The New York herald., 1921-08-11
spars on reachers' Salaries.

"9ut It shows decrease OF s5s,o0oo 900
in debt incurring power during your
term. doesn't it?"
That's right. but we spent that
money for schools and rapid transit and
things like that"
"oh. you spent ii for all kinds OF
things: the money Is gone
Have you made any inquiry regard
! ing tn eamount OF uncollectible taxes
on the booksT'
"You Will have to refer to the Comp
| troller for that"
do you know it amounts 10 $4,000
ooo?"
4 don't know the amount not on
hand"
| Have you known the amount OF un-
collectable taxes. estimated by the
| Comptroller or Tax Department, during
| your term?'
Il haven't any idea. I cannot carry
those details
"you complained yesterday OF the
act fixing the teachers salaries as af-
fecting your city. didn't you:
Il did not complain of the salaries
but because 1t was made mandatory by
the Legislature and forced on the city
without our consent
Were the salaries fixed by that act
I
mo, / do not ohject to the salaries
but TO the legislation"
Loud applause came from the galleries.
Senator Meyer pounded for order
III this sort of disturbance continues
We will have to take steps to prevent 1t!
Meyer shouted.
Senator Brown, IL you had been here
you would have objected. too'' the
Mayor said.
Il am en- old Bourbon. but some
times change" Mr.. Brown said.
The Mayor admitted that he accepted
education as a State function and that
paying teachers was part of education.
but insisted repeatedly that Albany had
( no right to fix salaries here.
II am going to be with you on the
subject Of mandatory legislation when
We get that defined. but do you regard
all leg Station effecting all the State as
mandatory"
The Mayor insisted anything effecting
New York money affairs was manda-
tory. but he admitted that the city prob
ably would have given the teachers a
raise. too.
Reverting again to rinking funds in
the city government. Mr.. Brown began
asking questions. but the Mayor insisted
he ought not to be put through civil
service examination.
How much of the Sinking Fund
money during 1920 was used for CASH
| Ing securities or bonds of Indebtedness
\ issued by the city,"
4 You viii have TO ask the Comp
troller"
Has there ever been a sinking fund
for the payment of exempt dock bonds?"
II can't remember"
rs any provision made for the dock
bonds7"
4 II think there Is" Tho Mayor thought
II might be In the old city fund. but he
could not tell offhand.
Declines TO stand EXAM"
world you be surprised IL told you
that the dock bonds. neither exempt nor
the others. are paid at all from that
/ fund that nothing OF that kind was
paid from that fund.-
II think I would be surprised IL Is
unfair that / be asked about all these
\ details"
"You think my Inquiries are unfair"
EFF you want 10 get the correct and
accurate information that you had ought
/ TO. get the head or the department
I selected for that purpose.
and you are IN the same situation In
relation TO the other exempt debts of
regard TO them?''
practically all You and I once
pa ssed the Bar examination, but if we
were to take II now we might not have
such good luck"
when you said you thought that
ought not 70 press the line OF inquiry.
stopped Mr. Mayor. Have you ever
given any consideration to the provis-
\ ions OF the constitution in relation TO
maintaining these sinking funds for the
payment OF the exempt debts OF the
4 City of New York?
I II have read the constitution on many
occasions but cannot remember Il all,
\ Senator.
DO YOU remember generally the
4 provision IN relation 10 maintaining
4 sinking funds for the payment OF ex-
/ enipt debts of the City OF New York;
Il don't remember II offhand. Now we
\ are getting into civil service examina-
\ tion on the constitution"
II decline 70 pursue the inquiry FUR
4 ther on account OF your position in re-
! latlon 70 IT,"