The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-15
OUR ASSEMBLY A FAILUREf
COMPTROLLER CoLER WOULD STRIP
IT OF ITS CHIEF POWMRs

Tor Public 1mprovemonts-Romody Must
BE Found, He says-Theory Said to he
EHtant That Some of tho Legislators
Are waiting to he Bribod-More About
Tax Equalization" Parker Urgent,
Comptroller Coler was tho chief witness be-
fore the Mazet committee yesterday. In the
hour and half that he was on the stand he
handled the Municipal Assembly without
gloves. He said. practically, that the Assem-
bly was holding up" the city. and that
public improvements because OF the inaotion
OF the Assembly. were practically at a stand
atilI. II the city was to continue In the bust
ness OF a municipality. he said. 1t must
be delivered out Of the hands OF the Mu-
nicipal Assembly. His experience In the past
year and half had convinced him that
a bicamcral Municipal Legislature was an
utter failure. When asked how he would
amend the charter as to provide for the
prompt issue of municipal bonds. he replied
that he would give the power In such matters
to TN" Board Of Estimate alone. In fact. he
said about the only power he would leave to
the Municipal Assembly would be to hang
signs and set up lamp posts"
In private talk between the Comptroller
and three of the committeeman it came out
that there is a general impression that some
OF the members Of the Munic ipal Assembly are
holding up needed issues OF bonds because
they want to be seen" by the contractors to
pay whose claims the bonds should be issued
AS the contractors are getting . per cent. In
terest on hecitys debt to them and can borrow
at less. tho expectation of brides. II it exists.
is likely to be disappointed
THE coMPTRoLLERs TESTIMONY.
Sir. Clarke questioned Mr.. Coer. asking first:
Please state the method OF issuing bonds
Tor public'improvements."
MIR. Colcr-First they are taken up by the
Board ofPublic improvements. Then they are
considered by the Board OF Estimate and APP
portionment. and then they go to the Munich
pal Assembly. where a three-quarters vote Is
necessary to pass them.
Mr.. Clarke read the report OF the trainers OF
the charter. showing that they believed the
city should take care OF its own affairs with
put frequent resort to the Legislature, and for
chat reason had provided for Municipal As
2smbly
Q.-Do you recall the vigorous language OF
3ope and promise contained In that report?
AL have read it,
QCThe Mayor has been sending some COM
fnunications to the Municipal Assembly rela-
Tive to certain bond issues. has he not? A.
Three. believe.
Mr. Clarke read a letter from the Mayor to the
Municipal Assembly dated Feb. 81. 1890. an
other dated March %. and another dated June
9. severely criticising the Assem- bly, for not ap-
proving certain bond Issues. and calling the
Assembly's attention to the fact that. II they
didn't approve these bonds soon. contrac-
tors suits for payment for work would In
grease next years taxes BY from 100000 to
Sl,OOOOOO, and many public works would have
to be stopped.
CITY WORK THAT IS HELD UP
,Q-Has any work really been stopped A
AZ work under the Croton water fund has been
Q|You have Furnished a list of bonds which
are now with the Municipal Assembly Enacted
ks for ss56 900 what @as this On money to
ee used tor AnIo perfect and improve the
ow stopped for the rs. st time in vel T
.,ossuppose up in the new part of the city. in
build new block Of homes g l. Their. any
NOT A MATTER OF POLITICS.
@ DO you know the political complexion OF
MnntGIpS al; Assssm6bH At e Largely
Lave been impartial in holding up our bonds.
BY Sir. Hotrman-Jpst e moment NJ. Comp.
provision Of the charter requiring a three.
fo9rths vote , on all bond issues A-Ihat is
The city q New OK got along for Years fs wish.
out tho Board Of Aldermen having anything to
DO with municipal bonds. I don't see why 1t
,13Sa LiThH, majority Of the members Of the
ticket with yourself and the Mayor H.-They
wHrbH a. aad were supposed to be In harmony
DIDO you Know whether the organization
thing Al know have tried in every way I
Dwell. now. talking to ms as between man
and man. you mean you tried 70 move these
fnew R%e dopt fanN R Ttyhcs abcnt
politics. hut | have tried to get these bonds
acted upon.
OTHER WORK THAT CAN'T BE DONE.
Mr.. Clarke read over a list Of delayed bond
issues amounting to nearly ten millions the
sd H " and So%ns to the
for reprooi Hail q Reseris Tor y esddo 90
rs q the Registers 6fice should burn up.
ou f be- 10 pece OF property In New York
"V."Repsyins streets. $4,000. 900. authorized
Feb; 81 A,That speaks for itself To-day
Sr wor streets Ss the
tied until that is passed.
.,Q:-And there. are complaints. about streets
Q;-Any particular reason why that should be
held ppI AL know Of none: unless the Az;
be paved. Laughing,
y9tTThen T. is mater Of pa,EoGass;ss' A..
what streets they ought to pave. and they are
bound that one district shan't get ahead Of
Referring to the bonds for the Vernon av-
f5nue bridge, Intended 70 connect Newtown and
Brook lyn. Mr.. Clarke asked:
OILS this Improvement much desired 2
Al believe it to BE- the most popular with the
people in the vicinity OF Newtown OF any that
has been proposed In years
Q:-Then where does tho opposition TO pro-
yiding funds for building the bridge come
from As understand IT, the opposition
comes from the Aldermen and Councimen OF
that district.
= Then the very men elected by tho people
are thwartlng the Wishes OF those who elected
them? A.-That's what understand.
Asked a general question a. to how much
thu CITY would save in interest charges II
bonds now held W were approved the Comp;
tro er said that. because the bonds are held
up he city is now obliged 10 pay y per cent
Interest to owners OF property condemned Tor
ruu'ic improvements. whereas the bonds. II
approved could be placed at about ~ per
cent.
= Can you suggest any reason why these
tords have been held ur2 Al cannot con-
GOV" II any reason. sens BILE or otherwise. 1t
H. nlmp a refusal to pay honest debts.
HICAMERAL LEGISLATURE FAILURE.
' -iir Comptroller. do you consider. after a
y, ar and n haIf's experience, that bicameral
rlpal Leg stature Ia q good thing Al