New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-27
NEW.YORK'S BONDED DERr
OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND.
MENT AT THE COMING ELEc.
TION-RAPfD TRANSIT
HANGS In TILE

HANGS IN THE
BALA,ICE
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir Permit me to call your attention 10 IN.
Importance OF the constitutional amendmsn,
affecting the bonded indebtedness Of cities TO h.
voted on at the approaching election
Both Of the great political parties Of the stats
having approved Of this measure its adoption
seems to have been taken for granted. and there
has been practically no discussion OF its inertia
either on the part Of campaign speakers or the
press.
fear this confidence is not wholly warranted.
Past experience has shown that constitutional
amendments. to which no particular opposition
was manifested. have sometimes been defeated
simply through the indifference Of the great
body Of voters.
There seems to be quite properly. perhapO
an sntecedent prejudice on the part OF the cleo.
torate against all constitutional changes. and
unless this prejudice is removed by explanation
and discussion the ordinary voter will frequent
ly vote against a constitutional amendment as
10 the merits Of which he is totally unadvised.
This danger Is especially to be feared In 70.
gard to the amendment in question 1t Is to
be voted on OF course. by the voters Of the
the city OF New-York The voters in the coun-
try districts naturally feel no particular inter-
est in its adoption and many Of them. for tbs
reasons above stated Ito say nothing OF the
jealousy OF metropolitan expansion. which 10
sometimes attributed to them, Will vote against
It. II the voters Of this city do not exhibit, SUN.
cent interest in the matter to vote for the
amendment with practical unanimity fear the
prospects Of its success are not promising.
few words Of explanation In regard To the
merits OF this amendment may not be amlss.
Section 10 OF Article VIII Of the Constitution
now provides that mo county or city shall be
allowed to become indebted for any purpose or
In any manner to an amount which, including
existing Indebtedness. shall exceed 10 per cent
Of the assessed valuation OF the real estate OF
such county or city subject 10 taxation"
It also provides that Whenever hereafter the
boundaries Of any city shall become the same
as those of county. the power or the county
to become Indebted shall cease. but the debt Of
the county at that time existing shall not be
included as part OF the city debt
The last quoted provision was intended TO ap-
ply to the city Of Brooklyn and county Of Kings
1t has no application, however Except In gen.
eral spirD. to the city Of NewYork as now
constituted.
When consolidation took place under the pro-
visions Of the Greater New-York charter. oil
the county debts became a part Of the common
debt of the city Of New York. and had 10 b
included In such debt within the purview OF the
constitutional limitation, In spite OF the fact
that such county debts were not. either wholly
or in part. included as common DEBTS OF the
n,unicinaI CORPORATIONS which were consolidated
The result was that, with the exception OF
NewYork County the debt Of every county in
Guided within the new city together with the
debts Of the cities towns and villages lying
within the same. exceeded 10 per cent Of the
assessed valuation Of their real estate. The
new city therefore. began its corporate exist
ence with Indebtedness far IN excess OF inc
constitutional limit thereof.
The trainers Of the charter partly foreseeins
this result. recommended to the Legislature the
constitutional amendment in question. which
excludes from computation these county debts
and renders the limitation appifcabfe only %
the remainder Of the Indebtedness assumed ~
the city of New-York. At the same time, these
counties are prohibited from mourning any new
Indebtedness
The amendment has been adopted by two suc-
cessive Legislatures. the representatives. OF botn
parties voting for IT, and is now to be SUD-
mitted to the people for final approval
At present the citys debt is In round ngures
only 500 100000 within the constitutional limt
The adoption of this amendment would ada
$50 900 900 to the debt in'urring capacity OF the
city.
II the amendment shouli fail Of adoption the
rapid transit road could not be built II adopted
all financial obstacles to its construction VIII
vanish 1t seems to me that the mere know'-
edge Of this fact should secure practica'y
unanimous vote in favor Of this amendment
from the electors Of this city, and SHOULD %
gratifed II you would give It as much puohc'"
as its Importance demands.
BIRD s COLER, Controller
New-York. Oct 90 1899.
ANGLO SAXON UNITY.
AN ENGLIsHMAN's APPRECIATION OF AMERICAN