New-York tribune., 1920-10-21
Budget of 1921
Exceeds Limit
By 100000
Total of Proposed Purse for
City's Yearly Expenses, as
Adopted by Board of Esti-
mate, Is $685. ,898,341
Education Item Rejected
Mayor and Curran Clash;
Editors Asked for Expert
Advice OIL Reductions

u
yesterday adopted & maximum pro-
posed budget for 1921 that is mora
than S8,000,000 in excess Of the legal
limitation. This took place after acri
monious debate had been caused by the
final effort of Henry II. Curran, Bor-
ough President of Manhattan, to have
included for consideration an item Of
s31,3o5,581, previously cut from tne
requested appropriation for the Board
of Education.
The total of the proposed budget as
adopted is se55, 1898, ,341.34. The maxi
mum amount on which the departm 8
OF the city may be conducted under
the law is $347,0O0,OO0. Comptrol,er
Craig, in explaining his vote for adm
tion yesterday, said there still re-
NAMED several days in which to effect
reductions that will bring the BUDGET
within the legal allowance before a.
proval of the final draft Resolutions
were passed directing the examiners to
make resurvey of every department
with view to the elimination of evarv
item that would not impair the func.
ton of the departments.
Usual OQuaODlc occurs
The usual squabblc occurred lust
after the Comptroller had made his
motion to have the proposed BUDGET
adopted. Mr.. Curran moved to amend
the motion by having the item for the
Board Of Education included. He SAID
he was aware the court had ruled ad-
versely, but that he felt its opinion
to be based on point not germane
to the issue. Mayor Hylan interrupted
keatedly.
"Oh. of course, we can't stop you,
Curran, and the Citizens Union from
pursuing obstructive tactics and plav-
ing petty politics at every possible op-
portunity."
Mr.. Curran retorted that he lad
hoped his motion might receive con-
sideration without provoking a repeti-
ton of "undignifed proceedings" tina.
had marked previous meeting when
the same question was at issue
We'll, l can't help it when you re-
sort to such petty practices" said tn ,
when Borough President Connolly o.
Queens interviewed in the Interest of
serenity.
ut is useless to get mad" he said
Henry is simply exercising the right
Of every minority to play politics"
There was some numerous discus
sion of this prerogative, Mn which Pres
ident Curran was repeatedly called
Henry" After it had progressed a
few minutes the Mayor chimed in to
assure the board members that he was
especially fond of Henry and felt his
talents should be used in a construc-
tive way, instead of in opposition to
the boards proposals.
Some one said SIS this a meeting of
the Board of Estimate or an O. Henry
story?"
Curran Asks Roll Call
After the laughter had subsidized Mr.
Curran said:
IF you gentlemen have concluded
this riot Of unsought admiration
should appreciate a roll call an my
motion. | don't consider it petty to
strive for measures that will insure
the functioning o. the public schools
throughout the year. You all know
that this money must come from some
where. Eventually the taxpayers will
be compelled to pay it and it is a mat
ter OF economy to include 1t in the
budget at this time and face the issue
now. If it doesn't go in this budget it
will have to be included in that fol
1922, or be made provision for by some
other method which will entail addi-
tional expense on the taxpayers
On the roll call the motion was SUD.
ported by Mr.. Curran and Aldermanc
President La Guardia. The other mem
bers voted no. The motion to adopt
the proposed budget without the item
was then carried.
Before adjournment Comptroller
Craig put another motion that caused
a ripple of contention. 1t was eventu-
ally carried by to 7, and proposed
that an invitation be extended the tax.
payers, and particularly the editors
and owners OF newspapers" to make
suggestions for reductions that woulC
not impair the functioning of the sew
eral departments.
Mayor Hylan,. who voted aye. ex-
pressed great pleasure with the word
ing of the resolution and asked that
it be read again. Mr.. La Guardia votec
no, as did several Of his elbow mem
bers, explaining that the board wa;
specifically charged with the duty o!
fixing the levy and could not properly
SHIFT that responsibility or adopt rcso.
lutions designed to establish an alb
if complaint followed the boards ac-
ton. Mr.. Curran characterized the
resolution as 'farcical play to the
grandstand' and cast his vote against it
SayiurS Grow e:r Noxu Work