New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-15
THE ASSEMBLY is no GOOD.

O-Now as a result OF year and a halfs ex
ner,ence under the charter OF the greater city, may
we ask your opinion as to the wisdom OF the con-
tlnuance OF the Municipal Assembly. invested win
the Increased powers that this Assembly has over
the old Board of Aldermen? Al answered that
to Mr. Hoffman.
OIL think you did Al think the city perfectly
able TO take care OF itself by home rule here But
the proposition Of a Municipal Assembly having the
vetong power the financial obligations OF THIS
city on matters which they cannot comprehend
and which takes great deal OF work TO cornpre-
bend | think Is entirely wrong and It Is not
question OF theory at all. It Is a question OF fact
II has TO be stopped or the city cannot go ahead.
l have contended for it for long time-l have con-
tended that 1t is question OF fact
O-And the facts you have given this morning?
Al have tried 10.
Q.-rherefore. in your Judgment, the experiment
OF increased power especially in financial matters
with two bodies. imposed upon the Municipal As
sembly has been a failure? A.-Absolutely.
Q.-An absolute failure? Ayes.
Q.-And Is it correct that you expressed-you
need not answer this II you do not want to- see
things in the newspapers sometimes ike my friend
Mr. Moss and | inquire about them-is 1t correct
that Won suggested to some newspaper man the
necessity or the wisdom. the propriety OF call
ing upon the Governor to call special session or
the Assembly for purpose OF amending the charter
in that regard? Al have said-but don't Know
whether | said IL TO newspaper InaIl' saiu uis'
These are my opnions We are doing our best TO
meet them We are going 10 do our best TO meet
them either by mandamus or IS any other method
10 get relief quickly. Under these conditions we
con carry on a sort Of mandamus government until
the Legislature may meet and till we can get re-
lief from them We probably would not ask for
special meeting OF the Legislature. We cannot
continue forever without meeting some OF our
obligations and we cannot continue TO take care
~ the ordinary interests OF the city without meet
ing our obligations.
O-And you even contemplate with complacency
such measure as calling the Legislature In special
session? At has terrors for me.
o.-You would not regard government by man.
damus as proper and everyday occurrence
would YOU? A-No would not.
O-you think that is to be resorted 10 in extreme
measures7 Ayes.
O-And you regard the holding OF these bond
Issues by the Assembly as requiring some extreme
measure? All the city Of New-York wants to
continue In advancing II has got TO take some ex-
treme measure.
NEARLY TEN MILLIONS HELD UP.
Q-Mr Controller. Mr.. Lalmbeer has footed up
these amounts as ssSssl73O o.. and some OF which
were authorized early as-have passed every
stage except the Municipal Assembly as early as
Iulv 1898 That r. the FIRST on the lst-the Long
Island Water Supply.
Rv the Chairman-How much OF that IL drawing
interest at the rate OF per cent? About
81. ,OooCo
o-That Is a conservative estimate? Ayes.
O-That Is $4,000 interest year that is being
wasted that could be saved? Ayes.
Mr. Clarke-So that our Municipal Assembly is
not only costing 900 for salaries and clerks
but $4,000 in interest which need not run against