New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-11
Expenditures of Present
Administration Threat
en- Financial Disaster,
Says Brown at Inquiry
Walker Attempts
To Help the Mayor
Committee Counsel Nav
Resign as Result of Bick-
ering at Second Session

In the course of his second grillins
before the legislative committee in.
vestigating his administration May
or Hylan admitted yesterday that
the city had levied in taxes for this
year $24,000,000 more than it had a
constitutional right to impose.
Elon r. Brown, the committees
chief counsel, declared it was the
first time in the history of the city
that such a thing had come to pass.
He also said that the assessment this
year was the highest ever made and
indicated a financial condition fore
shadowing a great shrinkage in
values.
1t was also developed that the
city's debt-incurring powers had
teen reduced by $53,000,0OO during
the Mayors tenure of office because
cf excessive expenditures.
Hylan Has Many Clashes
The Mayor in defense said that the
city had exceeded its proper tax levy
because OF the action of the LegisIa-
turc in sending US down mandatory
legislation" He said that the s53.-
100000 Topped off the debt-incurrine
powers Of the city had been spent for
schools, transit and other such things
The Mayor showed a greater air Of
confidence than he possessed the FIRST
day OF his appearance on the witness
stand, with the result that his cues
tionlng was marked by continual tilta
and clashes between himself and the
committees counsel. Senator Walker
Democratic member of the commit
tee, finally joined in the bjckerino
HIS stump speech" so aroused Mr.
Brown that the latter threatened 80
resign as counsel if the Interruptions
are permitted to continue
III %as day Of give and take. with
the Mayor delivering long statements
at every. opportunity. He found him
sell nigh and dry when he had at
tempted to obtain some information
from Comptroller Craig which Mr.
Brown had requested. The Comntrol-
!er wrote note to TIE Mayor, settinp
1ofth that many of his Office force "had
gone on vacation" and that if the com
mlttee desired the information they
couid come and get it themselves.
switching from Duncan Machines. 70
"hom he referred the committee the
previous day for all statistics and
hhgures on the finances of the city. the
mayor yesterday hit upon the Conn
tr1ller.
Brown Told to Go 70 Craig
GU can get that from the Comptrol.
ier; he would say, or "If YOU want re-
'labie information on that pojpt Won
can S,,1 get it only from the Comptrollsr
ny don't you get him on it
ne Mayor insisted that it was no,
lalr for counsel TO question him on
ligures winch could be obtained more
accurately from department heads. bu;
brown pointed out that the Mayor wa
~ ~ 'ne hablt Of receiving reports from
ms department chiefs and that uude,
tie charter it was his duty to be con-
Versant with certain details of the
clty's financial affairs.
The Mayor generally lodged all
complex questions with an easv ref
ereAce to the Comptroller but when g
simple query about sinking funds vas
put to him, he complained.
I didn't know | was to be nnt
through civil service examination"
"hen MI. Brown pointed out that
the city's budget had been increased
oo per cent since 1917. that $4,000. 600
had been added to the city's saary
and wage expenses between 1919 and
1920, and asked the Mayor What wa
beng done to reduce expenses. the lat
ter SAID that the matter of consolidating
various forces in departments had been
thought Of, but that nothing had ac-
tually been done, nor did he have any
plan in mind by which the city's
budget might be reduced.
Wage Question Is Discussed
He said. however, that saving could
be effected if the direct tax Of S22.-
100000 imposed on the city by the
state were removed and the chartei.
amended giving the same powers to
conduct its affairs accorded TO second
and third class cities.
When Mr.. Brown suggested that the
cost of living had dropped and that pc,
diem wages had been reduced 10 t.
q per cent all over the country. the
Mayor said that the matter of wage
was being investigated, but that he va
IN favor of keeping salaries al tnc
present level.
In connection with the $4,000 009
which the Legislature required the cit
to lay out for school salaries. thu
Mayor said he objected to the man
datory aspect OF the case. but thai
he was in favor of giving the teachers
the extra money.
The discussion over the per cent
which the city is permitted to tax real
and personal property for its running
expenses was brought about by the
Mayors contention that the tax was
levied on the assessment of the cur
rent year. while Mr.. Brown insisted
that under the law the tax is levied
on the assessment Of the year pre-
vious.
a.. Brown said:
"Thc limit is . per cent Of the as
sessed valuation OF the real and per
sonal property to be ascertsined in
the same manner AS it is ascertaineG
in determining the city's debt limit.
and that is ascertsined by fixing 10
per centum Of the assessed valuation o.
the real estate of such county or city
subject to taxation as it appeared By
| the assessment rolls of said county or
Irif " she las for state