New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-06
CAlLSCHARTERL LIKE TOPSY
lust GroWed." SAYS Prender-
CAST at Legislative Hearing.
NEW PROVISIONS ASSAILED
Power for Mayor Without Due
Responsibility, Declares Con
troller, in Opposition.

'ohtroher Prendergast vigorously assalled
The provisions of the so-called Gaynor
charter relating 10 the Finance Department
at the hearing Of the Joint legislative com
mittee In the aldermanic chamber at tho
city Hall Yesterday afternoon He declared
that 1t was an attempt to centralize pollti-
cal power in the hands Of the Mayor with
out corresponding responsibility.
Referring to the statement Of the Mayor
that the charter was not his charter made
at the meeting Of the Board OF Estimate on
! Thursday. the Controller said: THE COR
poration Counsel. under whose supervision
it is said TO have been drawn. saws that
some changes were made in II Of when ne
knew nothing 4. c. McNulty. who devot-
cd most Of his time to IL for while says
that there are changes that should be
made. Whose charter is this? II seems 10
, me that the charter bears the same rela-
ton 10 the city that "Topsy' does TO inter-
ature. It was never born. II Just growed
Unlike 'Topsy il has no one 10 care Tor H.
Repudiated by the Mayor. looked AT as
kanCe by the Corporation Counsel II wan
ders about homeless and lonesome.
4 number Of the Controllers subordinates
occupied seats in the chamber ana Cor
poration Counsel Watson and some or MS
assistants sat near By. President hitchei
of the Board Of Aldermen and Borough
President McAneny were interested listen
ers. President Mitchell was prepared 10
argue against the provisions giving the
Mayor poWer of veto over resolutions oi
the Board of Estimate had Senator cullen,
the chairman not promised TO give q near
ins on that feature next FRIDAY. President
Mitchell assured Senator cullen that the
resolution introduced IN the board OH
Thursday denouncing that part Of the
charter and appointing committee 10 ap-
pear against it would be passed on next
week
Not only as public official but as
citizen feel that II is my DUTY TO oppose
the idea of embarkns on any charter re-
vision al this time said the 'ontroiIer'
particularly in view of the means that
are being employed TO bring about revis-
ion do not criticise the ability of those
who drew IT, but il is not tile product or
mature judgment. And more than that,
do not believe there is any general demand
for charter revision at this time
Various members OF the committee, par
ticularly the Tammsny men did all in their
power to provoke the Controller by ques-
tions but he was more than match Tor
them in argument and in satire.
This charter aims Ia rob the Finance
Department OF its most important powers
Of audit" he said. II will withdraw that
word which sounds offensive. although II
was not so meant. and say that the charter
would deprive the Controller ~ these
powers. When I talked 10 the Mayor he
said he had no knowledge Of those pro-
visions, and would like 10 know how they
got into the document told him how
thought they got in there.
you can't legislate for men who are 80
We in Office only two years and half moro.
Wise legislation provides for the future g
well as the present The best ideas Of
LEGISLATION have been 70 build mp the Con-
troller's Office so far as it gave him control
over the fiscal affairs Of the city"
Assemnlyman Hoey procipitated a dis
cussfon in regard 10 the time IL took 10
pay claims I'm the Finance Department by
reading a letter Of complaint. The Con
troller said that in past years there han
been compla nts. but improvements had
been made in the system under his admin
istraton.
when the Controller was talking about
the settlement If the legal foes for the
collection Of the franchise tax cases he
looked over at the Corporation Counsel
Il am sure that the Controller is not
going 10 say anything unpleasant said
the Corporation Counsel rising to his feet
u never do" replied the Controller, drop
ing the subject
checking system would II remove your OBJ
iectionso" asked Senator cullen.
ITO a great extent" replied the Con
troller.
The Controller said that under the pres
ent system ordinary claims were audited
I'm nine or ten DAYS and large claims inside
OF fifteen days.
The Controller then turned ~ the provi-
sions for transferring the bureau of Mu-
nicipal Investigation and Statistics from
the Finance Department to the Commiesion-
er Of Accounts. appointed by the Mayor
He said that the work Of that bureau had
entirely to do with the budgets 81 the vari-
Gus departments II might possibly he
transferred 10 the Board Of Estimate. but
not TO the Commissioner OF Accounts
But would not that be along the lines ~
Capitalization asked Senator Rose
Il wanted to pass a pleasant afternoon,
and not go into that" replied the CONTROL
Ter This charter would give a man great
political power-which is useful AT times
and at the same time give him loopholes
through which he could crawl when things
got too warm. We had a budget commit
tee in the Board Of Estimate for the first
time this year Now Ne are to have the
budget made UP by the Mayor the Control
ler-they do let the Controller I'm some
where-the city engineer. 10 be appointed
by the Mayor. the chairman Of the Finance
Committee OF the Board Of Aldermen and
borough president to be named by the
Mayor"
The Controller said he thought it good
idea to get as near TO a commission form
Of government as possible. and that IN Civ
ing broader powers TO the Board OF EST
mate. as had been done IN tine last few
years. the city had been getting nearer
to T.
Commissioner SAKE broke in TO say that
he thought board Of aldermen was the
highest form Of commission government
Controller PrenderCast said me would like
Ia submit some amendments. and got per
mission to do 90 up 10 My H.
---t-
TEACHERS MIX THEIR AIMS