New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-13
COLER TO BEGIN TO PAY.
SOME CONTRACTORS LIKELY TO GET
CITY MONEY SOON.
THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE WILL PROBABLY An
NouNcp THAT TIE OLD CITY WAS WITHIN
IT'S DEBT LIMIT ON JANUARY 1. AS A
RESULT OF MR. wHAIENs
Latest OPINION

LATEST OPINION
Abot a DOZEN Of the contractors who have
olainns against the city account OK Work areauy
completed, and who ought to have been paiu oy
issues Of bonds which were authorized oy 'he
former Board OF Estimate and Apporuohme"''
went to the Office Of Controller Coler yesterday
morning to make fresh demands FOR their money
They ell had copies OF the opinion given by Cor
pora,ion Counsel Whaen on Wednesday, whch
The Tribune published in full yesterday morh'hs'
and they knew that the opinion meant 'hat inc
Tummany administration was backing down from
IT'S determination invalidate the contracts "cH
Mevor St-ong's administration had made Inc
statement in Mr. Whaen's opinion that SlS 1917 ~
might as well be deducted from the amount ny
which the Controller had figured out tha' inc
c::y's debt limit had been exceeded was consul
cred 10 be a. confession that the debt limit OF inc
forr,er civ Of New-York had not been exceeded
when tho contracts for public improvements were
made and the issues Of bonds TO pay TOT "oiA
under the contracts were authorized, aithousn ''o
CORPORATION Counsel had not receded from MS posi-
ton tina. contract Indebtedness has the same
effect bonded Indebtedness In determining "'s
city's debt limit
Controller Coer, who has indicated MS oe'ei
mination to deal fairly with the contractors ana
workingrnen who have performed WORK LOT 'he
city said the opinion relieved him OF an unwei-
coma burden and he probably would begin 10 pay
some of the, contractors soon He went over 10 'he
City Hall and had conference with Mayor IAN
WICK. and later 1t was announced that the Board
of Estimate and Apportonment would nave
meeting in q few days, and bonds would be issueo
10 pay for improvements which arc believed 10 10
most needed Contractors who erected schoo
buildings will receive their pay. and the WORK OF
erecting such buildings Will be carried forward
The Controller said he would prepare 1resh re-
port on the citys financial condition, ana ne eA-
pected TO have II ready in q Few days A.,
Although according 10 the former report OF M.
Coler which counted contract Indebtedness. !ne
same bonded Indebtedness. the debt unit OF 'hs
former city Of NewYork would have been passeu
by about 5000 600, after deducting nearly szpW'"v
which had been Included for Liabilities Tor street
and park openings. the Controller has decided thi1t
none OF the contracts for public Improvements
which during Mayor Strongs administra,
ton need be declared invalid. Probably the ioTma
announcement that the former city OF New 4 orK
was within the debt limit on January Will pe
made az the next meeting OF the Board or Estl-
mate and Apportionment 49,. ~. ~, =. , l.,
difYerence of about 100000 will be made In
the debt incrring power of tho city BY the ixins
of tax valuations the property or Manhattah
and The Bronx this year by the Tax Commits.
eioners according to the estimate OF freside'li
Feitner Of tho Tax Board. This will be declared
about July !. AS there is 10 be no tax levy IN the
ofher boroughs this year. and consequently no
fixing by the Tax Department Of real -esiat" vaua-
lions the present valuations stand for those hor-
o,Ighs for the purpose Of determining the debt-ln-
curing privileges OF the entire city.