The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1916-01-10
mitchell DEFENDS
INCREASED OUTLAY
TO INVESTIGATORS
Mayor Tells Brown Committee
City'S Growth Necessitates
Higher Expenditures.

Mayor Mitchell gave expert testi-
mony before the Brown Investigating
Committee to-day about how the city's
money Is spent. Comptroller Prend-
ergast, Commissioner OF Accounts
Waldsteln and George W. McAneny
sat nearby ana occasionally prompt
ed him. The Mayor said that the
principal Increases in tho city's budget
are due TO necessary expansion in the
Health, Charities and Police Depart
ments duo to the growth of the popu-
lation.
O. Why has tho Board OF Estimate
expenditure risen from $4,000 in 1910
TO sis7 900 In 1915? A. That is because
the Board OF Estimate now for the
first time does its full duty. examining
the budget and the city's contractual
relations. The Bureau OF Contracts
and the Bureau OF Standards effect a
great saving for tho city.
Making the budget, the Mayor said,
now begins on July and runs TO
Oct. 81. 1t ought to be carried on all
the time
q. Would YOU say 81 100000 is small
pay for making the budget for the
City OF New York? A. II does not
cost that. The men who make IL do
the work by speeding up and by stay
ing on at night after their regular
work Is done.
HUH" snorted the Chairman. at
can't be done for nothing. / never
knew anything TO be done for the
City OF New York for nothing"
I'VE don't get it done for nothing"
retorted the Mayor. but II doesn't
cost 100000. by any means"
Mayor Mitchell explained the Inn
OF Accounts, which audits the income
and expenditures OF all branches OF
the city government and "hlls in
gaps" in making up the budget. II
does not duplicate work of other de-
partments. Its efficiency staff last
year, for examsle, made a study Of
Janitor service and repairs OF build
ings In the Department OF Education.
which the Board OF Education had to
adopt, at a saving OF several hundred
thousands OF dollars.
Mayor Mitchell was rather stumped
TO explain why in 1910 the City Ma
gistrates' Courts had 1877 positions.
costing s4G5,9o0, while in 1915 this
number had grown to 1913, coating
SSH 900. Assemblyman Alfred L.
Smith lnterposed that In 1910 these
courts were rcorganized under a spe-
cial act or the Legislature. more
courts were opened and policemen
were abolished as court officers, and
replaced with civilian employees, in
creasing the clerical force, &c.
Tho Increase OF the cost OF the
Charities Department from 1867, 900
In 1910 to sl,723,000 in 1918, the
Mayor explained, was due TO the
number OF inmates In institutions
from 9,6l3 TO 1888. New buildings
and hospitals had been added, too.
II rememb going 10 Randall $
Island two years ago" said the
Mayor, and seeing there on old
broken wooden porches large numbers
eight years old. They could not help
themselves. There they lay on their
cots, not screened for lack OF funds
with the flies crawling in and out OF
their mouths, There were not enough
attendants TO do anything 10 stop
this"
"Oh. we'll" said Chairman Brown,
smiling, I'VE cannot argue from q
horrible example"
NO" said the Mayor. 81 mention
this as n concrete instance OF why
the Charities expenses have boon In
creased"