New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-08
Constitution Revisers Hear
Attack on New York by
Mr.. Marshall.
THEN PROVIDE
FOR AN INQUIRY
Delegate Declares the Munich
pality in "a Virtual State
of Bankruptcy"
-yrom star Correspondent Of Tn, Trbua'l

From a star Correspondent O; The Tribunsl
Albany. April An attack on the
New. York City administration by Louis
Marshall. delegate-at-large, enlivened
the session Of the Constitutional Con-
vention to-day.
Mr.. Marshall said the city was on
the verge Of bankruptcy, and II the
financial problem now confronting New
York. which he described as an i'm
measurable evil, was not speedily
grappled with actual bankruptcy would
result. MIR. Marshall spoke in favor
Of his resolution asking for an appro-
priation for a commission to compile
and publish information on the govern
ment of New York City and the various
counties of the state.
The resolution was adopted. While
it does not provide especially for an
investigation of New York's finances,
that is what will result. The resolu-
ton was seconded by George ". Wick
ersham. who said he believed an in
vestigation of New York City was
really needed
The commission provided for con-
sists Of Morgan J. O'Brien, Senator
Robert T. Wagner. Lieutenant Gov
Sweet. Samson Lachman and John H..
Finley. State Education Commissioner.
Adjournment to April rs.
The convention adjourned after a
three hours session until April 20.
This date was decided on after a con-
ference Of President Elihu Root, Sena-
tor Brown and Speaker Sweet, at which
il was agreed the Legislature would
adjourn on Thursday, April p.
Mr.. Root announced that all pro-
posed amendments 10 the constitution
must be handed in before June l, and
that no amendments could be intro
duced after that date except by unanl-
nous consent This means that the
convention viii have its entire pro-
gramme before il on June ].
While Mr. Root has leased house
here for six months, none believe the
convention will last beyond the end OF
August. That the delegates desire to
get away as quickly as possible was
shown when the rule of the 1894 con-
vention. which limits debate on any one
subject to one hour and speeches 70
five minutes was unanimously adopted
Mr.. MarshalPs speech came IN the
nature Of a surprise. He began by
replving TO Seth Low, who said Mr..
Marshal's statement that the city was
verging on bankruptcy would impair
the city's credit.
Charges Virtual Bankruptcy.
.In view of the huge Indebtedness -
81. 5O7 10000 that the impairment OF
the city's credit)would not be an un-
mixed evil" said Mr.. Marshall. while
there will not occur to-day or to-mor-
row a general suspension OF payments
and the city as an aggregation may not
literally 60 into the hands Of a re-
ceiver. the individual units, the taXpay-
ers. who collectively comprise the cor
poration. are struggling under such
burdens as to make reference to
baDkruptcv something more than a fig
ure Of speech. IL may, however, be
said that when honest creditors Of the
city are kept out of their dues
virtual state of bankruptcy exists.
"Property has been assessed IN thou
sands of instances at more than JUS
market value Rates Of taxation have
steadily mounted, and on several oc-
casions the constitutional provision re-
stricting the debt limit has been eX-
handed. The annual budget is rising
mountain high. The taxpayer Of the
CITY and state has encountered new
forms of taxation which never occur
red TO Sydney Smith when he por-
traved the life Of the taN-rldden Eng
hshman Of a century ago. We have