The New York herald., 1921-01-22
NO EXPLANATION GIVEN
Both Factions in Estimate
Body Line Up to Obtain
Vantage Points.
SECRETS TO BE REVEALED
To Make 1t More Interesting
Tax Assessors Will Start on
Next Years Job.

The action Of the Beard OF Estimate
a week ago in taking from Comptroller
Charles l.. Craig control of the making
of the city budget. through the Com
mittee on Finance and Budget. of which
he was chairman. resulted yesterday in
/ the Comptroller resigning both as
chairman and as member Of that
committee. His action was interpreted
as an extension to the entire board OF
that warfare which for many months
has existed between him and the
! Mayor and f. II. La Guardia, Presi-
6Sc. of the Board of Aldermen.
las resignation was handed in oy
Henry Smith. Deputy Comptroller,
who for weeks has been sitting in
for the Comptroller. Mr.. Craig sent
no explanation, nor did Mr.. Smith
elucidate, but the cause of the sever
ance of relationship was quite obvious.
When the Comptroller's communica-
ton had been read Mayor Hylan ex-
! pressed the opinion that the Comptroller
was bound to serve on all committees,
| tion.
What does this mean?" Mr.. Smith
interjected quickly
! "It means that this Is not resigna-
| ton" Edward Riegelmann. President
! of the Borough of Brooklyn, explained.
"It Is a notice that the Comptroller Will
rot serve on the committee. We ought
to have a bill of particulars
/ The Deputy Comptroller made ii clear
/ % hn
concerned he had resigned. The Comp
| troller takes the view that he Is not
/ bound to serve on this committee. which
/ is not created by law.
Resignation Is Not Accepted.
I Mr.. Riegelmann moved to lay the
! communication on the table; Maurice h.
/ Connolly, President of the Borough oil
! Queens. moved 10 refer II to the Com
1 mittee on Finance and Budget. and Mr..
/ La Guardia, declaring a way should be
1 made for a new chairman so that the
committee might not be hampered
/ through lack OF authority TO meet,
moved TO accept the resignation.
The Mayor cut the parliamentary
knot by arbitrarily putting Mr.. Con-
noEy's motion. which was carried. and
a meeting of the Committee on Finance
and Budget was called for Monday to
consider the matter.
! Henry H. Curran, President of the
Borough of Manhattan. declared that the
resignation should not be accepted since
the city needed the services of the Comp
/ troller and according TO Mr.. Curran.
"this is the one committee above all
others on which the Comptroller should
serve
The Mayor later indicated that II
there is any divorcing to be done the
board win not be the aggressor. but the
Comptroller may divorce himself from
the board.
There were well authenticated indica-
tions yesterday that there VIII be an
attack from the Comptroller in day
or so on the rest OF the board
VIII Not Neglect budget.
There was also plenty of evidence that
the Comptroller does not intend to neg
lect the budget-and particularly the
ambitions OF other board members In
connection therewith--merely because he
no longer walks the quarterback of the
committee, but on the other hand he
viii fight 70 make the budget as nearly
q Craig budget as his opportunities per-
init.
On tho other side OF tho conflict. ooun-
ter charges and measures were brewing
Yesterday Among other things. il APP
pears the Comptroller will be accused OF
withholding information from the boaro
in making up the budget for this year
and. through the boards resultant igno-
rance. OF maneuvring IT into position
wherc he used II In his fight agains,
the Board OF Education. That charge
specifically. is expected to be that the
Comptroller compelled the board to cut
$4,000, 900 from the Board of Education
appropriation merely ac a part of his ad-
verse policy toward the school body.
It was learned also that further means
the nature of which IS not vet disclosed
are 10 he taken 20 compel the Comp
troller to reveal information which GER
tain board members say he has but re-
fuses 70 divulge.
Meanwhile the committee of the whole
having taken over the province OF the
Comptroller's committee. has gone ster
further and IN addition 20 orderlng
Board OF Estimate examiners 90 begir
work now on ascortaining next years
departmental needs Is ready 90 put ths
tax assessors on the JOB no that tho
board will know In advance how much
money will be available FOR next year
and may cut its cloth accordingly.