100 years ago in The Record
Thursday, Feb. 7, 1918
Troy’s budget for 1918 is approximately $28,000 more than last year, but The Record takes credit for persuading Mayor Cornelius F. Burns to keep spending within reason. The mayor submits his budget estimate to the Common Council tonight. “In making up this budget we have been confronted by an unusual condition of affairs which not only affects Troy but also every municipality in the country,” Burns writes. “Wartime prices hit the municipalities just as hard as they do the individual and naturally a wartime budget would show an increase over those of normal times. By the most rigid economy, however, we have been able here in Troy to keep this increase down to a minimum without impairing the service and efficiency of any department.” Burns plans to spend $1,865,499.23, $1,256,360.59 of which will be raised through taxes. The total budget is equivalent in buying power to more than $66.5 million in 2018 money. Most of the increase comes from raises for teachers, firemen, police and other city workers. “In view of the abnormal living conditions throughout the country we could not very well ignore their requests,” the mayor explains. The Record, which leans Republican in state and national politics, endorsed Burns, a Democrat, for reelection last November, apparently disregarding charges of municipal extravagance from the mayor’s Republican challenger, George T. Morris. Our paper appeared to contradict itself when it began sharply criticizing wasteful city spending at the end of last year. The mayor’s 1918 budget, however, “justifies the confidence of the Troy Record,” however. “In spite of the increases granted …and other inescapable and extraordinary expenses, the total is less than in 1912 [Burns’s first year in office]. “This result was accomplished in no small measure through the elimination of sinecures exposed by The Record and by the judicious moderation in advances it proposed. The city officials are deserving of the highest praise.”
Chamber controversy
Troy Chamber of Commerce leader E. Harold Cluett urges four city businessmen who withdrew their names from consideration for seats on the next board of directors to reconsider and stand for election, The Record reports. The four men, including Record editor Dwight Marvin, have tried to bow out since an anonymous circular appeared last month recommending them for election while criticizing Cluett’s administration. A Record editorial, probably written by Marvin himself, claimed that the letter’s appearance effectively disqualified any of the men it endorsed. “By allowing your names to stand you will perform a duty to the city and at the same time be accepting a privilege which a large number of the membership have accorded you,” Cluett writes today.