The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-30
100000 WASTE
BY CITY Is CHARGED
Senator Thompson Says Great
Sources Of Revenue Are
Overlooked.
ASCRIBED TO HOME RULE

SENATOR 'rtDTRe r. InOH1IpSON wv
livened yesterdays proceedings Of the
Legislative committee which is gathering
information on the subject OF the law
creating and guiding the Public Service
Commissions by speaking into the record
certain observations touching on the
ability Of New York city to conduct its
affairs.
The committee had been listening to a
recital OF the injustice that had been
visited upon residents of Brooklyn by
the Public Service Commission In failing
to enjoin the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company from reconstructing it's ele-
waited lines through Fult.,n street despite
the protestations Of the Committee of
One Hundred. Just at the close OF the
morning session enator Thompson re-
marked that what he had heard fitted
into the ideas which he had been form
ing gradually as to home rule in New
York.
W have heard he said, "a great
deal about the burdens that have been
laid upon New York in the way of in
creased taxes and coupled with this a
great deal about home rule. Now
want to say that 1t is about time some
one pointed out to this city the situation
arising from the fact that New York
does not avail itself of a lumber OF
sources OF revenue that might materially.
reduce its tax burden"
Great Waste Charged.
He then went on to say that testimony
offered to the committee had disclosed
Q large amount of official oversight. He
said the discrimination in trucking rates
OH the municipal ferries between Man
haitian and staten Island and Manhat-
tan and South Brooklyn had occasioned
a great deal of correspondence, confined
largely 10 assertions by city officials
that they were about to do something.
Senator Thompson said the committee
had figured out that the city had wasted
not less thar $1,000. 600 in the employ
ment of officials and stenographers, in
postage stamps and stationery, to in
form staten Islanders that something
was going to be dong. He said the tax
levy would nave been greatly reduced IL
something had been done.
From the question OF Staten Island
ferry rates he proceeded TO the dis
closure that the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit pays the city nothing for the use of
the Brooklyn Bridge and wipes out its
franchise tax in Brooklyn by the deduc-
ton of bridge charges. From this sub
ject he fitted to that OF the Fulton street
elevated. drawing another conclusion as
10 official dereliction.
Finally he launched into description
Of the buck an animal, he said, which
was powerless to direct its own PEREZ
CARNATIONS. but which is assisted in its
SraGSaUa m and fro hv avarx. varenn xx,IN
is afraid to assume responsibility. He
said the committee had been impressed
by the amount of time spent by New
York city officials in promoting the trav-
els Of this animal.
N,r-ibed to HON Rule.
"Now all this waste of city time and
funds has been accomplished" said the
Senator. without any outside interfer-
ence. Ii is all a product of the home
rule. for an extension of which New
York is clamoring. There is at least
$4,000, 900 which might AVE been saved.
What the amount wasted would be If
New York had home rule we hesitate to
conjecture"
One of the Brooklyn witnesses said
that Brooklyn residents had to go to
Albany to find out what was being lone
In their city. This prompted Senator
Lawson Of Brooklyn. Il membe Of the
committee, to say
New York is no more ripe for home
rule to-day than it was ten years ago.
m 1t will not be for ten years to come.
until II gets a body OF city officials who
are responsive to the wishes of the peo-
Pile"
Investigation by the committee after
the adjournment Wednesday afternoon
showed that Justice Gaynor was not
without warrant in 1907 when he as
sumed that the transit company did pay
q special franchise tax for the privilege
Of using the city's tracks and equip
ment o N the Brooklyn Bridge. Commits
s!oner of Bridges +. j. II. Kracke had
told the that no special fran
chise tax was assessed for the use Of
the bridge and that the tolls for cars
n rentals were unjustly deducted
from the amount Of the special franchise
tax for the use of Brooklyn streets.
A reading of Justice Gaynor's opinion
deciding that the transit company had u
right to do this gave the impression that
ne had assume without warrant that a
special franchise tax was laid for using
the bridge.
1t now appears that during the prog
ress Of the litigation j. Edgar Leay-
craft, a member of the State Board of
Tax Commissioners. made an affidavit In
which he said the Commissioners, in
making their assessment for the special
franchise tax to be paid by the railroad.
did include the Brooklyn Bridge in its
estimate Of what the mpan should
pay.
The committee will meet again to-day.