New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-15
MTNICIP4L EXPENDITURES.

Mayor Strong's letter 10 AsSemblyman
O'Grady on the subject Of Home Rule ana NIL
nicjDal expenditures is eminently sensible ana
oucbt 10 have useful consequences. A great
deal can be said against rigid application 70
the affairs Of a huge and composite clN IKE
New-York OF the generally sound principle OF
Home Rule great deal has been said, IN
fact. and we'll said. The subject was discussed
ot length and with conspicuous ability III the
Constitutional Convention last summer. and the
adverse arguments prevailed The most impor-
,ant defect in the original report of the Com
nittoo ON the Government of Cities was the
recommendation that an absolute veto power
ovor legislation should be Entrusted 10 Mayors.
With high respect for the members of the com
mittee favoring this proposal we felt compelled
70 oppose their conclusions, and were very glad
that the convention ultimately compcHcd q
modification Of the report III this particular and
adopted the provision which now enables Inc
Mayor to require the rcpasSagc of any local bill
to which he is opposed. In theory absolute
Home Rule NAV be perfect in practice there j.
annie reason 10 fear that il would produce
crave misfor,unes at comparatively short inter
walls in municipal history. The veto power oi
the LEGISLATURE has repeatedly saved New-l orh
infict. and on the whole that power i more
safely lodged there than It would be 'iSe""'I' =
- we NAV. as in reality we must, forecast Inc
future from the past
Rut within the limitations of Mayor Strong :
letter to Mr. OGrady, Home Rule can De wiser!
conceded 10 this city especially Mt TINS ulh"
when the municipal Indebtedness Is rapidly "p
nroochinc the constitutional limitation. In
mense demands upon the city treasury an"
permanent Obligations upon taxpayers are peihH
imposed. in part by obvious pubic necessity
and in part by a respectable force "i popuIhi
sentiment hut in part also by an llnprudeh' III
pulse toward municipal expansion along man!
lines With this liberal disposition we nave no
fault 10 find. provided il is SUBSEQUENT 10 Il
s0und practical sense Of The Illness ol 'hhEN'
I'm, in that sense not a few advocates in the
Legislature Of schemes OF improvement I"r
NcwYork seem 10 be lacking. II i pcri'cu!
clear that this city cannot have al once or even
in the near future. all the alleged dement's "Ihch
il is proposed that the taxpayers shall b's'"W
unon II: and there is serious reason 10 fear uat
II NAV not be able to secure all III" improve
mcnts which it indisputably requires. In these
circumstances prudence and Sasacity ought I"
he exercised as to every item Of expenditure
and for the best guarantees Of wisdom III pro
noting the permanent welfare of the community
we musr look. not 10 the lawmakers OF the
STATE but 10 the officers of the city.
II is obvious that if mandatory legislation III
creasing municipal expenditures is not checked
some onactmcnts Of that kind will be practically
nullified by the constitutional limitation; pu'
that fact furnishes an especially strong reason
for giving heed TO the Mayors protest. II Inc
| margin is 10 be exhausted, il should be app"r-
! TONED bv those who have the clcarcSt under
! standing of the situation, not by representatives
| Of other communities having slight knowledge
| Of The conditions existing hcre ana Only an III
! direct interest In the enterprises when 'h'y
! have the power and hitherto have had me III
| clination 10 dictate