New-York tribune., 1900-03-15
COLER WINS AT ALBANY.
TRAINOR'S ATTACK on THE CON
TROLLER-FALLOWS BILL PASSES
THE ASSEMBLY.
TnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

troiler COler and Corporation Counsel Whalen
OF New York. came out into the open to-day
and was fought by means with long range
guns on the floor of the Assembly The result
was the utter rout of the Democratic minority
The fight was precipitated by an emergency
message from Governor Roosevelt urging the
passage of the FaIlows bill which enables the
controller TO exercise authority over the Cor
poratlon Counsel in the matter of confessIng
Judgments against the city. After two attempts
to Kill ii by amendment. the bill finally passed
the Assembly by a big vote. The roIlcaIl
showed % ayes against 2S Eight Demo-
Gratis deserted the standard of Mr.. Trainor of
New-York. who led the opposition
The bill passed provides that the CORPORA
ton Counsel shall not be empowered to COM
promise. settle or adjust any rights claims. de-
mands or causes of action in favor Of or against
the city of New-York. or to permit, offer or con-
fess Judgment against the city. or to accept any
offer Of Judgment in favor Of the city without
the previous written approval of the Controller:
and in case of any claim for money Judgment
exceeding 100000 or for relief other than in
the nature of a money Judgment. the previous
written approval Of the Mayor shall also be
necessary"
TRAINOR'S BITTER REMARKS.
In opening the attack upon the bill Mr. Trainor
assailed Controller Coler. He said:
Mr.. Coler has hung a sign around his neck. like
a sandwich" man. Upon this sign are the
words, L am the only honest in New
York"
Mr.. Coler should remember that before he was
controller of New-YOrk nobody ever heard of
him. He should remember. also who it was that
placed him in that office. He knows and we all
know. that it was the Democratic organization.
But now he has forgotten his friends Now he
says that he Is honest, all others are dishonor-
able. He is not satisfied with talking in New
York City alone, but goes around the State with
his new doctrines.
What is the secret of the wonderful energy of
our Controller? It is this 1t is TO increase his
patronage, to enlarge his own department and
aggrandize his own interests. Now I do not
challenge his honesty, but I do challenge the
mans sincerity. For instance, look into the X
pend1tures which he is mourning in his own de-
partment. with its enlarged force Of account
ants at high salaries. Right here in our midst,
Mr.. Speaker he employs a man who goes by
the name OF expert accountant. His salary
Is SlZ day, and his hotel expenses must amount
10 as much
The Controller does not need this increased
power. He has enough authority over the con-
fessons of judgments already. Notice of claims
against the city must be made TO the Controller
thirty days in advance. The appearance Of this
bin at this time also shows that the Controller is
not true 10 his word. At the conference on this
bill before the Assembly Cities Committee Mr.
Whalen and a representative of Mr. CoIer were
there and il agreed that there should be a
hearing on the bill the following Thursday when
Mr.. Coer would submit a comprehensive brief.
No such hearing has been had.
Mr.. Coler has abandoned his friends. He
KNOWS IL He knows he is almost friendless. He
says that only the Governor and himself are left
to further the good interests of New-York City.
fear very soon Mr. Coler will find himself all
alone. He says that he has political am
bitiOn. that he does not want to be Governor or
Mayor or even Controller once more. He need
have no fear that these things will ever happen.
All that is left for him is to obtain from this
Legislature through legislation the Incorporation
of some trust company of which he would be
president.
FUNNY AMENDMENTS.
Mr.. McInerny sought TO kill the bill by most
ludicrous amendment. Mr.. McInerny's vein Of
humor was so broad that he provided in his
amendment that ali the power now exercised by
the Mayor and the Board Of Estimate and Ap-
portionment should be vested in the Controller
until December 81. 1901. when it should again go
back TO the former officials as before The
amendment was dismissed with a laugh
Mr. Trainor then offered an amendment which
proposed 10 strike out that part OF the bill which
related TO the Mayor. This would place un-
limited power of approval in the Controller
This was lost by vote Of so noes against 30
ayes.
Mr. Davis, Of New-York, defended the bill He
said that the Corporation Counsel had exercised
a lack of discretion in his confessions of judp-
ments, but he did not question his motive Mr.
Davis thought that when millions of dollars Of
the citys money were involved it should not be
left to one man alone, and especially one who
did not represent the financial interests Of the
city, TO arrange these matters.
Mr. Green opposed the bill on the ground
that the Controller had sufficient power TO hold
up illegal judgments under the present law
This power, he said. was vested in the Con-
troller's right to bring taxpayers injunctions
against such judgment.
Mr.. Slater and Mr.. Fallows threw back some
Of the bombs of Mr.. TrainOr's attack Mr. Fal-
lows said he did not think further discussion
necessary. Instead, he simply explained the pur-
pose Of the bill.
Among the Democrats who finally voted for
the bill in spite Of Mr.. Trainor, was Mr. Nc
IEerny. who first sought to kill il by his Iudi-
CrOus amendment.