New-York tribune., 1906-05-11
METZ NO RUBBER STAMP
Mast Understand ms and Outs IN
Considering Franchises.

After = conference yesterday afternoon with
Mayor Mcclellan, Controller Metz said there was
no longer any controversy between the Mayor and
himself over the matter Of handling franchises in
The Board Of Estimate and Apportionment week
ago Borough President Ahearn introduced a
luton referring franchises a committee consist
ing Of the Controller. the President OF the Board
Of Aldermen and the president OF the borough in
terested Controller Metz was in favor OF the
luton. The operation Of such plan would decen-
fralIze the power Of the board as a whole, and
make the Mayor a non-participant. Senator McCar-
called the Mayor on Wednesday, and i'm
medateIy afterward it was said by the Senator's
friends that the Controller had surrendered to the
Mayor. This angered 3ir. Metz. When he
seen yesterday at the City Hall he said:
! am no damned rubber stamp and nobodv's clerk
ana nobody can make rubber stamp to o. X.
his matter Senator MccaTTenn has made no peace
between me and the Mayor. There was none TO
make; there IS no war. have no quarrel With the
Mayor My position IS very plain AS Controller
Of the city OF New York I shall not vote act
te1ests are involved unless know all about It.
shall not take the word OF any engineer. matter
10" competent. IN such cases. unless am able TO
zee and question the persons interested and mako
sons ana the right and Interest of $he CITY
As 10 the bureau OF franchises which has been
transferred 10 the Board Of Estimate from my de-
partment, 90 not whether il is or is not re-
stored 70 the Finance Department, but want an
independent bureau Of investigation, that 1 may
nave an opportunity TO look into things myself.
Nfs don't understand.
repeat. I am no damned rubber stamp 20 record
ssnother man views. 1t is true that saw Senator
4ccarren yesterday, but that has nothing to do
LII ltn TINS matter insist upon my right % investi-
sale every matter upon which am called upon
y vote whether il be a proposed franchise or a
.natter Of seemingly little Importance. That is my
POSITION, and II IS q position from which no man
can make me recede.
After his talk with the Mayor later in the day
me Controller. who was in happier MOOD said:
It's al over. There's no trouble. got what
Ssnenoed for Harry p Nichols hereafter tnstesd
y formulating a franchise end submitting u 70
9e board In canned state, VIII simply submit
suggestions 20 the board, and the board, sitting as
committee Of the whole. viii act on the francnise
aa atteEward instruct him 20 frame the francnlse
aor hnal approval
The Controller had a talk with Borough Pres-
es0t Ahearn over the handling Of franchises After
Ae had gone, 1Ir. AheaTn said:
80 FAR Tammany Hall Senator McCarren
concerned. All this talk about deals over iran
S-ees ts rot. I tried six months ago TO have the
1SsaEd Of Estimate adopt a plan for framing iran.
sslses In harmony with the resolution Introduces
= Neek ago. Grout opposed e. AS soon az we sOC
~ ~ decision OF the Court cf Appeals vesttng the
FF-a2enise power indisputably with the Soat9 OF OF
n mate renewed my resolution Wnlch OS1ers ss
" g good and feasible idea think the DoaE0
f should formulate al the salient features OF 9
IS Hshlse. leaving the details only TO be woFAeo ouS
y --lE Nichols