New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-10
BOTH BILLS APPROVED.
THE MAYOR HEARS ARGUMENTS ON THE
DOCK BILLS.

HE ENCOUNTERS GREAT oPPosITIoN FROM CON
rRoII.ER FITCH on THE ISSUANCE
or THE BONDS
Mayor Strong gave hearings yesterday on the
two legislative bills affecting the dock interests
of this CITY the one for the improvement OF the
water front from Bethune to Gansevoort SIS.
and the other for the issuance OF *eooo'oVo Oh
bonds for the Improvement OF the water fronts
above West Eeventh-st.
No opposition was made by any one 10 the
first measure md the Mayor approved II.
AGAINST the second bill Controller Fitch SAID:
81 wish to make emphatic protest Oh the
Finance Department OF this city against this
issue Of bonds This city cannot anord then''
The constitutional limit OF the citys taxaole
powers is 1854 600 600 The net funded debt TO-
dow is Sill 900 600 which, together with the pro-
nosed improvements now begun or likely to neein
within 2 wear or Sc for schoolhouses baths ana
other necessary and immediate improvements.
including rapid transit. will aggregate more IMAM
s55 900 600 and will raise us to our 1mlt' lhis
CITY cannot afford to take all the good thinss
that are offered 10 It,
II don't think that the manner In wnich 'Nls
Dock Board is now spending our money "o"'u
warrant such an increase In It's funds or powers
, ,,or, to cau your attention to the fact that
the burden will fall upon the poor people, 'hoSe
who pay their taxes In cash. not IN che'Ks IKE
Won or l. Mr. Mayor those who draw the>r "o"e'
from savings banks. and many OF them women
too tell you sir. that when these peopie iee'
these things, as they VIII s"oi"S' W" WIZ ~"
TO reckon with them.
President O'Brien here remarked: i wouiu nho
II ask YOU one question: How VIII the taN-
navers have to pay for these improvements?
nv cki
torted Mr. Fitch. III the taxpayers don't pay
for them. who Will! -, ,,. -, ,,a
Hear. hear" cried voices in the BACK OF inc
room. " A., l.,,a.. ro
"Why. the people who lease the docks. re-
piled NJ OBrien. 49,. III,
Henry F. Dimock spoke In favor OF the Dill.
saying that the improvements were nece s,.e.
and would at best only call for an expenditure
Of 81 900. 900 in any one year -, -
Darwin r. James representing the boatd VI
Trade and Transportation: Jeremiah fangpu.h'
renresenting the Coal Exchange. and representa-
tiycs of the White Star and Cunard Steamrh'P
companies also spok" In favor OF ,ne p, w., am n.
when they had finished the Mayor TOOK the op
portunity to reply to Mr.. Fitch. Mr. F1tch
had left the room.
The Controller" said the Mayor. lays great
stress upon the fact that this bill Will increase
the debt and responsibilities OF our people ou'
he seems to forget. or lays aside the considefA-
ton. that these works or Improvements VIII IN
crease the income Of our government most NM
terally He charges that we are now contract
ing obligations We cannot meet. ana mas man
times blamed this administrator Ior the ia'ec
number Of bonds issued
Il have this to say In reply. Ninety-siy per
cent of the bonds issued during this adminftra-
ton were mandatory under TN" acts OF i9fner
administrations with which have not had any
more 10 DO than any OF YOU gentlemen here Ana
| will add that So long as | can help II ana am
Mayor no bonds will be issued except for the
purpose OF placing this city in the position she
should occupy az the greatest and foremost IN
the land It's citizens the best governed and their
inter-s,s and welfare paramount 10 all other
considerations.
The Mayor was warmly applauded. lie ap-
proved the bill and nov the DOCK Board can 60
ahead.