The New York herald., 1921-08-10
Mayor Tells Meyer Commit
tee He Is Too Busy to Keep
Posted and Refers Cues
tions to Craig.
rELPLESS ON STAND
Chairman of Sinking Fund
Commission Four Yea
Bat Knows Nothing
Use Of Revenues.
JUGGLERY POINTED q n
Counsel Of Investigators Says
Appearance Of Solvency Is
Due to Constitutional
Violations.

FRANKLY pleading ignorance Oh CITY
finances, Mayor Hylan declared re-
reatedly yesterday when he took the
witness stand at the opening OF the
Meyer committees investigation of
municipal affairs that II was not HIS
duty to know the condition OF the
public treasury. After he had read a
long statement defending his ad-
ministration and assailing Legislative
interference in city government, the
Mayor spent five hours under cross
examination and throughout took the
to keep posted on city money affairs.
Elon r. Brown, senior counsel for
the committee conducting the hear.
ings read into the record a statement
which bears the Endorsement of the
legislative committee charging in
effect that the city is now and h-s
for the last four years been pr 5ct
cally bankrupt and has maintarea
an appearance OF solvency by viaist
ing the constitutional restriction on
the debt limit.
The debt limit was exceeded W
about 800, 100000 on january l iag
Mr.. Brown declared and, accordin 9
the figures available on July last
was going up.
Ask Duncan-He Knows.
The Mayors attitude and his
fessed ignorance of municipal final
amazed the committee. Evasive lad
uncertain, he hobbled through the
long test, constantly taking refuge IN
his statement that he was the execu-
tive and not the financial officer OF
the city.
Hard pressed for explanations OF
what he understood about the debt
limit, the sinking fund and contractual
obligations, the Mayor said over and
over ngain:
II know in general way. but why
don't YOU call the Comptroller or Dun
can MacInness. the financial expert
They cam tell you"
Finally Mr.. Brown said he would
call Duncan in due season. but first
wanted TO know what the Mavc- Nad
to say. Mr.. Hylan was belligc eng sni
confident when he took the stand Sne
drew out Of his pocket lors state
ment expounding city f1nanc - re-
pudiating the charges made sn le
legislative resolution authoriz@ aNe
inquiry and assaihng the Legs lus.
His position made the open -
Mr.. Brown, who suavely thanl taT
Mayor for the information - ea
in the statement and then asks per-
mission to question Mr.. Hylan 7oti
il a little.
Doesn't Know Debt Limis
The Mayor declared repeated ~
did not know what the debt lirni
when he took Office nor what II is ror
That was the Comptroiler's busioefh
He could not explain what the sinhifs
funds we're and was surprised, ap-
parently. when informed one specia
fund provided only for interest on tho
debt OF old New York before consoli-
dat.on. He has been chairman OF the
Sinking Fund Commission for four /
years. He did not know what use was
made OF water revenues. one Of the big i
sources of city revenue: how little
matter OF ss2.50o.0oo was transferred ,
from ono fund 10 another with an az
parent charge OF $4,000. 600. He never
investigated the figures relating TO
bonded debts but kept ON making ap-
propriations just the same.
Gradually the belligerent and as- .
rressive Mayor OF the first hour sub
sided into timid and reluctant Mayor
who paused long before answering any
question. end more often than answer
ing declared frankly he did not
know" could not remember" or
would nave to look il up AT his
elbow sat q clerk who Is a :inancia!
expert acting as prompter at every
point possible, until Mr.. Brown prc-
tested and asked the Mayor to stand
on his own feet.
II The committee the Mayor also had
partisan supporters who fought hard 70
act as buffers. James 7 Walker, Tam
many sena OIL was the leader ~ tho
minority. and once his interruption
nearly started an uproar. The sympa
,hies OF tic audience appeared 10 b. With
the Mavot. There was big applause
Nhon walisor defended the Mayor and
when Mr. ilyian told now hard he was
WORKING every day. there was more APP
plause. BIT the hearing lacked speetac-
ulsr outbursty. and the crowd. which
dlled the Aldcrmanic chamber the nrst
few houre. dwindled gradually.
Near the close OF the examination