The New York herald., 1921-08-12

the business of the city must be con-
Quoted as we would each of US conduct
our own business IL we were in private
business where our own profit was In
| volved. You consider that sound
statement in city business adminfstra-
ton. managing it's own affairs?"
Absolutely"
"And the situation in relation to the
| other departments in which there has
| been an increase. so far as you are per-
sonally concerned. Is substantially the
same as you have stated in relation to
those as to which have inquired?'
Yes. sir"
The Mayor was unable to recall hav-
ing fixed a maximum for any city de-
partment's expenses. Asked about the
instructions he had given heads OF de-
I partments, the Mayor said:
/ "All along the line TO cut to the bone !:
those are the Instructions"
I'm your 1918 message you state you
have started out by cutting out unneces-
sary bureaus. Can you name any such
4 bureau?'
"Yes, the Board of Inebriety." The
\ crowd roared.
! There had been a cut in some of the
4 Board OF Estimate bureaus. but the
| Mayor could not recall how many en-
ployees had been let out
The Mayor said he thought the prac-
tice of issuing special revenue bonds
ought to be limited. Mr.. Brown showed
that the amount of those bonds had in
creased during the Mayors term from
Sl1.000,000 to s36.000.000.
You have not succeeded in CARRYING
out your policy?"
Il don't want to answer that question
because l am not certain your figures
are correct"
DO you know that during 1920 you
made authorizations of $4,000, 900 of
special revenue bonds?'
I am not certain about the figures"
Increasing Municipal Waste.
Have you received any report from
waste and extravaganza
i could not say that have"
numerous appropriations for munich
pal luxuries were cited by Mr.. Brown.
You disapproved of specia, revenue
bonds at the time you took office and
they have largely increased since YOU
TOOK office, from one cause and another.
ana 4 am asking you If you have any
constructive suggestion in relation to
it?"
Except I think it ought to be lin
tied"
"How?"
That would have to be worked out"
You have not any suggestion for the
Imitation"
mo, sir. I have not
And none has occurred to you here
tofore which has lodged in your mind
and remains there now?"
! mo, SIR"
You know II Is a very considerable
\ item in increasing the expenses Of the
city and the tax levy?'s
Yes sir
- 4.
/ one account to another in the process of
juggling city accounts was taken UP and
1t was shown that In each instance the
transfer represented an increase which
later had to go into the budget.
You had over million in excess In
charitable institutions which was divided
up among these departments. by means
of transfers to those departments, from
charitable institutions which had exces-
sive appropriations
"Yes. I won't say excessive. know
there were some economies made there
BY Commissioner Coler and that money
was there. and the different departments,
the Park Department and other depart
ments where the wages of per diem en-
| ployees were increased the money was
transferred from the Public Welfare De-
partment 10 these other departments to
| take care of the deficiencies because of
4 the increase"
but / find there is no reduction for
last year in the 1921 appropriations y
The rates increased. The rates were
| increased that year"
The Mayor was not able to suggest
| any amendment to the charter dealing
| with that situation. He said he be-
lieved in certain flexfbility in accounts
/ to meet varying needs. Mr.. Brown
4 read from a circular sent to heads or
| departments demanding they cut out
waste and get on the job"
eff you had practised the policy you
preached you would have had smaiier
budget, wouldn't you?"
/ YES, bur conditions came up over
which | had no control
Recalls No Changes.
"What changes were made IS the re-
suit OF that very desirable movement
undertaken by you, IL You have any
| record"
II canno. remember myself person
auv any changes that were made. brt
\ possibly IL there were any changes
made the heads of the departments
that received that letter could state
that
After the noon recess Mr.. Brown
again took UP the question OF the trans
fer OF funds by the Board or Estimate
from one account TO another
I Are InGTs dIg lbicS -
Estimate in relation to transfers from
\ one fund to another?
THE terms and the conditions OF tne
budget control
"Those are not rules relating to trans
fers from one fund to another"
Those are rules practically governing
the budget"
There are no rules in the budget re-
latinG to TRANSFERS.
II think the terms and the conditions
provide something about that"
Did YOU ever see any rule relating
10 transfers outside the budgetY
II am not sure that I did"
You don't recall any?"
mo, don't"
"Did you adopt any rules for trans
fers in 1922 Have you got any in
force In 1921 ~
Whatever the rules are In the rules
and conditions in the fore part OF the
budget they were adopted"
DO you find the rules IN the budget
that you found in the budget OF 1877
mo they are not the same. They
have been changed to some extent"
DO you know whether any OF the
rules for transfers that were included
in the budget when you took office are
still included In tho budget in relation
to TRANSFERS.
"Tne rules are here cannot re-
member all the rules without looking
at them. don't try to burden my
...4tt. Vnt. ra npnt bnrdnn WOffr