New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-28
DIRECT TAX WASTE,
SAYS MAYOR AGAIN
Supply and Appropriation
Bills Mutilated and
Mauled, He Declares.
PICKS FLAWS IN
SENATOR'S STATEMENT
Asserts Only Chosen Few Knew
What New Burdens Were
Pasted Upon the People.

Mayor Mitchell issued detailed
statement last night in reply to the
statement signed by all the Republican
Senators from the Greater City con-
troverting the charges Of the Mayor
that the Legislature had been extrava-
CANT and wasteful Of public money in
appropriating a 100000 direct tax.
The Mayor declared that the figures
submitted by the Senators did not alter
his conviction that the direct tax was
excessive and unnecessary.
Before taking up the statement OF
the Senators in detail the Mayor
called attention "to a situation when
typifies the attitude OF the present
Legislature toward this city and the
state in the matter of taxation" He
declared that the supply and appro-
priation bills had been jammed
through the Senate and Assembly In
"msuled and mutilated" condition on
an emergency message from the Gov
ernor certifying to the necessity OF
their immediate passage.
And only the chosen few who were
called into conference By the legisla-
tive leaders," said the Mayor. knew
what new burdens had been pinned
and pasted upon the people OF the
state"
He declared that no one, including
the members of the Senate and AS
sembly. had copies of the actual bills
that passed the Legislature Saturday
night, having obtained merely pre-
liminary drafts, and that intelligent
discussion of actual appropriations was
impossible under such circumstances.
~ have seen no disposition to meet
nv criticism of the appropriation OF
millions OF dollars for canal construc-
ton out Of current revenue, sald the
Mayor. There has been no attempt
TO avoid a direct tax by making canal
appropriations dependent upon refer
on 'um at the next election, as ! sug-
pested. There has been no attempt TO
amend the obnoxious features OF the
So. 900, 900 appropriations for highway
maintenance" a.,
Referring to the contention OF the
Senators that the new clerica. positions
created in the Office Of the Attorney
General was in accordance win the
nolicv to do away with special counsel,
the Mayor DECLARED that this would not
nrevent the Attorney General from mr.
ing special counsel, if counsel are Will
ing TO take chances on the next supply
bill.
The Mayor disputed the assertniio
that the creation of new positions IN
the Excise Department, not amenaoie
N the civil service law, was made
necessary by any difficulty in enforc-
ING the law. (which is effectively en-
forced at present with the ordinary
force Of special agents" ooo
He pointed out that If the S3l6,OOO
for the Educational Department Tor
teacl RS quotas was needed, as the
Senator'S said, the quotas had been IN,
creased since the department reported
to the Legislature last year, and IN so
doing the department had violated the
law.
Referring TO his former statement
that Sl.5O0000 has been appropriated
for highway maintenance in excess OF
the legal and ordinary requirements
which was disputed by the Senators,
the Mayor explained that what the
Legislature had really done was 10 auu
a large part of this amount to TINS
wears tax, which would lie idle WIN
out interest for two years before II
could actually be used.
Appropriations for the completion OF
Mohansc State Hospital, the tubercu,
losis hospital at Clinton Prison, and
other hospitals. the Mayor commended
could be materially reduced with equal
effectiveness.
Finally, the Mayor characterized the tn,
contention that 100000 was needed
this wear for locktenders and repairs
on the canals as absurd" As there
are only one-ffth as many. locks on
the new canal as on the old, he said
there is necessity for only one-tifth as
many locktenders, but instead of a
reduction in the force, an approprla-
ton was made for an increase of $780,
900 to go TO pay additional employees
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