New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-15
WANTS FOLEY TO QUIT
Cannot Give Unprejudiced Efforts
to Charter, Says Citizens Union.
ASSEMBL lyman MAKES REPLY
Mayor Holds His Final Confer
ence with Counsel to the Leg
islative Committee.

Because he is counsel for the Inter
borough Contractors Association the Citi
zens Union is demanding that Assembly
man Foley resign as chairman OF the AS
sembly Committee on Cities, declaring that
he cannot work on the new charter from
an unprecedented point Of view. They sent
the following letter TO him yesterday:
September Is, 1911
Hon James A Foley Assembly Chamber
Albany. n, Y.
Sir: 1t has come to our attention
that you are counsel for the Inter
borough Contractors Association. which
posed new charter contains changes
from the existing law Of material benent
to contractors. You have at the same time
been acting as chairman of the Assembly
Committee on Affairs OF Cities, and have
taken the lead in framing and advocating
the very charter which your clients tne
contractors appear 20 desire go sronsly'
You cannot serve two masters, you cam
not effectively guard the rights OF the peo-
pie while being employed by such private
interests. We think you ought TO resign
from the committee. and We are making
this letter public In order that the people
may know how they have been served oy
their representatives in the preparation
of the proposed charter sct1 T4qET t E
Chairman.
In a statement in reply Assembiyman
Foley said:
The suggestion OF the Citizens Union
that 7 resign is almost as humorous as
their soliciting contributions from ne pup-
lie TO defeat the charter lnsteao Oh heiPine
the committee in its work.
II IL unfortunate 70 nave 10 earn oie
own living that's all
Assenblyman Foley explained that me
fnterhorough Association was small oodV'
Of contractors engaged I'm various pubic
and private works; that his connection WIN
II. known publicly for some time mad
heen purely professional. consisting OF the
collection Of claims and the carrying on OF
litigation.
Furthermore. the Assemblyman said. he
had nothing 70 do With the drafting on the
contract sections Of the charter, but ~ was
at his personal suggestion that the auclt
power Of the Controller over contracts hau
been restored The proposed charter AZ
now drafted he declared, permits no
favoritism 10 any set Of contractors or
other individuals Some question has been
raised a. to the provisions Of Section 81
Subdivision Of the charter. relative 10
tho issuance OF special revenue bonds by
the Controller which II Ia claimed might ne
If some assistance n contra This
language is identical with Section lS' SUD
division = Of the present charter.
Asseublyu1an Foley and Jeremiah J.
Mshonsv. counsel 10 the Charter COM
r,ittaA. had their final talk with Mayor
cavror ves+.rdav prior 70 the intro
duction of the amendments 70 that docu
mont in the Legislature on Monday night
The Assenblyman said they had not pre-
santed the entire document as amended 20
the 1fsvor. a.. the printer had not yet COM
Melted his work
But I don't believe the Mayor wants 70
sec II all. said tho Assemblymar, with
smile. He has practically gone over y
with Us line for line IN detached form. The
Mayor had no new suggestions 70 make
to-day. and. as has been said before. there
will be no changes other than have al
ready been announced before the docu'
ment is introduced.
II was said the suggestion Of Dock Com
missioner Tom kins. that the charter pro-
vide that laborers IN the employ Of the city
might work overtime If occasion required
n and collect double pay, was being con-
sidered.
THE trouble is" said Mr.. Mahoney.
that such a provision would conflict with
the state labor law. which says that no
laborer In the employ Of the city may work
more than eight hours day