New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-10

other administrations did what his was
being accused of in the issuance of
general fund bonds, which brought
from Senator Brown:
Did you think | was here to inquire
only about your administration If so,
you are mistaken. | am here to help
the City of New York, no matter when
the conditions originated. may fail
in that, but there are many of these
things that reach back into the past
But they are conditions and you hap
pen to be the chief executive and ad-
ministrative officer Of the city at this
time
Appointees Applaud Chief
"If was the chief financial officer
Of the city, probably | could give You
more information" said the Mayor.
"Well, you are a financial officer also,
aren't you?" inquired Ny. Brown.
~ have many other duties, Senator"
pleaded the Mayor.
eyes, ! admit that, admit that"
II have been giving a great deal Of
time FROM
81 don't wish to minimize the bur
dens of a Mayor of the City of New
York"
81 want to say this to you, Senator, "
said the Mayor, warming up. 81 have
been here in this Office at half-pa st
8, quarter 20 9, and stayed until half
past 6, T, every night, without going
out for lunch for practically three
years and half
There was applause from several Of
the Mayors appontees who stood along
the north wall Of the chamber, which
the Mayor acknowledged with a smile.
At the morning session. after the
Mayor had read his statement defend
ing his administration and taking up
some of its financial aspects, Senator
Brown began to go into the growth Of
the city's debt for the last ten years.
"Of course, Senator" observed the
Mayor, IL am not responsible for any
thing prior to 1918"
"Why, Mr.. Mayor, you are not charge
able. You do not regard yourself as
ohargeable for the entire period of
your admin stration, do you?" inquired
! Senator Brown.
ooh, yes" answered the Mayor
"You regard yourself as charge
able ?"
"No, not personally chargeablc, .
qualified the Mayor. "But l say am
not response blc"---
81 am not charging anything against
anybody interrupted Senator Brown.
an SCtCiuS dl lIlc ldCLS.
Facts, Not Charges, Sought
Then Senator Brown began the pre-
liminary work on which he built his
charges that the administration
through the Mayor and the Board of
Estimate, violated the constitution in
exceeding the debt limit
You know that the state constitu
ton imposes debt limit on the cities
of the state" inquired Senator Brown
yes" said the Mayor
"And it is limited to 10 per cent OF
the real estate valuation 2"
"Yes, sir, as I remember it."
And you approve of that limit gen
orally as a safe limit ?"
Eyes, indeed, do"
You know the purpose of it is to
! prevent excessive expenditure and to
prevent the city going unreasonably in
debt? 2"
eyes, sir"
"You approve of it?'
81 think l do.'
Then Senator Brown tried to force
the Mayor to admit that the special
revenue bonds during his term Of Of
flee never were included in the
funded debt, as required by law. But
the best he could get from the Mayor
was.
II am not sure whether they were
or not"
Then Brown read figures obtained.
he explained, from Comptroller Craig,
showing, he said, that the special reve-
nue. bonds were rot included in the
funded debt, and thus charged against
the debt limit, as required by the
constitutions
Il am not so sure that special reve-
nue. bonds should be charged against
the debt limit" said the Mayor.
Status of Revenue Bonds
Brown then read Section 10 of the
constitution, and after considerable
fencing with the Mayor. had him admit
that special revenue bonds should be
charged against the debt of the city.
Inc Mayor, in answer to questions,
SAID that he had never consulted his
legal advisers or others about the mat
ter.
After evading for q solid hour and
repeatedly saying he could not remem-
Der, or wasn't certain, or that the Comp
troiler could answer, or that he was
not familiar with it, the Mayor was
asked by Senator Brown:
Can you remember anything except
the Lords prayer, word for word?
am not asking you that. ! will be fair
with you"
linen ne went into the issuance Of
tax notes, subject of which the Mayor
progressed almost complete ignorance
saying he knew they were issued and
declared that they were chargeable or
sa.,en care of in the ensuing years
oudget, statement Senator Brown de-
ciareQ TO be erroneous.
II am giving it to you to the best
Oh my recollection," said the Mayor.
Yes. | know" said Brown. Il am
not critical in relation to that"
Tax Notes Meaning Explained
Then Senator Brown read the stat
ute governing the issuance of tax
notes, showing that they may extend
over period Of years.
well. If it is in the statute it is
IN the statute" said the Mayor
well, do you know that it is ."
asked Brown.
III you say so, will assume
mo. Tel me what is your opinion q"
Finally the Mayor read over the
statute and said that it meant what
Brown said it meant but persisted
that il was his belief that it had been
the practice of his administration to
take care Of tax notes issued in one
year in the following years budget
The Mayor said that he was familiar
with the ruling of the Court Of APP
peals with respect TO the debt limit
of cities, and then Brown put this
question TO him:
"Do you know that the debt limit Of
the City of New York for all purposes,
except docks and rapid transit, was ex-