THIS DAY IN 1918 IN THERECORD

Thursday, Feb. 21, 1918. On a party-line vote, Republicans deny Mayor Cornelius F. Burns the two-thirds approval necessary to adopt the Troy budget estimate.

The common council votes 10-7 in favor of the $1,256,360 budget after a contentious public hearing, with all the GOP aldermen voting no. The Republicans deny any obstructionist intent, but demand to question city department heads, who fail to show up tonight, about specific budget items.

GOP floor leader George W. McCune (14th Ward) protests that “the invitations should have been accepted if for no other reason than courtesy,” while Democratic leader Frederick C. Casey (11th Ward) “did not believe the department heads should appear as they were not members of the board of estimate and apportionment which adopted the estimate.”

City corporation counsel Thomas H. Guy represents the Burns administration at the hearing. He warns Republicans against stall tactics, since the city only has until April 1 to collect taxes and the assessment process can’t begin until the budget is approved.

Alderman Joseph R. Neals (13th Ward) tells Guy that “there were one or two items he desired to obtain information on.” Why, for instance, does the public works department want to spend $10,000 on new equipment when “the city, as well as individuals, should economize during war times?”

Guy explains that the city needs to replace a warn- out flushing apparatus. Repairing the motors on the current apparatus would cost more than buying a new one, he claims.

Neals next wants to know why the city engineer wants to spend $1,000 on tree planting. The Republican doesn’t object to the principle of tree planting, but believes that trees planted in front of someone’s private property should be paid for by the property owner. Guy explains that “by the city doing the work one style tree could be planted and here would be uniformity which would beautify the streets.”

After more questions from Neals and other Republicans, council president Albert J. Watson objects that the public hearing is “for citizens.”

“Can’t we forget for one night we are aldermen and be citizens?” Neals retorts.

McCune insists on the aldermen’s right to question the department heads, reminding the council that while the Republicans are a minority in the council, they represent a majority of Troy’s taxpayers. In the end, he votes against the estimate despite having approved it at a finance committee session last night.

After the hearing, Guy tells reporters that the mayor will most likely go to court to get the budget approved. A writ of mandamus, if granted, would compel the Republican aldermen to approve the 1918 estimate.

-- Kevin Gilbert