New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-01
Cutting County Expenses

The litigation in which the Court of APP
peals has just decided that the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment has power
over the expenditures of county officials
was an outgrowth of Mayor Mitchel's en-
deavor 10 produce rigid economy in county
as well as city government. County Off
Gals, foreseeing reduction of patronage
and lessening Of their Importance as po-
htical figures, banded together TO oppose
the Mayors programme and legislation in
troduced to help carry it out. They man.
aged to scuttle the legislation, but if this
opinion Of the highest court warrants the
sweeping Interpretation put on it by Cor
poration Counsel Hardy, they have suf-
fered a serious defeat on one Of the main
points at issue.
As part Of their fight County Clerk
Schneider promoted a clerk in his office
% higher position, and called on the
Controller TO furnish the advanced pay.
The Controller refused, and mandamus
proceedings were brought to compel him
70 pay the employee. The lower courts
decided against him, but the Court of
Appeals has upheld the Controllers po-
sition unanimously. That apparently
means that the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment may exercise a supervisory
power over the expenditures of county
officers where the positions and salaries
are not fixed by statute, which unfortu-
natey is too frequently the case. Such
power could not be used for the advantage
Of the taxpayers TO the extent contem-
plated in the reorganization plan of Mr..
Wallstein, Commissioner of Accounts, and
Mr.. Bruere, when City Chamberlain, which
it was estimated would save the city about
$4,000, 900 year. But it could unques-
tionably be used to accomplish a consider
able saving without impairing the eff
cheney of the transaction of public bust
ness.
County government is expensive. Coun-
~ government in this city is non-produc-
tive, if that expression may be permitted.
Nessrs. Bruere and Wallstein figured that
"none of the county Offices is self-support-
ing" That is, none of Them produced, in
fees and earnings, what it cost to run it.
To be sure, the cost of county government
is assessed on the taxpayers Of each coun-
ty, but no taxpayer desires to pay more
for charges of government, whether
county or municipal, than is necessary. By
reason Of local pride, the exigencies Of po-
htics and the like, jobs in the county offices
H., fplf nd hac IN
creased from year to year. There is a
duplication Of work by bureaus for the
same purpose in the various counties which
by readjustment and consolidation of func-
tons could be performed more economical
~ than now, and just as satisfactorily.
The outlying counties, jealous of Manhat-
tan and fearing Manhattan rule" have
persistently fought anything resembling
such consolidation.
Il is TO be expected that their repre-
sentatives for the same reason and from
the same motives will oppose any attempt
10 exercise the power the Court of APP
peals has declared the Board of Estimate
to have. Such opposition will be foolish
endeavors to cut down expenses it will be
acting more truly and accurately in the
Interest Of the taxpayers than any local
representative who endeavors TO keep them
up. 1t may be taken for granted that the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment
knowing it will have 10 face this deter
mined opposition, would never make the
attempt unless .t could be thoroughly jus
tilted, so that body should, and undoubt-
edly will, have the pubic's support. What
the county officials, in view of this court
decision, ought TO do is TO cooperate with
the appropriations board in cutting out all
unnecessary jobs and pruning expenditures
to the lowest possible point. That way
they would be doing their full duty and
really serving the people who pay the
money for running the city.