New-York tribune., 1901-04-08
LEVEY SCENTS A "JOB." "
TAMNIANY MAY MAKE THE CHARTER
REVISION A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

Mayor Van wyck had nothing to add yesterday
10 what he has already said about the revised
charter. which is now in his hands. The Mayor
declared that would have nothing further to say
until he sent the charter back TO the legislature
with his message. Colonel Ladd who is reading
over the charter try discover hidden JOBS SAID
yesterday that he had gone over about one-quarter
OF il. and far he had found no ''jokers. ASIDE
from those the Tammany men have already talked
about It ewas believed yesterday that the Mayor
would be able to send the charter back to the
legislature about a week from next Wednesday
1t is believed by the politicians that Tammany
is preparing TO make the revision OF the charter
issue in the municipal campaign, charging that
the work of revision done in slpshod man
ner; that jobs inserted and that the whole
thing was concocted for partisan advantage. There
is talk of appealing 10 the courts but there
indications that Tammany prefers to go be-
fore the people and attack the measure publicly
for campaign advantage.
Deputy Controller Edgar j. Levey, who has peen
looking over the revised charter. said last night
that he had discovered a job.
''One OF the most scandalous Jobs surreptitiously
inserted in the revised charter by the legislature
said Mr.. Levey lis amendment TO Section ISIS
which provides for the subsidizng of eight news
papers in the boroughs of The Bronx, Queens
and Richmond. Half of these newspapers are to
be named by the chairmen Of the Republican COM
rnittees in the respective boroughs counties and
the other half by the chairmen of the Democratic
committees.
The city OF NewYork is compelled by this
amendment to pay each of these newspapers $4,000
a year. Four of them are to be in Queens. two In
The Bronx and two in Richmond. The considera-
ton for these subsidies is to be the publication OF
what is termed corporation Advertising, relating
exclusively to the respective boroughs 1t is saie
to say that there would not be $4,000 worth or
legitimate or necessary city advertising IN the
Borough of Richmond in ten years And as Tor
$4,000 which is 70 be spent in Queens, the eX-
travagance of this provision best be appreci.
ated from the fact that II exceeds the amount OF
the appropriation which for years prior 70 con-
solidation made to cover the advertising eX-
penses of the city of New-York. and IS more than
is now appropriated for the whole city. excluding
Brooklyn.
Altogether this little piece of mandatory legis-
lation will cost the city $4,000 a year. or more
than three times much saved by reduc-
ing the number of the Board of Aldermen. 1t Is
not unlikely that newspapers Will he established
in the outlying borouShs for the special purpose
Of obtaining this patronage, just as was done IN
the days N Tweed and the possible outcome of
this attempted debauchery of the press in the out
living districts of the city threatens even worse
evils 10 the community than the mere waste OF
public funds"
Mr. Levey was a member of the Charter Re
vision Commission. He said the matter OF news
paper subsidy was brought up before the COM
mission but was defeated. The chatter as II le:t
the commissions hands, he said, did not contain
the subject.