New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-16
FINANCE INQUIRY
NEGLECTS MAYOR
TO HOLD DEBATE
Members Discuss Cab
bages and Kings, with Wit
ness Forgotten, on Stand.
mitchell ASKS CHECK
ON SCHOOL FINANCES
Suggests New Financial Control
a Pension Plan and Home
Ruls Bill.

The Brown Legislative COMMITTEES
which Is investigating the city's n
nances, went into an impromptu exec
utive session, as Mayor Mitchell called
II, at the hearing yesterday afternoon
during which Senator Elon K. Brown
chairman; Senator Robert +. Wagner
and Sheriff-elect Alfred +. Smith, the
two Tammany members, who fianked
the chairman on either side, INDUCED
in an old-fashioned legislative debate
ION the floor Of the House." much 70
the amusement Of city officials and su-
dience.
Mayor Mitchell WAS on the witness
Htand recording hts objections TO va
rious forms of mandatory legislation.
The Mayor had remarked that the law
provided that the Sheriff should re-
ceive half the fees of his Office, 70
which Sheriff elect Smith queried, smii-
ingly, "Why one-half?' when the de-
bate opened.
what part of the excise liquor tax
did the city Of New York receive last
year? ?" Assemblyman Smith asked the
Mayor.
"None whatever" was the quick re
Spouse.
al would like 20 correct that state
ment. Mr.. Mayor" interpOsed Senator
Brown. New York pays a smaller eX-
else tax in proportion TO its real estate
tax than any other city in the state 1t
DAVIS 60 per cent, while the real estate
tax is 70 per cent"
"That Is because we assess property
at its full value down here, while you
assess it at only from 80 to 40 per
cent Of IT'S value upstate" said Sen
stor Wagner.
Executive Session"
"Your higher assessment Is not be
csrse Of any moral anxiety" retorted
Senator Brown. at is because of your
anxiety 20 raise your debt limit"
THAT question is open to argument
said Senator Wagner.
81 decline 20 accept the responsible
;tv for what the citizens Of New York
don't know. or what their representa-
tives in the Legislature don't know
said the chairman.
"Not all the abuse heaped upon New
York City has been the fault Of It's rep
resentatives in the Legislature" sald
Wagner.
"Well. am for an equal system OF
taxation all over the state" said Sen
ator Brown. 81 have always voted that
way in the Legislature. have come
down here 20 correct whatever wrongs
this city may have suffered at the
hands Of the Legislature. and l shall
continue 20 work as hard as can
in spite of your pin pricks.'
Mayor Mitchell, Controller Prender-
CAST and City Chamberlain Bruere eat
quietly by enjoying the committee de-
bate.
'TTl stand BY Senator Brown In this
matter" interposed Asemblyman Smith,
until ne starts TO explain why New
York has to pay for bridges, school
houses and getting all the creeks
cleaned out in up-country counties
"You will find that most Of the
bridges were built over the canal that
New York City wanted said the chair
man.
The Mayor ventured 70 say that ne
did not understand the chairman was
addressing his remarks to the witness.
Senator Brown said he made them for
the benefit OF any one who could hear
MIN. The Mayor continued his testi-
monv with the remark that he had been
waiting for the executive session" to
end.
Would Rule School Finances.
The Mayor first replied 10 the testi-
mony Of resident Churchill Of the
BOARD Of Education. 70 the effect that
the board should have immunity from
financial control by the municipal au-
thorities, that it should be given the
mower 70 fix the salaries Of its teachers
and that its members should be elected,
because the appointments by the Mayor
were likely 10 be politically colored.
The Mayor read list Of figures Which
showed that the final budget allowance
for the board each year had been any
where from S7.000000 70 S2000O0O, or
from ~ % per cent. less than had
been asked FOR. lie pointed out that
the percentage Of reductions by the
budget committee had been less in the
last two or three years.
Our remedy for this whole situa-
tion." he said, ais a complete financial
control Of the Board Of Education by
the Board Of Estimate, and small,
compact. intelligent working body in
The board itself A great deal Of trouble
has been experienced from the char
acter Of tho educational board. With
q small board there would not be much
difference of opinion. and we would get
higher standard Of education for less