New-York tribune., 1899-10-28
THE INDEBTEDNESS AMENDMENT.


Controller Coler has performed a creditable
and we hope a useful service by again direct
inc public attention to the proposed constitu-
tional amendment separating city and county
debts. and urging the Importance of It's adoption
by the people at the coming election. Since,
having become familiar with the duties Of bis
Office the Controller began 10 assert It's dignity
and Independence his attitude on public ques-
tons has generally been commendabe. and
there can he no doubt that to this particular
matter he speaks with knowledge and excellent
sense II is quite true that the amendment
which has passed two Legislatures without
party division closely concerns the welfare or
this city, and that II Is in some dnnger or nelng
lost through negligence on the part OF city voters
and unreasonableness on the part OF rural con
sttuencies The latter have nothing TO gain ny
IT'S defeat while they have an Indirect interest
in its passage nasmuch as every citizen OF the
State has a stake in the prosperity OF It's chief
city; but as the Controller says. general indis-
position to authorize constitutional changes and
that queer pleasure which country voters some
times seem 10 feel in diSpleasing the metropolis
may prove fatal If steps are not taken TO make
the facts known and overcome adverse ten
dencies
The pronosed amendment Is designed 70 re-
lieve the situation brought about through the
Consolidation act in respect TO the municipality $
debt limit. by providing that the county DEBTS
which the city assumed shall not be reckoned IN
computing its constitutional borrowing capacity.
BY means Of increased valuations and other
wise the municipality has so far escaped from
the financial embarrassment which consohda-
ton produced as TO be at present ahout
S22 900 900 within the limit of possible Indebted
ness There have been times when that mar
gin would have seemed rather comfortable, ana
II there were no single project of great magnl-
tude and commanding importance in prospect II
might now suffice. But II will not provide FOR
the construction Of underground roads, and'un-
less Il is increased there is every reason TO be-
leve that the initiation of that indispensable
| Improvement will again be Indefinitely post
| ponod IT, on the other hand, the amendment
under discussion Is ratified ten days hence, u
Will operate 10 enlarge the citys borrowing
capacity to about S5O000,0OO and at once put
the rapid transit enterprise on n secure financial
basis. so far as the citys power to undertake II
! Is concerned 1t would he deplOrable II, when
other obstacles have been removed and the mu-
nicpa authorities have apparently been per
suaded to yield to a pressing public demand
neglect or misunderstanding or perversity should
once more block the way.
1t appears to us that those members OF TWO
Legislatures from other parts Of the State who
without regard to party voted for the amend
ment, and most Of whom are now probably tax
ing an interest and a share In the campaign
have duty 10 perform IN connection with this
question They ought TO exert themselves tC
convince their constituents, past or present, thai
the ratification Of the amendment is essential &c
the accomplishment Of highly desirable object
in which nearly one-half the people of the State
are profoundly interested and which cannot pos
sibly harm the rest. There is still time enough
TO make this clear, If the public men and the
newspapers Of the interior will only take little
pains to explain the facts and give the proper
advice 10 those who may be less well Informed
and disposed