The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-07
CITIZENS UNION
SCENTS BIG TAX
BOOSTING PLOT
Charges Administration
With Deliberately Jump
ing City Budget.
AIM TO LIFT LID THEN
Alleged Plan Is to Get Leg
islature to Legalize Heav-
Ter 1921 Spending.
CRAIG ISSUES WARNING
Tells Estimate Board Nothing
Has Been Cut From $685.
100000 Excess.
AIM TO LIFT LID THEN
CRAIG ISSUES WARNING

The Citizens Union made a charge
yesterday that the Hylan administra-
ton is trying deliberately to build UP
an enormous city budget, which will
exceed the tax law limit. as pre-
liminary move to demanding that the
Legislature in its mex. session lift the
tax restraint and open the way for
even more elaborate spending next
year Figures and facts are presented
in an effort to prove the charge.
Comptroller Craig again warned
the Board Of Estimate, sitting as
budget committee, that not cent has
been cut from the s25,000,000 that he
says the budget will exceed the consti-
tutional limit.
The Borough President of Queens
presented his tentative budget asking
for $6,13S,S61, and in addition, would
like S2,7S7,000 for improvements If the
board decides to do any building.
Queens had S4,103,757 this year.
Representatives of almost all private
charitable institutions in the city pleaded
with the board for an increase OF 20 to
the city toward partial care OF INDECENT
and sick. Cost Of labor and supplies
makes this necessary II the helpless
are not to suffer. the officials were told.
George S. Gillespie spoke for the Cath
Ollie institutions Abram l. Ell1us for the
Jewish. and William NJ. Powell for
Protestant societies.
The city this year is giving Ss,149.000
to private charitable institutions and the
- lie m le
plea that the sum must be increased.
If the increase is granted the amount
will be about S10.0O6.000.
Citizens Unions Charges.
THE city administration complains
about the legal restraints which fortu-
nately still exist, to protect the city from
overtaxing," the Citizens Union said in
its attack made public by its counsel.
Leonard Wallstein. The statement con-
tinucs:
1.-THE only purpose Of these repeated
attacks on the legal restraints must be
TO prepare the way for getting rid of
them. Three provisions in law are de-
signed to safeguard the city's credit.
The state Constitution limits the Dor
rowing capacity to 10 pee cent. or TAX
able realty values limits the city's
power to tax for city and county pur-
poses, tNCluQl!lB payments IOI TIC CiNs
debt. TO Q per cent OF the real and per-
sonal values. and confines the city 70
the pay-as-you-go policy. The Hylan
administration has partially got rid OF
the last restraint having obtained from
the Legislature permission to issue Sl5.-
900 900 of bonds. s6,000,000 Of which Is
for totally unwarranted municipal
building in Brooklyn.
Now the purpose must be TO lay the
o. g..
ment lifting the law on the city's right
to tax per cent II that Is not the
purpose, why are the departments con-
trolled by the Mayor putting In estimates
for improvements 'otaling over $780,
900?
1T is claimed that the estimates for
operating expenses amount TO S2S5.-
703.953, which Is said 20 he S25,00o.00o
in excess OF the citys taxing capacity.
and tho board presents itself to the pub
lie as engaged in the difficult task OF
pruning the estimates to keep within
the law All OF this is sheer rot"
Sees Big saving Possible.
Detailing the amounts that can be
saved in seventeen departments, tho
Citizens Union asserts that Sl4,229.o0o
can be cut out without sacrificing the
public welfare. That sum is In OK
cess Of the amount the budget IS ABOVE
the tax limit. he statement sets forth.
and adds that many millions more can
be saved in numerous other depart
rnents. Il the officials really want TO re-
trench.
what, then. is there in the Admins
tration's cry against the constitutional
tax restriction" the union asks and an
s,vers It's own question Not thing eX-
cept the aim TO be rid OF It and lift the
I'D from taxes"
In his report accompanying his budget
Borough President Connolly of Queens
explained that an increase OF s6sS.7s0
in the personal service Item is TO pay
tho 90 per cent. advance In saiaries 70
meet the 90 per cent. boost voted last
August. To pay new salaries s414.535 Is
needed. he stated
Borough officials Of The Bronx asked
for $4,000 for small improvements In
Hylan Park. 17fth street and Southern
Boulevard
where is that park? 7 never heard
of that" Mayor Hylan asked.
ITS I'm The Bronx and has a big sign
in front OF Il reading Vote for Hylan.'
the Comptroller said.
81 move 10 strike out the request"
the Mayor said. and II was cut out.