heard before pass
ing the budget as cut.
The letter continues:
The committee recognizes, OF course,
the right of the Board OF Aldermen 10
exercise their statutory power 10 reduce
items in the budget, and could nave no
objection to the full exercise OF such
nower il honestly or intelligently de-
signed TO improve the city service OF
effect real economies. We submit now
ever that no snGh clam sidnreS can and d prei T
diced work of the temporary majority III
the Board Of Aldermen 49,
II appears TO this committee, in the llSht
Of the careful preliminary examinations
made before the budget in its original
lorm was prepared, not only that these
cuts will work 10 economy, but tnat'
through the injury they Will DO TO I'M
portant branches OF the CITY goNeIi iih
constantly affecting the daily health OF
the people, they will prove FAR more
costly than figures could possibly indicate
49,, 2 -. .99- -on ~, from tho hud-
yet for special classes in the Department
Of Education, such as manual training
music, sewing. cooking, etc. the letter
SAYS:
These classes. which have grown to be
a most important part OF the city euu-
cationa system, are now run on basis
Of S725 900 The budget committee of the
Board Of Estimate in allowing thls
amount provided for practically no IN
crease over the present year. Inc Alder
men reduced it by oae-third, and. natu,
raliv. IL this cut stands, one-third Of
the classes will have to be disbanded
teachers dismissed and schoolrooms closed
II was argued, in part that SyCO,Vo WOuld
suffice for the reason that TINS was tne
actual appropriation for the year 1917,
and that the additional S220,OU required
WAS secured this year by transfer OF
other funds. Although IT was pointed out
that this year there would be no fund
from which such transfer could possibly
be made. this argument proved unavail-
ing. We submit that II so radical
change is to be made i'm the school system
such change should proceed from the de-
iberate action OF the Board Of Education
itself, and not from an arbitrary cut
made without debate in the Board Of
Aldermen.
The letter goes on in an attempt 10
show the cuts in the Board of Health
budget will cripple the work of that de-
partment in some Of its most vital activi-
tics. In regard to the cut in the budget
Of the public libraries the letter says:
The cuts i'm the allowance for public
Libraries arc made in utter disregard Of
The city's contractual obligations TO the