New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-12
PRENDERGAST
ATTACKS MAYOR
AND M'ANENY
Should Qualify in Econ
omy Before Becoming
Experts, He Says.
ACCUSES OFFICIALS OF
HELPING TAMMANY
Outcry Against Appropriations,
He Declares, Ought To Be
Based on Facts.

OulCIN FSdllSl PiVP' lo''N"''
He Declares, Ought To Be
Based on Facts.
To the controversy raging among
Governor Whitman. Mayor Mitchell,
George McAneny and Controller Prem
dergast over the financial needs Of the
state Mr.. PrendcrGsst made biting
contribution yesterday in support OF
the Governor and in warm opposition
20 Mitchell and McAncny.
Mr. Prendergast accuses the Mayor
and the president Of the Board Of Al
dermen Of lack Of knowledge OF even
municipal economy, of ut.erirg half
truths in an effort TO become Official
heroes. and Of working for the inter
ests OF Tammany Hall while processing
80 be defenders Of the city.
The object Of these attacks on Gov
ernor Whitman, the Controller charges.
IS also TO discredit the Republican state
administration, whereas he points out
In the instance of the state highways
appropriation the money needed for
the work would not have reached the
amount necessary had Hundreds Of
miles of these highways been honestly
made" under the recent Democratic ad-
ninistration, 3 continuation of whose
programme makes imperative the ap-
preparation.
Attacks Economy Plans.
Mr.. Prendergast declares that mis- as
hociates in the Board Of Estimate are
constantly bowling for economy in ap-
propriations, but absolutely ignore the
subject when it could be applied by
them to city government affairs. His
statement, in part, reads;
"Up to the present time my share IN
the controversy relative TO the imam
cial situation of the state has been Inn
tied 20 statements Of fact. ! have OBJ
served that others who have contrib
uted 10 the discussion have carefully
avoided facts and have based their cal
rulations and deductions for the great
er part upon hypothesis oaWlelr own
creation or upon unconhrrEI rumors
or empty suggestions which nave been
brought TO them by partissns OF the
last administration.
81 DO not object 10 any person seek
Ing to gain a reputation in public life
through the defence Of the municipal
Nv. or the state or the national ad-
ministration. but do not believe that
oh q rf q
defence a. the cloak for partisan or
polite attack.
Sees Hand of Tsmmany.
81 have been and am now even more
strongly Of the opinion that these at
tacks upon the state administration
have not been primarily for the bene-
ft Of the CITY Of New York, but for
the benefit Of Tammany Hall, through
such discredit as may be cast upon the
Republican state administration. For
that reason ! propose hereafter TO
make u my business 10 answer these
attacks when they are untruthtul or
attempt to create an impression which
Is untruthful by half statement or
tpeciOus reasoning ! will begin right
away with an example of what ! mean.
"There has been a great cutlery
raised because the Republican admin
lstration at Albany Ia approved an
appropriation Of S,.934.2110i for the
maintenance Of the state highways for
the present year Attempt is made to
give the impression that this pro-
gramme is a new and wssteful device
OF the present state administration.
The fact is carefully concealed that the
statutes under which this work is pro-
posed to be don were passed during q
Democratic administration. The esti-
mates upon which this APPROPRIATION
Is based were prepared by Democrats,
and the bills which have been APP
prove, by the Republican Legislature
were prepared, as required by law, BY
the Democratic COmmlSS lOner who has
recently retired from the control of
the Highway Department of the state.
"While the engineers who prepared
the estimates which are characterized
as extravagant were under the dlrec-
hon Of a Democrat, 1T does not follow
that the extravaganza and wasteful-
ness which have prevailed in these
matters during the four years OF Demo
cratic rule are now TO be continued
feel safe i'm the assertion that the
taxpayers will get dollar for dollar
value in the expenditure of this money
Compares Appropriations.
THE appropriation last year was So
e43,22S.52, as against $3,934, 27I0l.
making a difference on the surface in
favor Of last year Of 81 69l ,048.49. But
the critics of the state administration
failed to tell YOU that at the close OF
business December 81. 1913, there was
on hand in county treasurers' Offices
and i'm the state controllers Office So,
54,203.86, which together with Il APP
preparation Of 1914 made available for
that year S4,797, 1929. For the present
rear the uneXpended balance. together
with the appropriation. aggregates So
l67 ,99l Sc, or difference between the
amounts available for the two years
bf less than 100000. while as compared
with the work to be done, the mileage
10 be cared for IN 1914 was approx
mately 4,S00 and in 1915 was 5000
miles, or an increase in the work TO be
done of % per cent. as against an
Increase in available appropriations of
less than 8 per cent.
Defy 10 Mctneny.
"SOme Of our municipal officials seem
10 think that they have been endowed
with a special mission TO act as the
scnsors of the appropriating power Of
The state Legislature. Their right TO
make suggestions regarding appropria-
hons which Will affect the tax rate OF
The City of New York is unquestioned,
but il is just As uuquestioned that
their suggestions should be based upon
Facts and not upon romance. Ii Is also
Important that before they set them
selves up as experts In state economy
thew should at least have qualified As
experts in municipal economy. This
kst requirement may give them con
liderable difficulty.