New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-05
MR. CROEFR'S LIBEL.

Mr. Croker and Mr.. Coler should ngree on
their stories The Boss announced yesterday
morning that the city has exceeded the cOnstitu-
tlonal debt limit by SjOo00,o00, and gave the
Controller as his authority for the statement
This was a surprise to some people. who knew
that the Controller was preparing schedule Of
the debt which he was not yet ready to give
our. and who did not see why Mr.. Croker who
IS nO' in office. should know 30 much more than
his fcllOw-ct!zcns about the secrets OF the Con
trocrS department. Mr.. Colcr followed Mr.
Crokcrs remarks with an estimate of MS own
saving that the excess was $4,000 piece OF
tcmcrity which Mr. Croker should punish Sc
vcrely as it tends 10 make him ridiculous to
hive the Controller discrcdt his quotations from
The Controller. But the exact figures Of the OK
cess are not nearly 50 interesting as Mr.. Cookers
discussion OF IT'S cause:
Controller Coer saws that We are already
nearly $50 900 OOO' over our legal debt limit
That is a legacy from the reform ndmnistra-
tiOn. and must settle II before we incur any
new obligations. The Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment which permitted this excess over
the debt limit is likely to he indicted. and II the
members arc shown 20 have been careless IN
dealing with the citys finances they should be
indicted
Now. assuming that the city IL beyond ~
debt limit-of which neither Mr.. Cookers nor
NJ Colcr's testimony is conclusive evidence be-
yond the construction OF courts Mr.. Croker
must know that the reform administration
WINS no more responsib for the excess than
hc IS. and II he does not know II he IS too IL
norant 10 boss this city II there IS an excess
OF debt ii s due Ia the consolidation into tho
city debt Of bond issues which under the old
laws existed in foil accord with the Consri-
ho u mo oh NOT
interfere with Brooklyns borrowing power,
though the two corporations were cocNtensive.
Long Island CITY was Mt liberty 20 bond itself
up 10 10 per cent OF Ils assessments. even II
'ts proportion ~ the Queens County debt made
the burden on IS people much greater. But
with consolidation all those debts were Jumped
together rs a city liability. while the assess
mcris have no; been increased. According 70
Mayor Van Wyck's last message the debt OF
the old city Of Ncw-York was $l3S. s25.36l 81.
including 81. 46l. 80 OF Of revenue bonds, which
the Corporation Counsel has since decided need
not have been taken account OF in estimating the
debt limit As the assessment was 81 .7S1. 81, 79l.
Mayor Strong left the territory which he gov
crned with debt margin Of 81 SOD. SCI II, not
counting the contracts made for which bonds
have not been issued. We believe no estimate
-
accepting Mr.. Whalcns Interpretation OF the
law that part Of the city debt for which the
reform administration" was responsible is over
S2O0OOOOO inside the limit
The debt handed over from the Borough OF
Brooklyn was according TO the Mayors mes
sage ST. 47G..,SJ ~ IN excess Of what assess
mcnt I'm that territory allows. As the old bond
issues of the towns absorbed into Brooklyn and
the debt OF Kings County aggregate S1S.502.-
AZ ~. tho city Of Brooklyn was also apparent
~ within TIA legal limit Rchmdnd's combined
debt is SS774l60 so beyond what It's assessments
warrant. Likewise. tho estimated debt acquired
with the Borough Of Queens IS S2.5lG.52S 20 In
excess Of 10 per cent Of It's assessment, but rs
This is made up Of Long Island City town
and county debts. there Is no reason to suppose
that II was incurred in violation Of the consti-
tutional restriction.
What then. becomes OF Mr.. Cookers sneers
AT the reform administration" and threats 10
have tho last Board Of Estimate and Apportlon-
mcnt indicted; II becomes simply impudent
abuse an attempt to make political capital by
vclOusy lbellIng the members OF the last ad-
mnistratlon. trusting that the ignorance Of the
public will give color OF probability to his
accusations.