The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-17
GITROY REPLIES TO HEWITT.
, utToR,s OBJECTIONS TO IHE
ru,uRER or CUMMERCE BiLE

49,. F.,.rpr,.s-Nr Ms-ry n. n-.t-s-,s
o.,.i., o. the Bnrs Cos-,uu,ie.siity
v.,o, Gilroy makes public the following re-
,s,s.,.lIsyor Hevitts criticism upou his re-
W .,.,,sr to Lieut. Gov. Sheehsn eondsmning
u.cb,nb.r OF Commerce Rapid Trsnsit bill:
sk,y. read carefully sH-Mayor Hevitfs let
- ,s,sr,nes to the Chamber Of CONS eree
T.,id Transit bill and can zee nothing In II
,osh.nEs the views which have felt II to be
sdu,V to place on record. That this ex-
.,,..on Of my views will affect the course Of
"s,.l,;ion Is hardly to be expected under the
.i,.ynstsnces lam sure. however. that they
.tlb. interesting to look back upon. when
,h,cusstions that are treated now ss OF the
,a,urs shall have become the questions Of the
r,.s.rt. AZ to aspersions on mr. motives from
,s,sp.pers aud others, beg to state that
iii no. 10 deferred from performing what
,o,..ysto be ny public duty by insinuations
o..nders rom any source.
NJ Hewitt says that have overlooked en-
p,.,, the revenues Of the sinking fund. He
4. mistaken. The revenues Of the sinking
mad we're not overlooked 10 ny review Of the
.ruation. They were not mentioned because
ne, are pledged by Law to the redemption OF
"A. city Debt and cannot be used for public
inp-oveaents OF any kind. Mr.. Hewitt IL,
therefore. in error in the following statement:
During the last ten years this fund alone
has been sufficient to provide nearly $50 OUO-
90. out Of which have been paid the enormous
expenditures for new parks. the new Croton
Aaueiuct new schools. new docks. new armo-
,.,. new Criminal Court House. and. in fact.
the inuumbeTable additions to the public
property durins the last ten years"
Asamatter OF fact. all the above were paid
10, out Of the proceeds OF the sale OF bonds.
and not out Of the sinking fund. In my letter
referred 10 the net debt. and RETAINED from
eomrlieatirg the statement OF the question by
mention Il the sinking fund Issues Of bonds
under the Provisions OF law In some years
srual!ed. and In some years exceeded. the
revenues OF the sinsing fund; but the general
average o; those issues has been such that
there was gradual reduction OF the city debt
up to 1885, when it reached Its lowest point OF
SEQ "..5. ti33 since that time. owing to the
vigorous prosecution Of pubic improvements
and the purchase Of largo areas for parks. the
ds6. h.: %n, to-day |. Is Sysr one
Increased revenues OF the sinking fund
II We are TO use the revenues Of the sinking
transit railroad or sell bonds to an amount
eaual to such revenues. as well as use up the
se-sable valuation, nothing can be clearer
than that We would 10 burning the candle at
Whatever for the future liquidation Of our in
Mr.. Hewitt lays particular stress on tho fact
creased for some years: but has: In inet de.
nearly one hundred and twenty million dol
lars. but he makes no reference to the con:
tinued increase since 1851. Perhaps IL would
incremen, went that would hsv. naturally re-
suited from the Increase alustions OF taxable
.essed valuation OF taxable real estate was
$Sb2. 42S. lbs and the tax rate $50 In
the rate Of taxation which obtained in 1915
the amount raised upon this valuation would
.e sS ns pIss.nt rate ID I.
lion in 1855 was "a. 40 "a ~ Il will thy:
be seen that the people were taxed sa sos i3t
would have been had the tax rate OF 1919 pre-
vailed, Thus il Is seen that the increased
property owners and made the decreased tax
At the same time may say that contrary 20
the general impression. the EXPENSES Of the
city Government have not N Atsri ally Increased
81 e 1878 an. assG isr hoe, o3i ss6i" ,s6iSS
IA S M ns the Tiss
AMOUNT has never been exceeded since. except
assessabls valuations OF reai. estate have. here
to'oge. ueen made the basis OF reduction o! tho
den ON . taxation In this way thrIrate ha been
reduced IN nineteen Isars from SZo4 to 81 81.
IL i now graysiy bLd9ro.rd to spend ior The
the revenues Of the tity which are pledged for
tie redemption OF the eity debt. the possible
taxes raised on the future possible increase
valuation. but also to increase to an unknowu
extent the rate VI taxation Tor the same pur-
m eat in the financial and ind rial conditions
furnishes good reason for the belief that pri-
,s'e capital i: ready in abun ant supply to In
Reference /. made by Dir. Hewitt to an ar
~. I,'c on mo wealth Of New York. This is
entirely foreign TO the matter und:r discus
T. i suneons;isuiiSnS. IrcaSss the eapsnGi;ars
authorised oy II would exceed the lu Der cent.
limit 81 indebtedness wisely prescribed OF the
Constitution. and prescribed. In my judgment.
ifasaf ,i4s III. Sig Sca .:::d Of srs. i
WAY she shoIld enter upon enter
p'ises which are the legitimate Held for pri-
itrarrisi out will Ls tEs entering wedge. after
yhais s the city may p. e1pes,sd TO- purchase
cone a thoroughly .Paternsl municirrIity., l
an rather surprised TO Zee Dir. Hewitt and the
New lo,k Shsm0eI OF Somm enuoIshR q
It's sgsiS asserted that the COS, will not sx-
lsn spsinsers.- OF mem ers Of the present
GenIsmAn who 10 reported to have drawn the
Iham6er OF Commerce act that the cost o.
eoar,s. il the muaiepal.iy sm6srEs in the en-:
terpEiss aud spends the so 10000 provided
The so Sns let lei the cost bs 1Sas Il may az
Section ! OF article al the Constitution OF
the State OF New York provides as iollows:
No county city. town. or village shall here
after give any money or property, or loan It's
money or credit. to or IN aid Of anr individual
ASSOCIATION or CORPORATION, or become directly
or Indirectly tho owner OF any stocks or bonds
81 any association or eorpor alton. nor shall
any such county. city. town, or village DO
Ilosed 10 incur any Indebtedness EXCEPT for
county. e.tT, town. or village EuTpossS'
lsuOmit that any unprei udieei person will
eonstTus this 10 be a prohibition OF the plan
proposed. believe that 10th the proposed
acts are pain yiolAtions or srasions OF the
spirit. at east. of wise and prudent provision
o. tEs Constitution. aud II enacted into law
either act will establish precedent iTAughL
with the greatest danger to the future Imam
a! stability OF our city. SO believing. II Is my
GHty 90 PLACE on record nv protest against
Ex-t oTpolRtion Counsel Henry r. BssEmAn
has given. in the form OF . letter to senator
Mcmahon an opinion As to the constitution
hLtY VI the appropriation Of public money for
the construction OF rapid transit system. In
rely 10 Mayor Gilroy's assertion that the
Eanber OF Commerce bill Involves a viola
toa Of section IL. article Of the Constitu-
non. hr, Bees man says:
The answer to the polnt raised IL that
EaltFor in IL lsffAF a. 9uiftt dOks the Chamber