New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
When Albany Probes the City.

Mayor Mitchel's plea that the legis-
lative committee directed to investigate
New York City's finances organize at
once, perform its work and report in time
TO permit Governor Whitman TO save the
metropolis from a $14,000,000 share of an
outrageous direct tax will hardly be
granted. It is unlikely that the Mayor
has any expectation that it will be. The
legislative policy patiently is 10 make New
York City pay for local pap upstate, and
to give no heed TO the representatives Of
the unlucky taxpayers here who want to
enter a protest. Under the circum-
stances, official action which might con-
ceivably disclose the injustice Of the Al
bany policy before it has been fully car
ried out is not to be thought Of
When this legislative investigation
comes the city has only one desire-that
It be thorough and impartial. Other city
administrations might have had cause
for worry over such probing. This one
has none. That is not to say that 1t has
been a perfect administration, without
mistakes
quite human enough to have its share Of
both. But it has been honest and it has
been economical.
It's budget this year was smaller, IN
appropriations for departments under
the Mayor, Controller and Borough Pres
idents. than the preceding budget. There
was no "pork." Operating expenses Of
the municipal government, save those i'm
posed by statute and the interest on out
standing debts, are at rock bottom or are
rapidly being put there. Moreover,
through the adoption Of the "pay-as-you-
20" idea of financing non-self-supporting
future improvements the debt-carrying
costs will be materially lessened in the
long run, and the city's finances will be
on a sounder basis than ever before.
All this fair investigation must dis
close. Likewise it must reveal the re-
sponsibility Of Albany for heavy fixed
expenses of city and county government
which do not come under the pruning
power Of the Board Of Estimate. Also it
must show that the taxpayers Of New
York have the present Legislature to
thank for a 17.5 point raise in next years
tax rate-unless Governor Whitman has
the courage to veto the direct tax BILL
If such findings-and such findings
there must be- if the committee does its
work thoroughly and honestly-bring
about a different attitude on the part Of
future legislatures toward this city, New
York will have no cause to regret the in
vestigation. If the inquiry results in
placing in the hands Of the city authori-
ties complete power over expenditures paid
for out of the city's tax levy-a power
this Legislature has refused to grant-it
will have been Of great benefit to US here.
If it shows conclusively enough to i'm
press Albany the iniquity Of extracting
huge direct tax payments from New
Workers to finance upstate Improvements,
this city will be the gamer.
But if the investigation turns out TO be a
mere Fishing excursion" or a political
attempt to divert the very real issue
which the city now has against the state
authorities on this subject of taxation,
the lawmakers would better not have
undertaken it! Inadequately represented,
unjustly taxed, New Workers still have
votes, and they are amply able to use
them.