New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-13
COLER ASKS BLACKS HELP.
WANTS LAW TO RELIEVE THE CITY
FROM THE COUNTIES DEBTS-GOv-
ERNOR WILL NOT ACT


Albany. July IL (SpeciaD .-Governor Black
to-day received from the Controller OF New
York City communication asking him to sug-
gest to the Legislature the enacting Of law
which would relieve the city from 500, 100000
of the bonded Indebtedness Of Kings, Queens
and Richmond counties, which existed at the
time Of the creation Of Greater New-York.
Controller Coler believes that this debt was
constitutionally placed on the city
Governor Black said tonight that he should
not recommend to the Legislature the passage
of any bill in regard to the debt limit Of New
York It will be remembered that Controller
Coler OF New-York was here on Saturday for
the purpose Of giving reasons to the Governor
why the county dents Of Kings. Richmond and
Queens counties should be substracted from
the debt Of New-York City and that Legislative
authority should be given for this purpose. Mr..
Coler is still busy upon this project evidently
hoping to persuade the Governor to accept
debt limit. but MIR Black has already decided
not to permit legislation on this subject or any
other subjects except those he mentioned in his
message Of yesterday to the Legislature he
said to-day that large number OF propositlonS
had been made to him providing for legislation,
but he had declined to countenance any OF them.
The session therefore will be limited 10 the CON
sideration of the Soldiers Vote bill; the sol
dlers Appropriation act and the NeW-ior" h'ee-
tons Supervision bill.
THE DEBTS SADDLED ON THE CITY.
BASIS OF CONTROLLER CoLERs ATTEMPT TO GET
RELIEF.
Controller Coer Is making determined effort 10
secure legislation at Albany which VIII strengthen
the financial condition Of the city and permit oohd
issues for needed public improvements In the near
future lie has caused to be drafted Dill 10
change the charter provisions by which the oeots
Of Kings. Queens and Richmond counties were
loaded upon the city Of New-York at the time CT
consolidation Article VIII Section TO- OF the state
Constitution, declares that whenever hereafter '"e
boundaries OF any city shall become the same DIS
those OF n county the power OF the county 10 oecoe
Indebted shall cease but the debt OF the county
AT that time existing shall not be included as
mart NJ the city debt" Mr.. Coer thinks that 'he
an,,t NJ the constitution violated by the char-
ter provisions which have caused the eniarseo
citv's debt limit TO be exceeded
previous to consolidation tho former city OF New
York was about $O0c.oE below It's DEBT imi'' put
tho Roari of Estimate and Apportionment IN the
closing DAYS OF Mayor Strong's administration du-
,horized bond issues for more than s2oVWo" LOT
improvements and Brooklyn. Queens ana f'ch-
mond brought TO the greater city Indebtedness -
about s94 OO1 90 in excess OF the CONSTITUTIONS NM
Mr. Coer has had consultations win oahKers anu
holders NJ city bonds and has explained to them the
manner in which the debts Of the recently consoil-
dated portions OF the greater city have been plea
up beyond the constitutional limit. Eacn county
had issued bonds almost to It's limit. Witnin the
county each township had issued bonds In the same
w Each school district In the township had It's
separate load Of Indebtedness. and within a toWn-
ship. also. each village having corporate exist
euce was loaded with debt. ,,
Thus. while each individual county, TOWNSHIP
school district and village was within us depi hnll.
v,hen ali the debt was combined and loaded upon
the city the debt limit OF the city had been passed
by many millions The debts or the townships;
School districts and villages Will have 10 he carried
|. by the greater city decrease the deot-n-
curing power of the city. but the ControIer Dc
parts OF the citys debt. -
Mr. Coler is preparing a statement which ne may
have ready to-day making clear to the public the
need for legislation affecting the city's debt limit
He has secured from General BENJAMIN r: Tracy
| md other members OF the Greater NewYork CHAR
Ter Commission opinions In favor OF such legislation
and similar opinions from mixers OF the city which
will be sent the Governor