The Detroit times., 1909-04-30
BENNETT LAsHEs
GOTHAM OFFICERS
Assemblyman Declares People 80
Years Hence Will Be Paying
For Present Waste"


on the condition OF the finances OF
New York city and the alleged waste
by the Mcclellan administration were
made during the debate which proceed
ed the passage OF the Travis-Lee reso.
luton in the assembly.
The "fhirteen" fought desperately
for the Ryan-Belmont interests. A
the head of the traction allies was re
publican Floor Leader Edwin A. Mer
rift, Jr., Of st. Lawrence. The Others
we're Robinson, Bates. Bennett all
| Conklin. OF New York: Mead, DUE.
and Young, of Westchester: j. l.. Mil
Ter. of Steuben; Odell. OF Rockland;
Weaver, of Clinton; Yale, OF Putnam,
and Brady, of Greene.
Assemblyman Lee, introducer OF the
| bill, declared that its passage would
do more Than anything else to free
New York from the grip OF the Trac-
| ton Trust. AssemDlyman Aaron ].
Levy declared that he desired to vote
| for the bill. first. because of the ur-
gent necessity for II, and, second, be-
cause of the numerous apologies which
the Republican members were making
for voting against 1t.
Assemblyman Bennett created
sensation by his attack upon the Nc
| Clellan administration. He declared
| 1t had been guilty of criminal extrava-
gance in the administration OF the
city's finances. He opposed the bill
chiefly because he did not want to
place any more OF the city's within
the grip OF such an administration.
Bennett was one of the membars OF
the Cassidy committee which investi-
gated the finances OF New York city.
That committee reported against the
adoption of the Travis-Lee resolution.
who Is 1t that has put the city OF
New York In financial strsits?' asked
Bennett. at is the present admin
istration OF the city OF New York.
I'VE are told that no charges OF
misfeasance or malfeasance have been
brought against any of the admins
traitors of the affairs on New York
city. state that such charges have
been brought and proved, not by out
s;ders, but by the commissioners Of ac-
counts of the mayor of the city OF
New York. BY Democrats, Democratic
methods, Democratic city officers, the
present city administration has been
indicted and found guilty. We have
had the borough president of Manhat-
| tar removed from Office and then
| sbamelessly reelected by the board of
aldermen.
TT has been charged that $4,000
IO0c was appropriated TO the Borough OF
Queens for permanent improvements,
which are never used. do not know
why the Borough President Of Queens
resigned when charges were about to
bC brought against him. Charges
have been proved against the Borough
President of the Bronx, because OF
revelations Of the commissioner of ac-
counts up there. And the only bor-
rough president against whom no
charges have been made is George
Cromwell. or Richmond, and he Is
Republican.
Charges OF misfeasance have been
| laid at the dor of the present city ad-
ministration. We have had fire COM
missioner who has sent his brave men
to 6eath-and there are no Drawer
men in the country-because he fur
nished the department With rotten
hose.
Having given this characterization
OF the present administration OF the
city OF New York. will now tell you
some methods in which they have
been misusing thief unds.
THE present administration pays
| for music on recreation piers out OF
the issue of fifty-year bonds, and the
man who pays taxes fifty years from
now will be paying interest on bonds
that have been used to pay for music
that was wasted or that went forth OH
the air to please the ears of the men
who lived last year.
1.-The department OF parks has been
paying the proceeds of day labor out
Of the fifty-year bonds.
"The department Of street cleaning,
according to the figures Of Mr.. Metz
| himself has been spending $350.OOO a
year out of the proceeds OF bonds for
| the buying of such temporary things
as harness and blankets, natters that
wear out in four or five years.
"The annual deficit on the municipal
affairs of New York city, now amount
| ing to 100000. is paid out OF tho
proceeds OF bonds the principal of
which will be paid for fifty years and
on which the people OF the next two
generations will be paying interest and
| for which they will be providing In the
sinking fund.
COMPTROLLER Metz In a speech at
the City club last year said the city
| has been wasting money; u has been
throwing Il away. Comptroller Metz
also said that from 35 to 40 per cent of
the payroll OF New York city is absol-
utely useless. and the payroll OF New
York city today amounts to $4,000, 900.
IAN investigation into the methods
OF bookkeeping shows that when the
claim is presented TO the comptroller
for payment for the payroll there arc
no time or names on the payroll AMI
there is absolutely nothing by which
the COMPTROLLER can show whether thH
abor charged for has actually been
rendered.