New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-10
Mayors knowledge of
Municipal Finances
Vague in Replies to
Legislative Committee
Witness Gets Lost
In Sinking Funds
Hylan Admits Figures
He Reads at Hearing
Were Prepared by Craig

" ere prepared by NTaIg
Mayor Hylan appeared yesterday
at the first session Of the joint legis.
lative graft inveStigating commit
tee in City Hall to render An &C
count of his stewardship. Imme-
diately after taking the oath hc read
a statement defending his admins
tration and blaming its shortcomings
on Albany He then spent four and
a half uncomfortable hours unde,
examination by Senator Elon R.
Brown, chief counsel to the commit
tee, who, toward the close of the
days session, made the following
charges against the city govern
ment:
l. That the Hearst Hylan- TAM
many administration exceeded the
constitutional debt limit on Janu-
ary I, 1913, by s1O3, ,34S,0 900
City Debt Limit Exceeded
2. That the Hearst Hylan- Tam
many administration on January
l, 1919, exceeded the constitutional
debt limit by 69,0OO,00o.
3. That the rst-Hylan- Tam
many administration on January
l, 1920, exceeded the constitutional
debt by s53,0oo,O00.
4. That the Hearst-Hylan-Tan-
many administration on January
] Of the present year exceeded the
constitutional debt limit by $780,
100000.
TIE Mayor sat silent for momen
IS Senator Brown finished his formal
charges. Brown waited, thinking Hy-
an might make some reply. but none
vas forthcoming. Then Senator Brown
ook up another angle OF the city's
inances. To the question which has
o do with moneys Tor school sites. tn,
dayor pleaded, as he had been plead
ng from time to time during his ex-
that the committee cal
duncan Maclnness. an expert account
mt in the Comptrolcr's Office.
Il viii reach Duncan Maclnness fr
ue time, but can't examine Duncau
daclnness at the same time that I do
ou," replied Brown.
"lf YOU had Duncan MacInness hs
would disprove every statement you
ave made here on finances" retorted
he Mayor
Brown Ready to Learn
~ hope So" said Senator Brown
arnestly. 81 am perfectly willing to
'e set right and clear by Duncan Mac
mess or any other good man in rels-
ION 10 what appears 30 me to be tho
tate Of the debt limit Of the City OF
sew York. And instead Of being dis
'leased, shall be most happy TO be
DIRECTED"
Tho charges that Mayor Hylan and
lis associates on the Board Of EST
nate had violated the state coustitu-
ion in exceeding tho debt limit for
very year OF the Hylan- Tam
many administration were made b.
'enator Brown in a formal address to
ne chairman OF the committee.
"Mr. Chairman said Senator Brown,
1t is not possible for me TO examin ne
he various city officials all at once
ut | think that the city officials who
re TO be examined. as well as the
layor. should he briefly advised OF
he suggestions that have made in re
alton 10 the debi limit.
Il find that the apparent margin fof
dditional authorization or the frs.
+ January. 1913. WAS $l8.tl9000; and
hat was arrived at by deducting from
he funded debt Of the city dock and
apid transit lJnds less sinking fund
mortizatjon Of slo9 9.o3l COO That the
financial authorities did not add 70
he debt as they should the excess o.
pecial revenue bonds over one tenth
+ one per cent Of the valuation o.
cal estate, as shown by the last assess
lent roll and that they should have
dded s2,l45.ooo. That the tax notes
aay be issued not for one wear. but
or as many years 2s the city sees fit
nd there is 10 provision FOR thelr cn-
mption from the funded debt: am
therefore,, S4.504.000 should be sddea
o the funded debt.
Financial Facts Cited
That ii is expressly provided ir
he decision OF the Court Of Appeal
2 Levy Us. Mcclellan that bonds that
re in the sinking fund for TIE pay
aent of bonds that are exempt from
he debt limit are not to be credited
II deducted from the bonded deb
nd that the deduction as made was
1880, 600 less than the amount o.
uch bonds; and that after these cor
ectious are made, the debt limit wa
Xceeded OH the Hrst DAY o. Januar,
slo, by $lO3. .34s 600 TOR ali other pun
'oses, municipal purposes. other thar
oekS and rapid transit constructions
hat there WAS margin OF Sll7 900
90 for dock and rapid transit create,
ubject to the 6ebi limit. and ths
rom that sl17,0o0000 must be d.
ucted the other excess Of sos .00n
90, leaving at that time available :
apid transit and docks the sum O.
u 100000.
"A similar statement Tor January /
919. with the same corrections &C
ording to the figures existing at that
ate, with the classes of items being
he same. shows that the debt limit
or purposes other than docks and
apid transit was exceeded on January
, 1919, by 100000, and there was
margin for rapid transit and docks
I SCI .000.0
That on January J. 1920. a corre
pondlng statement SHOW that the
cbt limit was exceeded hy S53 600. .0No
or other pUrpoSss tnsn docks an3