The sun., 1916-01-12
MAYOR URGES new
REVENUE SOURCES
Tells Brown Committee City
Real Estate Can't Stand
Any Heavier Tax.
DEFENDS HIS POLICIES

Insisting that New York city should
not be compelled TO live on its present
income and tina. II the Legislature will
provide new sources OF revenue for the
next fifteen years the municipality Will
be able to 20 through that period
splerddly Mayor Mitchell ended his
testimony before the Brown Legislative
committee yesterday.
"It'e the wrench in going from the
unsounj basis to The sound basis OF
financial management that is putting a
burden on the taxpayers to-day" he
sah
tie read figures TO show that the
rres"nt administration has exercised
greater economy than .'s predecessors
for ai least a dozen years back, and
Justified seeming extravagances by say
ing that they we're commitments to
which this administration had fallen
heir
AUTHORIZATIONS for expenditures, not
/ the aliotmeuts. are the real measure OF
rec ponsi bliy," said the Mayor.
But tho Mayor did not attempt 30 say
that unaise policio~ of preceding boards
Of estimate were entirely responsible for
/ recent burdens
ne city mas i5SS'D ttlTOukn u p'TiuI
I of very rapid growth" he explained. II
am not defending the extravsgsnces OF
the past. but II We had been compelled to
/ pay out Of the budget the capital cost
% physical improvements which have
| been made in the last seventeen years
| these improvements would never have
| been ma'le. The era OF most rapid
growth has passed. I look for substantial
, hu' more gradual development IN the
future"
called Great Optimiat.
! So satisfied was ,Ne Mayor with the
pay as YOU 40 policy adopted by the
present admin stration that he believed
4 un culture administration would depart
from e. and he regarded the incorpora-
/ ton o. ~" principle in the Charter as
unnecessary and undesirable.
Mir Mayor" sad Senator Brown
"vou are one of the greatest ortimists
! have ever met. have seen the break
i0y down OF prophecies OF continued ad-
hercu". to sound policies In both nation
! and state"
"Because OF thc great physical I'm
Vr lVcn.,u's 10 which | have referred
cannot say that regret the city's failure
80 ,dop' th.S policy nfecn Years ago.
rrplicd tho MAYOR 81 wish - had hecr
aIop'od carly In the Gaynor admins
trafior don't hcl'ev" N imposirs
limitations Of that kind on future al
miui>travious hu. do believe 'ha'
carI.dates ot tho future Will MAKE
adherence 20 this policy II pledge IN Me!'
platforms
"Woui t, hc practicable 20 increase
the rate of taxation on city real estate
asked senator Brown
"Nn, real estates burden II alread'
rs rrea' as u can h"a~." sail tho Mayor
"Eeo' estate men think. though, hat tn
burden Imposed by urro0,rollaole out
eide Influences IS now Al shout the hcari
est point and that whatever chang
comes will be for tho better. Tho cit!
ran operate WITHOUT Increasing the Ia
rd'r Y We Get -oli"t from Albany on tw'
> ies the home -'il" side and the !ncon
side. tn" after H'uing through supple
mental r.Ncuu" producing measures. ]
: no direct ,aN = .NN..i IN the next tvs
years II certainty viii be possible TO g'
, along without Increasing the rate. Bu
the state should increase our revenue.
don't say we cannot I've on the preser
. income. but We snouldn, be compellc'
10 du So"