New-York tribune., 1921-12-19
Report
Urges Board
OF Finance
(coHtinned from gage ore,

J.. Walker and Bernard Downing and
Assemblynen Charles ID. Dcnohue
Maurice Bloch ard Peter A. McArdle.
The signers Of the majority report are
Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer. chairman Of
the COMMITTEES; Senators Theodore D.
honlnson and MAXWELL s. Harris and
assembiymea Frederick W. Kavanaugh.
Simon l.. Adler, Sol Uliman, Walter "
WestaH and John Il. Yale. Assembly.
man Theodore Stitt, of BROOKLYN an
proved the report in every respect. ex
cept that he believed that the tiye bor-
oughs should elect their own represent
atiyes to the proposed Board of Ri
nance as opposed to q city-wide selec-
tion.
The tsnefits resulting from the pro-
posed plan for Board of Finance aro
discussed by the committee as follows !:
FIRST. 1t VIII separate the appro-
priating power from the spendinv
power-the> legislative from the eyscu~
tive. When city rivals states in
population, objections to uniting these
powers IN states apply to the city.
sucn powers were united in small mn
inequalities on the analogy of bust
ness corporations, but in large corpo-
ratsons there is usually a division of
such powers.
Second, 1t will furnish an oppor-
tunity for the city to become articulate
Ito speak directly and exclusively on
the financial issue every two wears
The duties of the new board will be
financial. Parliaments and legislatures
are mostly concerned with appropri-
atoms A vote for Mayor or Comp
trclaer, etc. under the present system
gives lso means for such an expression.
and is usually given with the express
purpose of securing some expenditure
without providing any check on the
amount available, or supervision over
its expenditure in the sense that states
and nations have checks over expendi-
lures through the appropriating power.
Third. 1t will, from the dignity
and authority of the body, and, owing
TO its limited membership, from the
dignity and authority Of the several
members, and akso by reason of it's free
dom from administrative duties at
tract the best class of candidates avairN
able. 1t is hopeless to induce persons
of high qualifications to undertake
local administration by piecemeal.
Nothing less than general control over
the finances OF the city will success
fully invite such talent. The election
by the city at large of the members of
the Board of sinance, besides tending
to unity the sentiment of the city on
the principal question relating to CITY
government, will be the best means of
securing candidates Of capacity and
character.
More Power at Albany
Fourth. It will, by creating a leg
islative body, promote and invite a
more extensive delegation of powers of
local legislation, including the aboli-
ton, modification and combination of
departments, and require a repeal of
mandatory state Legislation of a local
character; it will also. from its nature,
be a powerful factor in shaping legis-
iaticn affecting the city at Albany.
Fifth. 1t will, through the power of
confirmation Of members Of the Board
OF Taxes and Assessments and the fixed
tenure of Office, make them more indie
pendent Of official interference in the
performance Of their important public
duties and prevent the manipulation of
the board to meet the necessities of an
extravagant administration. The power
of removal for cause will operate as
check on malfeasance in city Offices.
Sixth. It viii inspire civic interest
and activity by recognizing the due
sense of municipal Importance, power
and responsibilities of which the citi-
zens of such q city must be conscious
and nourish public spirit and develop in
telligence on the fundamental matters
of finance and expenditure, which are
not now in any adequate way brought
home to the voter when he gives express
sion to his views by the ballot
Seventh. 1t will furnish an oppor-
tunity. now lacking, to the administra-
tive officers of the city to give adequate
time and attention to administration
City's Credit Exhausted
The committee declares that urgent
reasons for change in the system of
government are appasent. In discuss-