Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-05-06
ALDERMEN BEGIN
TASK OF FIXING
THE TAX BUDGET
Departments Submit Estimates
for Maintenance for
Il Year 1915.
POLICE MAKE APPEAL
FOR A BIG INCREASE
Fire Commissioners Not in Need
of New Apparatus-Other De-
partment Figures.

With economy as the "watchword," :"
the finance committee of the Common
Council will at a special meeting
some time next week start the prun-
ing of the various budgets submitted
by the city departments for the year
of 1915. At last nights meeting OF
the committee the fire and police dev
partments, the Recreation Commits
sion, the poor and aims committee
and the Fourth of July celebration
committee submitted figures consid-
erably in excess of the appropriations
for 1914. The tentative budgets were
not even discussed, it being the GUS
tom to receive them and deal with
the various problems at special sit
tings.
The following table shows the ap-
propriations given last year and the
amount asked for this year:
Money Asked Money Reed
1915. 1914
f.12s,81s7o. Police Dept. . s1,O2s, 50
753815.75 Fire Dept 747.76O. 90
100000 Recreation Com. ii, 10000
i19,997.13 Poor and Aims 90.10s. 36
100000 4th of July Com. 100000
For More Policemen.
A sit-up-and- -take-notice feature of
the budgets already in the hands of
the committee is that of the Police
Board. IN it the commissioners ask
for special appropriation of
s37, 75050, with which to name
seventy-five more patrolmen from
July l. Another special appropriation
is asked so that two new automobiles
may be purchased this year. The
latter amount totals $4,000 The
budget asked by the Police Commits
sion is $103,537.S1 over the appropria-
tion given the board last year.
One of the items is for $500 to de-
fray the expenses of Captain Martin
H Ray, who is in charge of the police
training school. 1t was echoed about
the meeting that there would be
something DOING at the budget
making conference. 1t was intimated
that there is strong objection to this
item.
The fire department this year wants
s753, ,S15.75, as against STAT, ,760 for 1914.
Although the outward increr SO is
about $4,000. the actual increase in diff
ference In running the department in
comparison with last year will total
about $4,000. This Is caused by the
fact that the 1914 board purchased
more than 100000 worth of fire ap-
paratus to equip several new houses
1t is also said that the present fire
board has not filed at least a dozen
vacancies occurring from time to
time since the first of the year.
That the estimate for the Recrea-
tion Commission will receive a jolt is
the prediction of the wise ones"
Last year the finance committee ap-
propriated $71 900 for this department,
while this year the commission asks
for $4,000. The salary list in this
department, the Democrats say, will
be carefully scrutinized and pared.
The poor and aims committee asks
for $119, ,997.13 for this year. Last
year their appropriation was $780,
10936. This increase is explained by
Alderman Anthony Schuck, chairman
of the committee, when he says that
the city this year is keeping more
poor families than ever before
The Fourth of July celebration last
year was so successful that the al
dermanic committee. headed by Jo-
seph McCrudden, asked for an addi-
tional appropriation of 1000 with
which to carry ON this years events
on a more elaborate scale. The ap-
preparation was given.
Shade Tree Criticism.
The meeting last night was some
what enlivened by Alderman Thomas
J. Lee jr, who attacked the methods
of economy as practiced by the Shade
Tree Commission.
Alderman Charles w. Littlefeld,
Republican, at first championed the
request of the Shade Tree Commits
sion in asking for an appropriation
of 81, 500 to lay out walks at McKin-
ley circle.
This request is a sample Of the
manner in which things are being
conducted in the Shade Tree Com
mission" said Alderman Lee. "They
cry economy, but do not practice 1t.
The Shade Tree Commission cannot
find sufficient funds with which to
meet demanded public improvements,
but they see to it that the salaries of
its faithful employees are greatly
fattened under the economical Ray
mond administration.
why" went on the alderman,
"the commission on March IL raised
the salary of it's secret vy,Carl Bann-
wart from 81, 300 to 81, 100 per year;
.Iohn Handsey, from $500 to $1,000
per year, and others. The resolution
raising these salaries was passed on
March IL, vet the men received their
increases from March /. Who can
account for that quality OF econ
"f am sick of the operations Of
This commission. They work only
eight months of the year, and what
thew do for the other four, or even
the eight in which they do work.
cannot tel" ran.
After this attack Alderman Little
eald withdrew as the champion OF
tha shade Trse Commission cause.
.I have seen in my section of the
oitv some extravaganza as practiced
~, the Shade Tree Board" he said.
The appropriation was laid over until
tha commissioners appear before the
hoard in person and answer many
questions that the aldermen want to
ask of them.
An Appeal IRON vaiisburg.
Alderman Charles G. Hahn and