New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-11
Charges of Extravaganza
in Appropriations De-
MED by Mitchell.
ESTIMATE BOARDS
POWER ASSAILED
Revenue Bonds Too Costly. Says
SenatOr-Executivc in All-Day
Give-aud.Takc Ordeal.

Mayor Mitchell was on the grill again
yesterday before the Legislative com
mittee which is Investigating city
finances. Senator Elon r. Brown the
chairman. scolded the Mayor at times
In regard to appropriations which were
noted "a possible cxtravagances The
Mayor, however. explained away ,he
substantial items suggested. lie was
on the witness stand all day.
~ don't mean 20 cmbarrass you in
these matters" said Senator Brown in
the course Of the examination Of the
Mayor.
Indeed. am not embarrassed in the
least" replied the Mayor with an in
grs.iating smile.
The Mayor and the chairman had a
warm discussion on the issue OF special
revenue bonds for Improvements and TO
make up inadequate funds under the
budget for city departments. Senator
Brown declared that this practice led
to unnecessary extravaganza. He said
the Board OF Estimate had entirely too
much power in the authorization Of
such bonds, and requested an opinion
from the Corporation Counsel as 20 the
latitude OF such power under the char
ter.
The Mayor took exception TO Senator
II L,4
such power was limited the budget
would be increased instead Of de-
creased. He maintained that the dis
cretionary bond issues had always been
less than the 100000 limit allowed
by the city charter.
$4,000. 900 Issue "Obligatory."
Senator Brown wanted TO know if the
Mayor considered the issue Of $4,000,
600 in special revenue bonds to meet
the interest on the city's sl00,000.000
loan TO pay its obligations in Europe
at the beginning OF the war was man.
datory matter.
"Not in the sense that it was i'm
posed upon us by the Legislature" said
the Mayor. But it was obligatory, if
not mandatory
"In other words. you have to pay
your bills" said Senator Brown.
Eyes. that's it, replied the Mayor.
Senator Brown suggested that the
whole matter was the old question Of
city. state and national government try
ing to get away from eXtravagant APP
propriations The Mayor suggested
that the national government had not
got away from IT yet. The chairman
declared il had.
Tho chairman pointed out an item
Of 100000 for widows pensions which
had been transferred from The funds
for private charitable institutions. and
Of which there Was no specific mention
in the budget. He referred TO il as
pocket" appropriation
what do YOU mean by pocket?
asked the Mayor.
81 mean that it can't he seen on the
surface" replied the Senator. "Thc
budget is published as advice to the
community. and they should know all
about how their money is being used.
This item is covered up under another
appropriation. There might be sc
cret purpose of the Board Of Estimate
70 fy kites"
Disputes Flying Kite" Charge.
The MAYOR said that such thing
had never happened as implied in the
Senator's reference TO fying kites. He
explained that by placing the 100000
TO be used for widows pensions under
the appropriation for private charita-
bic institutions the interest on the rev
enue bonds which it would otherwise
have been necessary 10 issue was
saved
"Nour intentions were good SAID
Senator Brown, but ! am speaking Of
charter power, which believe is en-
tirelv too broad in these matters
The Senator asked the Mayor II he
was willing 70 concede in the matter
" the anpropriation for widows pen