The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-09
MUST FINISH TONIGHT
Borough Presidents Help to
Boost Rate by Taking Pay
Increases of $500.
MAYOR ASSAILS CURRAN
Whalen Gets a Lot of New
Employees, Including a
S., 800 Deputy.

City officials gave a remarkable ex-
ample Of high financing yesterday
when they continued to tussle with
the 1921 budget. Having already al
lotted many millions more than the
city will have to spend, they Kept
piling up the amount in apparent dis
regard Of the constitutional tax limit
and with full knowledge that all in
creases given would have to be cut out
somewhere.
IT don't hesitate to say that this
busts the budget" Comptroller Craig
said, apparently despairing of COM
ing out even when the Borough Presi-
dents formed a combination with f.
H. La Guardia, President of the Board
of Aldermen, and began boosting bor
ough allowances.
The Mayor, Comptroller and Alder
manic President had formed a hard
and fast coalition most of the day as
they resisted the efforts to raise sal
aries, create new positions and get more
funds for various purposes.
The Mayor and Comptroller voted
with Borough President Riegelmann of
Brooklyn to give to that borough $2l6,o00
for buying highway materials, consider
ably more than the examiners had
recommended. Then the other Borough
Presidents protested loudly because
their requests had been cut. They ap-
pealed for reconsideration. The Comp
troller ruled their appeals out of order
and La Guardia appealed from the rul-
ing. With the aid of the Borough Presi-
Iia no re
for Manhattan and The Bronx for high
ways were called back and the new
combination voted the full sums asked
for adding more than 100000 to this
item.
Comptroller Is in Despair.
The Comptroller threw up his hands
and declared the whole budget was
''busted."
Everything is always busting when
you don't have your way" Borough
President Connolly told the Comptroller.
The board was in almost continuous
wrangle during the day. The contro-
versies were so numerous that the work
OF budget making was delayed repeat
edly.
No one has as yet pointed the way
out of the bad situation. The Comptrol-
Ter did not unfold the scheme which
he says he has for meeting a $3.50. 00O,-
600 budget. The tentative schedules
must be completed to-day. Late last
night nobody knew what the total would
= be, but there was little doubt 1t would
be way above the constitutional limit.
The borough presidents received an
increase in salary from $500 to $4,000
as is allowed under law passed in the
last Legislature. Mr. Craig opposed the
increase and Mr. Connolly said he and
the other borough presidents would take
as big reduction in salary as the Comp
troller would in his own. The Comptrol-
Ter said he would take a cut proportion
ate to what any borough president would
take
THAT'S all talk for political effect
come out on the level and vote the
Mayor said and the increase was voted.
Brooklyn's sewers are so rotten that
the borough may cave in at any minute.
Mr.. Riegelmann warned the board when
II refused to jump his request for repairs
from s675,Oo0 to s1.ss2,0oo.
whaIen Gets n New Deputy.
Grover Whalen, Commissioner of Plant
and Structures, who asked for 19,0OO,-
600. an Increase in one year of $4,000
600, got through his request for another
deputy with a salary of $500 a year to
have charge of a new bureau OF design,
real estate and architectural activities
of the department. Revenues from city
real estate In his department have in
creased 50 per cent. In one year and
will go up 100. per cent. next year. the
Commissioner said.
Practically the entire estimate of the
Board of Purchase was allowed. sal
aries being based on the schedules
adopted last August by the city. Com
missioner Whalen insisted the addi-
tional force Of clerks and stenographers
was necessary in the organization of
this Office. The Commissioner is to be
the purchasing agent for a number of
bureaus. He will spend the money al
lowed to the several bureaus under the
Mayors control and it is estimated will
handle upwards of $15.000.000 In this
fund. Mr.. Whalen's department is be-
coming rapidly one of the most impor-
tant In the entire city government.
The Mayors animosity toward Bor
ough President Curran, Republican,
was showd again when the Manhattan
budget Has discussed. His schedule for
rep>TIng had not been put In until the
last minute, Curran explained, because
he was waiting TO find out whether the
board was going to raise the money for
this purpose by assessment or revenue
bonds.
The Mayor charged Curran with try
ing TO trick the board, and they had
quite a fiare-up. The repaving require
ments amount to about $4,000, 900, and
10 into the budget.
The Manhattan Borough budget was
trimmed as neatly az any presented so
FAR. the Tammany members finding spe-
cial delight in hacking at the schedules
offered by the Republican trouble
maker" All of Currans requests for
ealary increases. new positions and i'm
provements were thrown out In short
order, and even his estimate of $500, 900
for materials and supplies was cut to
100000.