New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-28
Strong Opposition
To Bill AbOlishing
City Chamberlain
Speakers at. Hearing Before
Mayor, Advocating Veto,
Say Powers of the Office
Should Be Increase

Strong opposition to the bill abolish
ing the office of City Chamberlain de-
veloped yesterday at the public hear
ing given by Mayor Hylan on this and
other measures passed by the Legsla-
ture which affect the city. Comptroller
Charles l.. Craig, at whose request the
bill was introduced at Albany, played
virtually lone part in favoring the
bill, and frequently ciashed with the
we'll organized opposition which rallied
to the support of the Mayors close
friend, Philip Berolzheimer, the pres
ent City Chamberlain.
The Mayor gave no indication as to
what action he would take, but II he
vetoes the bill, as his friends expect
he will, the measure will be dead, since
the Legislature has adjourned and can
not pass it over his veto.
Leonard NJ Wallstein. counsel for
the Citizens Union, supported the
Comptroller in his contention that the
Cham berlains Office should be done
away with and it's functions delegated
to the Comptroller. John Godfrey
SAKE, formerly State Senator. appeared
to argue the case for the City Cham
berlain. Borough President Connolly
Of Queens was firmly opposed to both
the bill and the Comptroller.
Would Put Teeth in Office
"Instead of being abolished, tie
office should be given more power"
said Mr.. Connolly; "given teeth-and
that power should be taken from the
office of the Comptroller. The first
thing that the Comptroller thought
about on assuming Office was that he
should have more power, and ne started
to get that power"
The Queens Borough President ad-
mitted that the Mitchell administration,
of which he was member, had seri-
ously considered the adjustment Of
the Office of Chamberlain, but he con-
tended that when it learned more about
the Office it came to the conclusion
that it must be continued.
When the Comptroller pleaded with
the Mayor to give him the same cooper
alton that he, the Comptroller. had
given the Mayor during his admin
istration, the Mayor suggested that
there was too much animus in the
Comptroller's attitude. Comptroller
Craig replied it was a public measure
and of no personal concern to him,
and that the present Chambe rlain, by
his action, had brought about the ap-
prevail of the bill by the Legislature.
Calls 1t "Grab" Measure
Mr.. SAKE, in asking that the Mayor
disapprove the measure, declared he
had great respect for Senator Down
ing, who introduced the dill, for the
Comptroller and the City Chamberlain,
and that he was not concerned i'm any
way with personalities in the matter.
He said The purpose Of the bill was
'to repeal this time honored Office and
to vest the powers and duties in
another officer whose jurisdiction is.
and should be, separate and distinct"
He characterized the bill as a ripper"
and a grab" measure. He said it
proposed to create hitherto unknown
monopoly in the Office Of the Comp
trOller.
"There is no demand for this bill by
the citizens of the city" said Mr.
SAKE.
Herbert J.. Carpenter. representing
civic organizations OF Brooklyn and
Arthur j. w. Hilly, chairman of the
Mayors Committee on Rent Profteer-
ing, also spoke against the bill The
Mayor has ten days in which to ap-
prove or veto the measure