Sentence:  But it would greatly strengthen any Mayor 's executive powers , <WSD>remove</WSD> the excuse in large degree that he is a captive of inaction in the Board of Estimate , increase his budget-making authority both as to expense and capital budgets , and vest in him the right to reorganize city departments in the interest of efficiency and economy . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract