New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-02
QUEENS AND SUFFOLK.
Long ISLAND CITY.
TROUBLE OVER THE PROPOSED ISSUE OF
CITY BONDS
GLEASON BILL PRESENTED TO

GLEASON BILL. PRESENTED ~
MAYOR SANFORD
The disa gre-m-nt b-tween Mayor Sanford ana
cry Treasurer Lucien Knapp. OF Long Island o''S'
over the question OF issuing bonds under the pro-
visions OF the State Constitution bids fair
to become historic case. john {. . brIeh the
contractor VINO H. the reputed partner OF Police
Commissioner John G. Sheehan. OF New-forA, re-
Gently asked MIR. Knapp to issue $500 OF bonds az
part payment for work done the citys sewers
This Mr.. Knapp refused TO do AZ he consiuetru
Mr. . Bren's demand the entering wedge 10
the issuing OF sl.VJV.eW OF similar bonds brrn
is now after the Sanford administration with a
sharp stick. and threatens 10 make things uh-
comfortable for them II they do not hnd some way
OF paying him either in money or bonds.
Mr.. knapp's refusal to oblige Mr.. . Brien III
this matter is based on the law prohibiting clty
from Increasing its obligations over limit OF ~
per cent OF the assessed value OF It's real estate
Long Island city is now indebted TO an amount
equal 10 10 per cent OF rs assessed reaestale
valuation. and Mr.. Knapp therefore considers the
issuing OF yvo0O0 more bonds a serious matter
and he thinks the taxpayers In general VIII come
TO the same conclusion.
corporation Counsel Stewart has submitted an
opinion justifying the proposed issue OF bonds on
the ground that the United States Constitution for
bids any State rom impairing the validity OF any
contract and that O Brien. under his contract mas
a proper lien for payment from the city. Mr..
Knapp does not question the validity OF y bfleh
contract. He takes the ground mat me power
20 raise money on bonds Is separate ana apart
from the power to contract debt. The improve
ment Commission may have power 10 enter INTO
contracts WITHIN the limits OF the act which ere
a,-d them but their right 10 agree TO pay con-
tractors I'm city bonds Is questioned by lawyers
% the best standing in the city
TntiI January T. 1855. the city Treasurer had
authority TO raise money by the sale OF bonds 10
pay FOR work done under these contracts b"t no"
Treasurer Knapp finds himself hsmpered by the
constitutional prohibition against increasing the
debt % the city beyond the 10 per cent limit
..lt Il a aeIl-known fact" said a prominent Long
Island cay lawyer recently. that the SANFORD
administration rushed things .tfter Election Day
when the new Constitution was adopted by the
u-ope M to December 81 In order 10 oblige John
. She-han and fulhl their contracts before the
new Constitution went into effect As this was
dan. hv both Mayor Sanford and the Board OF
Aldermen with the ay0wcd intention OF AVOIDING
tb Constitutional prohibition IL IL held that this
peculiar action their part would " noth'hs
else make the contracts Illegal. and give them
fraudulent character. Altogether. the matter az X
now stands viii b. watched with interest by every
lawyer In this state n 1t gets into court az II VIII
-, an likelihood h.. carried the court % Appeals
before , settlement Is reached. This Is the hrst
Gaze o. the kind that has arisen under the new
Constitution"
EN-Ma,or Patrick J. Gleason appears 10 be AZ
unfortunate In his advertising as ne IL IN ms man.
csl schemes when the ex-Miyor secured piaSe
for tn. school children OF Long Island Ciy III we
columbian celebration parade in October. ~ MS
praise wa- sounded from Hunters Point 10 bower
BsY In fact people regarded MN n. "9lthy
OF more veneraiion than Columbus hinseif. l-a,ei
on when the big fellow" gave people to under
stand that .hr would d~fraN the expenses OF we n'
? 0sl children 10 and from the pardd'. Every ooul
s,,J IN. ex-Mavor was a model ~ patriotism ana
de.sryed to b. reelected Gleason l-i me hul'
I'm Inc parad. ana was cuogized by nearN VERY
rs,vsuaper I'm fhe metropolis Hi- friends noWeVer,
,..r. shp.k D On TUESDAY wh'r franc Mhhig",
II, " smith ~ he l.lug l.land Railroad. pr'srn -
4, Mayor SANFORD. through Cliy 'i"fk VI D. 'i',i,
nor !, bu Tor ST. ard demanded ~" ,nh'u1,r
p,vnenf Of this amount win 90 npouhl In,r -
Nr smith exp.aned that the OIL repr'sfh,ei .ln
f~rrv,ee ~ loDD school children treason H.i y,
:, %nW-York FOR the purpose or DONG homage ~
nm. 4 i.coNfrer ~ America. . ,., ,h,,
MAYOR Sanford much surprised 10 .r'rn - =,
c.ea.,u md no, pay the bill II" saws u" i,lS ~, t
see how Long Island city can Legally pay tn~ ~
c,in, and ina he will refer the bli 10 me On
,,, comet, al Tunsdny's meeting. Meinwhllr vi
C;leason takes the matter cooiv. ana SHOWS ~ a.
les :, IN visit his Office IN FrOni-st inc many "i IA
tcring send offs which he fe,e'ven LIN ~ Va,
which he took In the Column an I'raue'