New-York tribune., 1919-10-11
$5O,OOO,OO Increase in
Cost of Government:
Tax Rate May Climb
Sixty Points Higher
Wallstein Attacks
'ScandalousSecrecy:
CraigReveals Some Items; ;
Education Boards Esti-
mate Tentatively Stands

The taxpayers of this city are con-
fronted with tax budget for 1920
approximating 100000, ,OOO-an in
crease CT about $5OoOO,OoO as COM
pareG with the present year.
A warning of Nwhat the taxpayer is
up against was disclosed yesterday in
formal statement by Controller
Craig, who said that there had been
inserted tentatively in the city bud
get the full amount asked for by the
Department of Education, s87,o51 061.-
25. This sum is nearly double the
appropriation last year.
1T begins to look like a three
hundred million dollar budget for
1920 said Joseph Haag, secretary of
the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment, who for nearly a quarter of a
century has witnessed the nearly
fruitless struggles Of succeeding
boards to produce lower budgets.
Controller Craig directs attention
to the increase in the appropriation
for the Department of Education, but
does not hold out any hope that it will
be largely reduced.
Hylan Promises Are Recalled
Assuming that the budget will carry
substantially all of the tentative in
crease, the tax rate would go up about
so ponts-a record jump, or
from $500 on $1,000 OF assessed
valuation to somewhere near $50.
1T is scandalous situation when
the Board Of Estimate in executive
session, from which the public is
Vigorously excluded, formulates a
budget which probably will approxi-
mate s300,O00,00O, and then filings it
with its thousands of items to the
pubic and pretends to invite intell-
gent criticism and suggestion" said
Leonard NJ. Wallstein, counsel to the
city government committee of the
Citizens Union last night.
The departments have submitted
their estimates. Those have been pub
iished as the law commands, but addi-
tlohs to or reductions in the depart
mental estimates have been made in
closely guarded executive session, and
nobody knows the reason for any
action which the board has taken on
departmental request.
Wallstein Blames Craig
Last year the Citizens Union pro-
posed legislation which would have
compelled publicity in budget prepara-
ton, and moreover. would have re-
CURED the budget to be printed in com
Pfenenslble form, rather than in a
nuge mass Of figures. The Controller
opposed this bill, and his opposition
was the excuse for the failure of the
assembly Cities Committee to report
1t out for action
controller Craig broke the news of
"hat is coming to the taxpayer in a
statement in which he said:
Inc Finance and Budget Committee
mas inserted in the tentative budget
Sne items requested by the Board of
houcation for the year 1920 in full,
amounting to S87,05l ,061.26 The fol-
iowing statement is Incorporated in the
tentative budget:
This estimate under the REQUIRE
m,ents Of the education law should
nave been submitted on September
1slS. The time elapsing after the re-
ceelpt Of the itemized estimate has not
Deen sufficient for full examination
ana consideration Of these items by
'he board Of Estimate and Apportion-
iAeni, and they are therefore included
an TINS tentative budget at the amounts
requested TO afford an opportunity for
p1Dilc discussion and further examina-
sion and revision by the Board Of
~sNH'ate and Apportionment..'
s4s,o74,so4 From Mill Tax
Inc amount that the Board of Esti-
s"@es ana Apportionment is mandatorily
.e9uifed TO appropriate for educational
Hoiposcs AT the rate of 40 mills on
lne assessed valuation OF real and
Eefsonai property in the City Of New
iork ~ estimated at SAB 2,074,e04. The
t"tai requested by the Board Of Edu-
eatIon ~ $a7 ,05l ,0S1.26, or an cxcesa
Of S43 ,97s A5715."
~ other items the Coutroiler ssva.
ne Finance and Budget Committee
mas incorporated in the tentative bud.
te' new item Of 81 600, 900 for the
prosecution Of the Jamaica Bav i'm.
Rloycment, and for the Ncw York Pub
sc Library the sum Of 100000. which
~ approximately $4,000 more than re-
90ested by the library trustees on An
gust l, 1919. The additional amount m !,
~ ~ provide margin sufficient TO meet
me increase In nslarics of library en-.
ployes." ''"'''' e"'
me printed txntatIvc budget s re-
CURED by law TO be published on
ocsober 10, but it was not ready YES
@Ihay. II vas said the volume viii be
m2aonsned early next week. After
Lpe~bes 70 no appropriation in the
nuigst can be increased, nor can any
tsw items be added. Reductions NAV
- taade however. The budget must
.nnssiy adopted by the Board of