The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1908-12-10
CITY WASTES ITS
Cash, METZ SAYS
TO LEGISLATORS
Comptroller Declares That
Schools Are Built at Big EX-
pense in Outlying Sections.
GETS LITTLE RETURN.
Official Also CriticiseS the Po-
Icy of Building Expensive
Fire and Station Houses.

Too many luxuries in the shape OF
grand city structures, costly schooi
buildings and city Improvements are
among the reasons FOR the enormous
and continued increase in the budget
Comptroller Metz so stated before the
Cassidy Legislative Committee to-day
when the task of inVestigatine the COM
pleN finances Of the city was resumed.
Tho g.ander the structures erected by
the city, the greater the cost OF main
flamenco and the greater the interest
charges" said the Comptroller. Ihere
are a thousand and one ways in which
the budget might he reduced without IN
the least iniuring the city's progress
FOR instance, the city acquires costly
site for the erection of n two-story build
ing for fire house when the city might
with great advantage put up ten-story
luildng on the same site.
Now take the school houses: Plans
nre lad down for schco. houses cost
. ing 500. 900 in small settlements in out
living districts The districts do not re-
turn that amount in taxes TO the city
in ten years. There Is no possible wa!
for Them TO make adequate returns.
There's the Staten Island ferry en-
tesprise also. The city af,er acquiring
the franchise. proceeded In build sta
tons OF granite ana marble at vast
outlay, when modest structures would
have been just as scrviceable. When
The city takes control the cost ascends
two and three fold
Costly Station Houses.
"Police station houses are handled IN
the same manner. The policy IS all
wrong. Lack of business forethought
md lack of concentration are two of
the causes for the vast and unnecessary
expenditure made by the city
Where can this committee get a; the
facts" Where can it go to ascertain
the real sources OF eXravaEance so
tfat we can report on some method tor
reducing the budget figure without
oetriment TO the city's finances and
progress?" asked chairman Cassidy.
There is no place outside the Finance
Department ITSELF answered Comp
trO!ler Metz.
AN the financial reports from city de-
plrtmon,s are maze to the Comptroller
said Mr.. Me.z, Departmental estimates
are sent to him. Departmental heads vie
with each other in making 81 ns
Each department is trying to bulld one
or more monuments, ana many OF them
have succeeded. Each department is
working for itself in the monument
building business--to its credit l might
add-but business sense and foresight
oil If LyIlSl-
ness. II We could run lie city as We
run our business u different story would
be told in ihe annual budget
Then Mr.. Metz was questioned regard
Ing The sale al bonds ana the Glap 5sluoI
oi the funds deriIed rom IuIt '"IS ,E :,
you desire. the payment Of bills OF an;
certain group OF creditcrs' was asked
"Of course" replied MI NelZ, ina
IS a power ana discretion winch he
with the Comptroller. We have tried
new systom-tAat of paying bins IN 70
tatiun. but the creditor always mas th'
l!8ht of IEAncdl.Gs.
Could Be Unfair
ANY man az Comptroher who wante
10 be unfair might make q lot al iI9uRi
fer creditor lie could withhold m
auditing OF bills or leave them lgncre'
on the desk. But we have tried 70 over
come that possibility bf requiring 4
prompt audi, of all h.l, ia th- order II
hich trey come due. The same "rplt
10 contracts
Then, ii Comptroller wishes T.
can do so?" asked senator Cassidy,
Yes he could GO SD under amy sys
tom. His power j. a,solHte.'
Comptrol! Ic.l m"dc ue star'!!n
statement th,t In TIE event OF "h"'-g
financial s'rnseucs the ".y would pI D.
ably find i.elf unable to float Donds 70
the sln2 $3.50 Natr system RES
bonds az. ~ ten years duration. and b.
=