New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-22
MAYOR GIVES HIS VIEW
IN DEBT LIMIT BAD. y
DIR. Mcclellan, Ho1oeuer, Fdrors 1t
Rather than Erem ptiOaS.

,,s,o- Mcclellan testifyng before the Legisla-
tive Finance Committee yesterday. mentioned
docks rapid transit facilities and water parks DE-
the most urgently needed civic improvements Du.
said he didn't like the idea of increasing the oeo'
limit. .
.r-ba ser,ous question in my mind" said the
Mavor lis first the temptation to extravaganza
on the part of our successors and second the ease
of expansion. Personally. abnor the loea ol III
creasing the limit, but realize the extreme neces
sity of it
Regarding the two plans suggested as means
Of Increasing the city's borrowing capacity, the
Mayor gave as kfs opinion subject to change 'hSt
he would lend his approval TO the pan Oh d ~ pe'
cent debt margin, with no exemptions rather IMAM
to the 10 per cent plan with certain "
bonds TO be calculated In the computation
Referring to the operation of public utilities by
the city, the Mayor said:
'There is a general socialistic tendency abroad
in the land, and it requires all the backbone Oh
government and city officials to resist the pressure
don't approve of the municipal operation Oh city
facilities EXCEPT as a last desperate resort
When Senator Cassidy, chairman of the commits
son arrived he found the Mayor already awaiting
him. and at opened the proceedings oy say
ing:
When this commission appointed we re-
solved that we would not work for political enos.
We are not here for the exaltation debasement
of any Individual. What want from you are
your views on the needs OF this. the greatest city
in the world. which you are the head
Senator Cassidy explained that the commission
was TRYING TO get the opinions Of all the city OH
Gals on the advantages disadvantages of CEN
tralized purchasing agency. accounting agency and
real estate agency. Charles A Collin then took
charge of the examination OF the Mayor.
Mayor Mcclellan enumerated some OF the fifty or
more boards OF which he is a member ex officio.
The Board Of Estimate and the Sinking Fund
Commission, he said, more important in the
conduct Of the city government than all the others
combined. When he took office the Mayer said.
the work OF making up the budget was haphazard.
but that through the efficient cooperation OF the
present Controller and the Bureau Of Municipal
Research he had brought a sembance OF order
out OF the previous chaos. and was fairly satisfied
with the 1909 budget. The Mayor explained that
when the head OF department exceeded the bud
get appropriation before the end OF the year spe-
cial bonds were issued 10 cover the deficit
The line OF inq Iiry then turned TO the OF
corporate stock, and Mayor Mcclellan said he In
tended 10 draw 4 hard and fast line prevent the
application the stock 10 improper purposes such
the operation Of the ferries and the maintenance
of city improvements. He thought that corporate
stock should be used to the administrative
expenses OF the Ashokan Dam Commission so
that the brunt Of the expense would fall on the
generation henefting incidentally he declared
that the Aqueduct Commission had outgrown its
usefulness and should be abolished.
The question of increasing the debt limit was
then introduced and regarding the method Of com
putting the limit Mayor said:
The doubt not caused by any involved ac-
counts, but by the question as to what should and
what should not be included in the computation
Mr.. WINS has reported 10 the Governor that the
limit is 100000, and feel that until the courts
decide, which General Tracy's report will assist
them TO do, must assume that Mr. Wins is
right and keep within the limit he has set down.
Mr.. WINS bases his estimate on the ground that
We should not class the $3.50 600 OF franchise
assessments as taxable real estate. l think that
he is wrong If he Is right, It means that when
my successor takes Office the city will have no
borrowing capacity and for at least two years all
public improvements will be at a standstilI''
The Mayor agreed with the view expressed by
Senator Cassidy that there should be definite
Limitation set 'by the Legislature, through a con-
sttutional amendment. declaring positively the ex-
pendtures to be included in the debt calculations.
the afternoon session Mayor Mcclellan said
that the system OF condemnation proceedings by
which the city acquires land preposterous.
He cordially Endorsed the establishment OF CEN
trail purchasing agency. although he did not be-
lieve that the saving thus effected would be as
great as have predicted. AS example he
thought the city could money by purchasing
large quantity of coal IN the summer. but point
ed out that the saving would be greatly reduced
by the expense of storing and distributing. The
Mayor suggested that better method Of purchas
ing land would be through permanent commits
sion appointed by the Appellate Division.
The Mayor strongly favored central accounting
system, In charge or an accounting department,
subordinate to the Controller. At present. he said
the Mayor the Controller and the heads OF depart
ments were working in harmony but should the
Mayor be at odds with the Controller or the de-
partment heads considerable hardship would be
placed the systems of accounting.
As a suggestion to the commissioners the Mayor
said there ought to not more than eight
departments, with pay and greater power
the heads. This, he said, would bring the
Mayor IN closer touch with his subordnates and
increase the responsibility OF the heads
After the Mayor had been excused the commits
sorers said he would be asked TO testify further
later II IS expected that the matter OF city adver
Using will be taken up the hearing this morning