The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-28
'WAGNER'S CUDGEL
WELDED FOR CITY
Senator, at Brown Committee
Hearing, Says Tax Burden
! Here Is Unjust.
BOROUGH HEADS HEARD

State Senator Robert r. Wagner cit
<ing as q member Of me Brown legisla-
tive committee proved yesterday the
most outspoken and insistent champion
q the contention Of New York city off,
caais that the city had bean mad 10 bear
much moro than it, share Of State taxes.
Chairman Elon r. Brown Of Water
oUwn had questioned Borough President
Mathswson Of The Bronx At length in An
effort to show that the city was not un-
fairly taxed. The attempt was not en-
tireiy successful. for Mr.. Mathcwson
cited the Jerome avenue road. extending
70 Yonkers, as q case in which the mu-
nicipality bore q heavy share Of cost
while reaping q relatively small proper
ton Of the beneft.
Senator Wagner followed with ques-
tiopg touching the entire public roads
syyAm Of the state. He called attention
to the fact also that while the expenses
Of tho upstate Public Service Commits
sion were betrayed by the State the law
made the expenses Of the down-State
commission mandatory on the city.
Senator Brown interrupted several OF
Senator Wagner's questions.
Thinks Charges Fall short.
~ am only trying to show how the
city IL Disseminated against" said the
Democratic Leader Of the Senate in reply
to the Republican leader. "1n my
<~alninu xh> ,ltu AfN~iu1a havA mt HOnA
far enough In their charges.
This city has been purposely excluded
from tho benefits of the State highway
funds. II pays 20 per cent. Of the ex-
penses Of the State Health Department,
hut gets nothing for It. 1t pays a big
share Of the expenses Of the agricultural
colleges, which are maintained for the
benefit Of other communities"
Mr.. Brown refused to accept these
statements. He insisted that the health
laws were passed by the vote OF New
York city representatives and that this
city had a controlling voice in the enact
ment Of the good roads bill.
Senator Brown yesterday
afternoon that the question Of the pur-
chase of the court house site would be
taken up by the committee later.
The court house came INTO the lime
light again through a statement of Bor-
OuBu fTtsiueIt Mai No VI ManNihttaI
that he believed the services Of the o
House Board might we'll be performed by
the Board Of Estimate. The present Court
House Board WA appointed by the Mayor
under u mandatory state law.
Three Of the Borough Presidents APP
peared before the committee yesterday
and the two others will be questioned
this morning. President Lewis II.
Pounds Of Brooklyn insisted that real
estate was being made to carry more
than Its share OF the city's burden. Mr.,
added!
1.-THE burden on either real estate
owners or tenants must be lessened. The
budget for 1915 has been. pared down as
far AS possible. New sources Of revenue
must be found II the burden on real es-
tate is not to become unbearable."
President Marks denounced the new
Standardization system as heartless and
Impractical. II would standardize places
not human beings" he said. He be-
lieved tina the Board OF Estimate should
ave charge OF the Public Service Com
missions construction work within the
city.
IAN I am asking Is a concentration
Of authority" explained MIR. Marks
Both the State and city governments
interfere with the b%oroughs. The State
NhS eohS
tears up our streets then the gas ant
water departments OF the city do thu
same thing. and the Borough Presiden
gets the blame. Street cleaning. nov
. city function In three of the boroughs
might well be made the function o
every borough. Markets. too. should b
the exclusive care Of the %boroughs. A
present the Board Of Aldermen estab
fishes a market and the Comptrolle
supervises it, but the Borough Preslden
builds and maintains it,"
Mr.. Marks vigorously opposed the pro
posal to abolish %boroughs.
Wants Minimum for Teachers.
C,~,. r. >,.,.rsv .ssoc;.,s supsr
~,r,endsn, IN charge ~ nigh schools les
,;fv;ns q, tho norpirv session said h
h.iiavsd tho schoo,s could moi he nron
sr,v ,,a,ntajrsd wi,hou, mandatory lev
S.i.,,on ~. h.,isyad ths stat. sbouj
A. mip,r,um teachers' sa,arie. ,eavin,
20 ,hs Heard NJ E,dmcaticr mower IN mr.
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