New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-27
mitchell WRONG,
SAY CITY SENATORS
Republican Six Declare
His View on $63, 100000
Budget Ignores Facts.
PORK BILLS SMALLEST
IN YEARS, THEY HOLD
Asserting That the Sum Named
Is Necessary, His Statement Is
Analyzed Item by Item.

The six Republican Senators OF New
York City-Ogden L. Mills. Charles {.
Lockwood. Alvah W Burlingame. lr.,
Robert R. Lawson. Alfred J. Gilchrist
and George Cromwcll-have risen TO
the defence OF the 100000 600 budget
passed by the Legislature in its clos
ing hours late Saturday night and early
Sunday morning. About S44O0O,OOO Of
this sum the largest appropriated IN
years -will come out Of the pockets OF
the taxpayers Of New York City.
The six Senators declare the $685.
GOO goo appropriations were necessary
and insist they were not extravagant.
They answer Mayor Mitchel's state
meat item by item" in which he criti-
cised the S63,OOO,0OO appropriations
and ignore all others, because the
Mayors statement was specific, but
based throughout on an erroneous
understanding of the facts"
Because Mayor Mitchell dealt in fig
ures and facts facts as he understood
them we reply to his statement item
bv item 10 show 70 him and TO the pub
lie that he was wrong" the six Sen
ators explain. Their statement in part
follows: a..
"In view Of the very serious conflict
in respect to the state finances, the
many conflicting statements and the
charges that have been repeatedly
made in the press of New York City
ard bv some of its public officials 10
the effect that the appropriations are
unnecessarily large and exceed by mill
ions the amount actually necessary 10
the proper financing Of the state gov
crnment we deem IL our duty as repre-
sentatives of the City of New York TO
make statement Of the actual facts.
I'VE have made careful analysis OF
the various finance bills; we have con-
suited the heads of departments with
respect to the needs of their respective
DEPARTMENTS, and have compared these
facts and figures thus obtained with
the statement issued by Mr. Mitchell
and Mr. McAneny.
at is true that this years budget IS
unusually large, but the appropriations
are no greater than the needs of the
state actually require.
The fact is that the statements or
tlOre critic lNlllk Allo etAA app NPi -
tcns have been i'm the main general
ties. Mayor Mitchel's criticism, while
specifc. was based throughout on an
erroneous understanding of the facts.
"The truth is that hardly dollar
could have been cut from the appro-
priations this year without either vlo-
lating the law or impairing the eff
cheney Of the functions of government.
despite the fog Of figures in which
the whole question is blanketed, this
fact stands out: The sums approprat-
cd are not eXtravagant. This is con-
clusively proved by the fact that the
appropriations for state departments,
where the temptation for extravaganza
is greatest, have been materially re-
duccd below those of the Glynn admin
istration. which the critics of the pres
ent administration have described as
bed rock figures.
There has been much talk of the
special or so-called pork barrel bills.
Now. these bills this year are the
smallest in years $450,000. Not one
cent of it can be used for salary in
creases unless it is so specified in the
law.
But what has particularly i'm
pressed us and what we desire e
emphasize as forcibly as possible i.
economy the Democratic administra
tion failed in many instances TO pro
vide adequately for the maintenance OF
the state government for the year be-
ginning October l, 1914, which is wei
exemplifed by the Workmen's Compen
sation Commission, which found Itself
without funds of any kind on January
IL Of this year.
"The whole controversy is largely 6
question of fact, and perhaps the bes'
way to present the case of the state
administration is to point out in wha
respects its critics have been misin
formed
"The total appropriations amount II
round numbers to $64 100000. In re
cent statement Mayor Mitchell contend,
that they can be reduced by over SIS,
0O00J0."
The Senators then cite statements
of Mayor Mitchell and reply to them
some of which follow:
Mayor Mitchell stated:
lu the Secretary of States Office thu
allowance for temporary services ha
been increased $1,000 over last year
appropriation bill. Office expenses hav
been increased from $1,000 to $4,000
I'm the motor vehicle bureau Of tn,
Secretary Of States Office the increas,
in office expenses Is still more pro
nouuced. Here the jump is from $40,
500 TO S23.jOO.
Answer:
The increases in this Office have beer
materially cut in the bill in its fna
form. Such as remain are accOunte,
for by the increased registration o
motor vehicles and the imposition o
the new tax on motorcycles.
Mayor Mitchell stated:
The Civil Service Commissi ION has II.
payroll increased by $1,000.
Answer:
This proposed increase has beer
eliminated
Mayor Mitchell stated:
The supply bill appropriates $3.50 .00C
FOR lock-tendcrs along the canal Six
hundred thousand dollars was appro
priated for this purpose in the genera
appropriation bin last year. and the
total appropriations made available fol
this year are. therefore, $3.50. 900.
Turning 20 1913, We find that only
SS25,G0O was appropriated for ca a
lock-teuders in that year. With one
third Of the canal abandoned, $600.O0C
should have been sufficient for this
year. Why does the Legislature APP
prOpriate 100000 more, especially
when the Superintendent of Public
, Works has announced that he is reduc-
ing expenses along the old canal?
Answer:
Superintendent Of Public Works
Motherspoon states the appropriation
for maintaining navigation on the
canal for the fiscal year ended Sep
TENDER 30. 1914, was 100000. and a
similar sum was recommended to the
epi Stature hy the fbep Super ton a g. N 2