New-York tribune., 1920-10-13
Mayor Blalncs
Legislature for
High Budget
Writes to Prall That He
Fought in Vain Against
Mandatory Laws That
Threaten City Finances
Makes Attack on Curran
Cheap, Petty Politicians
Declare Estimates Dis
honest, Hylan Asserts

In letter yesterday to Aiming s..
prall, president Of the Board of Edu-
cation. Mayor Hylan again placed the
responsibility for the present threat
ening financial condition of the city on
the Legislature. He declared that he
fought bitterly against the passage of
mandatory legislation, Saying then. as
is evidenced now, that it would plunge
the city in serious financial Difficult
ties" He asked Mr.. Prall to revise the
educational budget estimates for 1921
downward. The Mayor assailed Bor-
ough President Curran for declaring
that the tentative budget is dishonest
one.
"The mandatory legislation passed
By the Legislature at Albany" said the
Mayor, "burdening the taxpayers of the
city with millions of dollars over which
the Mayor and the members of the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment
had no control a great part of which
must be included in the 1921 budget,
threatens to raise the proposed budget
beyond the limit allowed by the consti-
tuition of the state.
Attacks Cheap Politicians
81 protested and fought bitterly
against the passage of this Legislation,
saving then, as is evidenced now, that
il would plunge the city iii serious
financial difficulties. 1t is impossible
for me or any other Mayor to keep the
expenditures of the city down if man
datory legislation is passed by the Leg
islature every year creating financial
obligations which the city is compelled
to meet. and doing so without consul
tation with the Mayor. or the Board of
by the people of the city.
Cheap, petty politicians who are
catering for peoples votes by voting
away the peoples money and involving
the city in financial difficulties are the
first to charge everybody else with dis
honest motives. Such petty politicians
are again making their ingratiating
appeal for votes by stating that the ten
tative budget is dishonest and that the
teaching staff Will not receive their
salaries. This statement is insincere
and untrue and made solely for petty
political purposes and is the cheapest
kind OF political bunk. The teachers,
as we'll as every other city employe,
vii receive their salariesf
1T behooves the Board Of Education
as well as every other department to
revise the tentative budget downward,
to abolish all positions that are not
filed. eliminate from the budget all
new positions and new activities, and
to c1rta.l requests for supplies, mate
rials and equipment for 1921 according
to the actual experience of 1920. This
is reasonable request if prices re-
main in 1921 as they have been in 1920,
but as the general market trend of
prices is downward it would appear
that the department. would be able to
carry OH its activities with even less
money than last year for other than
personal service"
Craig to Issue Statement
The budget committee of the Board
of Estimate will meet to-day to begin
the final slashing of the S343 1914 ,049
tentative budget as adopted Monday
night. The Corporation Counsel's
opinion on the legal question raised
by Borough President Curran as to
whether $4,000 600 of tax notes and
special revenue bonds should not be
credited to debt service and thus in
crease the latitude of the taxing power
Of the city that much will be sought.
Comptroller Charles L. Craig said yes
terday that he probably would issue a
statement clarifying the situation.
Whls the Borough Presidents con-
tention, if it held, would permit the
city to raise practically another $780,
100000 by taxation without over
reaching the constitutional limitation,
Il would at the same time increase
the budget by that sum and conse-
Quently send the 2.85 tax rate for
1921, which is the approximate figure
announced by the Comptroller, up an.
other 80 points. Mr.. Curran contended
that this is what should be done to
present an honest indication at this
time to the people of what next years
budget might be. The Comptroller and
other Democratic members of the
Board of Estimate, though disagree
ing with Mr. Curran's Interpretation n
Of the law, are not SO sure of their
ground and are willing to obtain an
oplnlon from the Corporation Coun-