The New York herald., 1921-12-19
Repeal of Mandatory Legis-
lation Fixing Charges
Is Demanded.
FINANCIAL DISASTER SEEN
First Report to Charter Re-
vision Committee Opposed
by Minority.

In its first report to the Charter Re-
vision Committee, made public yester-
day, the Meyer legislative investi-
eating committee recommended the
abolishment of the Board of Estimate
and the Sinking Fund Commission
and the establishment of q board of
finance in lieu thereof
The recommendation is the first
fruit of four months of investigation
OF the city government, and is based
upon the conclusion that separation
OF the appropriating power from the
spending power is essential to save
the city from "foreshadowed financial
disaster"
The report also recommended that all
mandatory legislation fixing charges
upon the city for local services be re
pealed and that legislation of that
character be restrained in the future
by constitutional amendment.
1t was indicated that further re-
ports with other recommendations are
TO follow.
Although Mayor Hylan intimated
last summer he would support. a rec
,ommendation from the Meyer commit
! tee ending mandatory legislation, a
minority report OF the Democratic
members of the committee yesterday
i, showed they are prepared for war
against the whole proposed program.
II is certain the Hylan administration
will fight any effort to disrupt the
present arrangement whereby the
Tamnlapy Board Of Estimate. conf
posed as it Is of department heads and
those responsible for department
heads. both appropriates and spends
the city's money.
The Meyer committees proposal Is
ro leave In the offices comprising
The Board of Estimate and the Sink
ing Fund Commission such spending
powers as they now possess. but to
place all appropriatlng power in the
hands OF the proposed board Of finance.
elected by the people and who would
deal solely with the city's finances.
Nine Elective Members.
The Board of Finance would be COM
nosed OF three members from Manhat-
tan. three members from Brooklyn and
one each from the other boroughs. The
board would be elected I'm the 1928 cleo
ton and three vacancies would occur
every two years thereafter. The Meyer
committee stated as an additional rea-
ron for that recommendation It's belicf
that the voters OF the city should have
opportunity every two years to speak
directly and exclusively on the financial
ISSUE
The Democratic members I'm the
minority report not only turned down
that proposition but countered with the
proposal that in view of the Hylan vic
tory at the polls last month the Meyer
committee should do nothing at all
about charter revision until Mayor Hy-
Ian took a whirl at II.
Tho only official position in the Board
Of Estimate and Sinking Fund Com
mission which the committee proposed
10 abolish outright is President of the
Board of Aldermen. providing instead
the election of presiding officer by the
Aldermen themselves.
However. within two years the fol-
lowing officials whose four year terms
begin January would be shorn Of their
nppropriating powers as members OF the
TWO boards TO be abolished:
In the Board OF Mayor Iy-
Ian, Comptroller Charles l.. Craig. Muir
ray Hubert President Of the Board Of
Aldermen Julius Miller. President Of
tho Borough " Manhattan Edward
HieRelmann. President Of Brooklyn
Maurice y. Connolly. President os
Queens Henry Brirckner President OF
The Bronx. and Matthew Y. Cahnl
President OF Richmond---all Democrats.
u,Isu would Lose Place.
In the sinking Fund Commission
Mayor Hylan Comptroller Craig. Prcsi-
cent hubert tho City Chamberlain.
presumably Philip, Beroizheimer, whom
IN. Mayor is expected to rcappoint and
tho Chairman Of the Finance Committee
~ the Board Of Aldermen. the. i11cum-
bon, being Frank 4. Cunningham--all
Democrats
Presumably Mr.. Hubert would moi
Iose his place as President of the BoarH
nf Aldermen, even " the election were
taken from the hands Of the voters. as
nroposed. slnce the majority OF tho
hoard Is overwhelmingly Tammany.
sfrncugh Mayor Bylnn Is expected TO
fight the abolition of the Sinking Fund
Commission the Mayors testimony be-
fore tho Meyer committee last August
Indicates that It's abolition would re-
f,ove for him source OF much be-
w,iierment Senator Flon T. lirown.
counsel of tho committee. asked Mayor
Continued on Page Six