The sun., 1908-06-14
TIMETOCALLHALT, ,SEYSNETZ|
CITY NOT GOYNG INTO TEE BANK.
,RUPT CLASS III HE. CAN HELP TT.
Cianior for Fourth Avenue subway Created
Largely by CoIcp; Real Estate specula.
tion and Hysteris-A Tip That Murphy
Has Arrayed Himself with Coler Again.

Ciann0r for Fourth Avenue subway Created
Largely by CoIer, Real Estate speeula.
ton and HysterisAA Tip That Murphy
Has Arrayed. Himself with Coler Again.
Comptroller Metz, speaking yesterday Of
the step he had taken on Tuesday. when
at his instigatlon property owner obtained
an injunction preventing tho Board Of,
Estimate from appropriating money to
begin work on the Fourth avenue Brook
lyn) subway, said that there was no wide
popular demand in Brooklyn for the sub.
way and that the project was merely being
made use OF by Borough President Coler
to bolster up his political standing in Brook
lyn.
Il know" Mr.. Metz said, that the en-
thusiasm for q Fourth avenue subway 10
to a large extent manufactured 1t is
inspired at this tima almost entirely by
real estate interests 10 South Brooklyn
plus the usual hysteria which can always
be aroused for or against any project.
Regardless OF what has been stated by
the self-constituted champion Of tho sub
way in Brooklyn [meaning Colerl. who
never takes hold OF thing until after the
limelight has been focused upon 1t. state
positively that there were at least eight votes
In tho Board OF Estimate yesterday that
would not have been cast for the approval
Of the contracts
The eight votes referred TO by Mr.. Metz
are his own three. the three votes OF the
Mayor and the two votes OF President
Ahearn Of Manhattan. Ahearn has. an
nounoed that he will not vote or the Brook
lyn subway until he can be assured that
the city will appropriate money for be-
ginning work on the Broadway-Lexington
avenue route. As it req uires nine out OF
the sixteen votes in the Board Of Estimate
to grant an appropriation there is no chance
Of the Fourth avenue subway being begun
so long as Mr.. Ahearn maintains his attitude.
Mr.. Metz said that he had learned on
Thursday afternoon that orders had been
issued to some of the members Of the Board
of Estimate 70 vote for the Brook lyn propo-
sition. Although Mr.. Metz W ould not ampiify
this part Of his statement yesterday, Charles
+. Murphy let IL he known that he had ad-
vised Borough Presidents Ahearn, Coler.
Haffen and Gresser to vote for the aPpro-
priation. just what led President Ahearn
to refuse to obey orders was a puzzle that
could not be unravelled yesterday, but that
Mr.. Metz started his injunction proceed
ings because he was in doubt what the
Murphy men on the board would do 10
d
issued yesterday:
had during last week calls from several
large taxpayers and property owners In the
city Of New York asking me for facts on
which to base a taxpayers suit for the pur-
pose Of obtaining an injunCtton told
them all that did not think this was neces-
sary as I had good reason to believe there
would not be enough votes to pass the con-
tracts at yesterdays meeting and that there
would still be time to act later on. When..
however, learned Of the action to be.taken
Thursday night as to instructions" from
some unofficial source. thought u high
time to take a stand and II was at my sug-
gestion and upon affidavits furnished by me
that ex-Congressman Levy, who Ia very
large taxpayer and also owns property in
South Brooklyn. applied for the Injunction.
In my report to the board yesterday
suggested having some points cleared and
settled by the Corporation Counsel and also
made some suggestions to be submitted to
the Public Service Commission. l have no
reason to think that at least enough\ mem
bers Of the board would not have voted to
act upon those sug gestions and lay the matter
over for a week, but did not propose to take
any chances on so serious problem. il
now that they have the report and have
had time to turn over in their own minds the
questions raised IN the Corporation Counsel's
matter next week. and Mr.. Levy should not
press his suit further, have no objection.
have simply done what ] consider to be my
duty under my oath of office.
! realize that as Comptroller l have a
duty outside of that of other members Of
the Board OF Estimate It is their duty to
do what they can to meet the wishes OF their
constituents and Of the citizens at large.
1t is my sworn duty besides doing this to
also safeguard the interests of those people
and estates all over the world. whether
citizens or not, who have loaned hundreds
of millions to the city Of New York and are
holding its corporate stock and bonds. Their
interests and the credit Of the city must be
maintained at all hazards II We are to con-
tinue TO 80 forward.
Past administrations have been so liberal
and anxious to respond to the demands Of
the people, by going to enormous outlays
for improvements many Of which have not
come due until within the last two years.
and for which the money has since had to
be raised, that we have come dangerously
near our borrowing limit. In my opinion it is
high time that we realize the situation and
cease to yield to these manufactured and
largely selfish demands and face the situa-
tion In cool business way and call halt.