New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-10
WHITMAN COUNTED
$l8,OOO,OOO TWICE
SAKE Says Governor Du-
pliCated ItemS-DireCt
Tax Not Needed.

Ex-senator John Godfrey SAKE, cx-
Governor Glynn's adviser, asserted last
night that Governor Whitman was s1s,-
100000 out of the way in his recent
statement about state finance. Two
ite..,s already included in the Control
ler's estimate of expenditures for 1914
15 had been duplicated by Governor
Whitman, Mr.. SAKE said.
If what ex-senator SAKE says is true,
it will not be necessary TO raise Sl8,-
100000 by the direct tax which Gov
crnor Whitman told the Legislature on
February "a was a necessity. If what
ex-senator SAKE says is true. S13,OOO,-
600 can be deducted from the city
budget.
The two items which make up the
SlS,O00,0 900 are the expenditures in the
supply bill and for the sinking fund.
Ex-senator SAKE produces the Control
ler's report, with the itemized state
mentS. 10 show that in his estimate of
S17000,0 900 both these are included He
compares the Controllers estimate and
Governor Whitman's estimate as fol-
lows:
Controllers Estimate.
Ordinary running ,Ip,rses $30.2.6.j4N2i -
sinking iund contributions ...... ~. l5o 3, =, e
supply and special bills............. 99ij.SiO %
Total s47. .S99. 81. q
Governors Estimate.
Controllers estimate ..............s4, Sa'.5
Sinking fund contributions. ......... 5000 .00n 90
supply and special bllls............. $4,000 90
Other liabilities. tlcS..................... 6i'O.OOO 90
Total 81. .69i. 81 &
"a comparison of these two esti-
mates" says Mr.. Sake, proves that
Governor Whitman started with the
Controllers estimate and then added
$1G3i5.OO0 for sinking funds and sup
ply and special bills, which items were
already included IN the Controllers
estimate.
"The Governor has made a mistake
Of $l8,000,000 in his financial pro-
gramme. There Is not the slightest
need for a direct tax this year, either
Of $lS,0OO,000 or any other sum. !
have no desire TO mix up in the jug
Cling of figures for partisan purposes;
but those who are familiar with state
finance are all aware that Governor
Whitman's figures, as stated in his
financial message, contain an $4,000
0OO blunder. and it is now proposed to
tax the state S1S,O00.00O for this
blunder. Needless to say. $4,000 900
of this SlS,000.O00 would be levied
upon the people Of New York City"
Governor Whitman followed the
usual custom, Mr.. SAKE explains, in TAX
ing the controllers estimates for the
fiscal year beginning October !. 1914.
which were identical with the appro-
priations made by the Legislature. But
having done this, the ex-senator in
sists. the Governor proceeded to recol-
lect the sinking fund contributions and
the supply and special bills. announc-
ing forthwith that direct tax was
necessary TO meet them, and apparent
" forgetting that they were included
in the Controllers estimate.
"Next year" he continues. will be
the year of a state election, and, very
possibly. if the unnecessary SlS.OOO.OOO
is raised this year, the present admin
istration will be able to show an ap-
parent. though absolutely unreal, saw
ing next year. ! do not doubt that
some astute politician in Albany has
this in mind. and 1t may be illuminat-
ing politics. but | submit that It is not
only bad finance. particularly disas-
trous to the City of New York. but that
il is unworthy craftsmanship
According 10 Mr.. SaXe's reckoning
the Controllers estimate shows that
the state can meet every proper liabil-
jtv of the present fiscal year and come
out with a cash su>.lus Of more than
81 600 600