The evening world., 1922-12-22


day, and laying off a good part of
troller Craig came to the rescue in
who lifts the martgage on the old fl
Mayor Hylan had lain awake nights
thinking about that S5,000,0 900. He
blamed 1t on the subsidized press, the
Rockefellers, the Gary school system
and every other influence, but he
could not find a way to raise the
money without laying off commits
sloners right and left and telling 100,
90 employees they could have a vaca-
ton until Jan. !, 1923-A. y. o. E.
Cat your own oXpenscD
This IS, 900, 900 represents the 1922
part of tho SEC, 900, 900 which must be
rsetored TO national banks by the city.
The money was collected from the
banks as a tax and the Court of APP
peals has decided that the law under
which the money was, collected is un-
constitutional.
Every mental power house in the
Estimate Board had functioned at its
highest pressure during to-day's
secret session. but not a spark of re-
lief for the 100000 city employees
came forth. Mayor Hylan sat with
bowed head at the thought of David
Hirshfeld and others being docked
several DAYS pay jus because of the
mere constitutionality of a law.
isn't it simply awful?" asked
Mayor Hylan, in n voice that pene> :
a. n n
doors.
LET me think" said Comptroller
Craig.
"Go ahcad--go TO IT," chorused the
remaining members. "We're all in"
The Comptroller's solution was this:
There are many bid creditors of the
city. Their bills. due between now
and Jan. /, must be held up for a
little while after Jan. /. Although
the deficit for this year is $4,000, 900,
it will be necessary to raise only about
50. 900, 900 between now and Jan. /,
under the Craig scheme, in order to
save city employees from en- enforced
vacation. The beginning of the new
year would find new sources Of rev.
enue.
1t was made clear that the city is
in no way responsible for the $50, 000,-
600 deficit. which is due solely to the
unconstitutionality of law which
was thought to be constitutional.
1--WE don't want to create any i'm
preston that we found money that
didn't heretofore exist" said the
Comptroller. "To carry on the city's
activities without laying of the police
and other city employees. whom we
have a right to suspend, the city
transferred funds from which people
who have claims against the city are
paid"
In open session following the exec
utive meeting, Mayor Hylan said the
city officials had gravely considered
the possibility OF suspending opera
ton in all city departments and the
laying off of employees for three or
four days at the end of this year.
"If this had been done" Mayor
Hylan stated, "the City Administra-
ton would have ceased for three or
four days in order TO make up the
deficit"
while we were debating what
could be DONE" continued the Mayor,
Comptroller Craig came to our res
cue and found sufficient funds to tide
us over into the next year. But we
don't know what we're going TO do
next year unless some legislation is
enacted TO relieve us.
"The result of this tax decision Is
that close to 10000, 900 will have to
go into the 1924 budget to take care of
the deficit. The taxpayers will have
to pay that"
The Comptroller explained that
$40, 900, 900 already collected from the
banks for 1920 and 1921 would have
to be refunded, while 100000 an
ticipated in the 1928 budget would
have to be otherwise met.
1.-THE banks won't pay this money"
saaid Craig. "Most likely 1t will come
out of the taxpayers pockets.