New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-10
SEE NO POLITICS
In DIRECT TAX ROW
Mayor, Controller and Nc
Aneny Deny Split III
Estimate Board.

Mayor Mitchell, Controller Prendcr-
CAST and President McAneny Of the
BOARD of Aldermen asserted last night
that there had been no split IN the
Board of Estimate over their opinions
on the question Of direct stat" taA.
Nor would there be. they asserted The
Mayor said, however. that rho question
would probably not be taken up by the
Board Of Estimate as am organizations
but that the city officials would con-
tinue to express their views separately
as in the past.
1t was denied all around that there
was any politics in the stand taken by
the officials on the controversy
Returning from their conference with
the legislative leaders at Albany yes
terday the city Officials had not changed
their attitudes previously EXPIRE SEQ.
Controller Prendcrgast believes That
some state tax will be necessary. fteS-
ident McAneuy Is convinced tnat sucn
a tax car be avoided. Mayor Mltchel
has reached no decision, nor "iI. ne 90
so nntll the IRuitS llAF' hr''A i''N'
carefully Analysed.
Asked il he saw any politics M the
question, the Mayor replied:
81 most assuredly do not. II is sole
" business "a financial question.
The problem is as 10 what the state
actually needs, as to how those needs
may be met and as 10 whether direct
state tax will be necessary TO meet
them.
There is certainly no disposition on
the mart OF the city officials TO ask the
state government not TO do something
that i essential But we certainly VIII
protest against doing anything affect
ing US that IL not necessary. A direct
tax would unquestionably have a dis
astrous effect on the city, and we do
not want one imposed. If it possibly
can be helped
Urged TO express an opinion on the
necessity for such tax, the Mayor
replied:
IL do not care to do so at this time.
We brought away with us some figures,
and they are now being analysed. When
that Is done, ] suppose the members OF
the Board Of Estimate Will all expire
opinions as individuals. / do not be-
lieve the board would have time or
would care TO take the question up as
an organization
Controller Prendergast was inclined
to resent criticism Of the state officials
on the part of certain individuals.
1T is my view," he said, that the
state officials should have the same
freedom in making VI the state budget
that the city officials have in making
up theirs. They must be presumed 10
have as much knowledge Of the needs
OF the state as the members OF the
Board of Estimate have about the needs
Of the city.
down in New York in the summer and
arbitrarily make cuts in our budget
do not know what they are talking
about. These theoretical men mean all
right, but 1t so happens they are not
responsible for the situation
These matters are the subject OF
sincere differences Of opinion de-
clared President McAneny, but IL viii
not mean a disagreement IN the Board
Of Estimate While the analysis OF
the figures ia going on. there IS little
30 add to- what ] have said. However.
| hall continue % protest against "a
direct state tax. Certainly there Will
be no split i'm the Board of Estimate"
President McAueny called attention
TO the serious financial situation that
faced New York City, and said every
thing possible should be done by Off
cials here to prevent a direct state tax
that would increase the city rate to q
prohibitive extent. "Our next budget
is going 20 be increased by several
million dollars anyway. because OF the
agreement we made with the bankers
when the SlOo,O00OoO loan was made, 30
he said.
This agreement was tlat next year
the city would put lu the tax budget
pat Of the money spent for perma-
nent Improvements, which up to the
present time has been provided for by
corporate stock issues.