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In the News this is Mayors Conference is the twenty ninth in the series of monthly programs designed to help you better understand the problems of the city of New York and how the city government is meeting these problems today Mayor Robert F. whitener meet with metropolitan newsman to answer their spontaneous questions answered a fair questions from Paul Kroll of the New York Times Mr Merrick when is the board of espers going to hold that public hearing on the question of putting floor and drinking water from right back master of the Long Island Mr Man City coordinator Robert Moses indicated when the last hour in a press conference that he thought all of the regional not of such as how to approach and so forth should be handled by the state level and not by the Metropolitan regional conference Marvin sweeper of the New York Journal American Mr Mayor within the last couple of weeks your commissioner Tennessee has cited one councilman for an apparent violation of the city charter and another for a technical violation and view is that do you favor a code of ethics to supplement the city charter as it reads. From radio and television newsman gave President Mr Mayor do you have any objection to the T.V. cameras filming public proceedings of the Board of Estimate. Thank you gentlemen for questions before we get into the answering of those questions and any further questions that I'm sure you have just like to take this opportunity to indicate to the people of the service that we have been using and I think very effectively over the past few years in the field of health we all know that health is a very important phase of our life and we do know that one phase of our medical program has been most successful as most of them have been but fight against tuberculosis has been a continuing one and we must continue to relentlessly to try to eradicate TB from our city. We do know that TB is the tenth. Cause of places a cause of death among our population and we do know too that the disease itself is one that causes great disruption in family life very costly to the wage earner. And also very costly to cure and now what we have been trying to do is to get at the. Incipient stage we do know roughly that there are some ten thousand people walking around the city with some stage of TB without knowing it themselves and therefore what we have done is to attack this problem in two ways One is to see that we X. ray Ah patients in our hospitals and the other way is mass surveys mass X. ray treatment in one nine hundred fifty six for instance we gave over seven hundred thousand chest X. rays fifty two percent increase over fifty five and in that way we're now beginning to be able to get to these people who not knowing they had this disease being cured in a number of ways in our hospitals. And at home or bed patients in hospitals many of them of course as I said first in hospitals come to the hospital for their cure every few days or depending on what the doctors prescribe but we have been able to in that way attack this problem and I asked the cooperation of all of our people because we have had instances where people are told that they have incipient TB or in a more advanced stages who are frightened and fail to come for the treatment we wish they would because in that way we can catch this disease. Right at the beginning and they have to give that person the opposite. To have a healthy life and also prevent that person from spreading it to others and I know if we have that help we're going to have a finer and healthier city and I know that Dr Leona Baumgartner in the health department who are doing a good job with the cooperation can do an even better one and I want to take this opportunity if I can before we get into the question period because sometimes we have been too much time left at the end. Of fellow citizens here in the US A very very happy and holy Christmas and a new year of prosperity and peace here and throughout the world now I'm ready for the questions. Last summer you express yourself personally in favor of adding Florence to US cities drinking a lot of the peace of the residents of cities New York particularly children prevent tooth decay and you said the matter would be taken up by the Board of Estimate and a little later indicated that the board wouldn't pass it along for referendum which would take the responsibility you indicated then that there would be hearing on it before the board sometime in October. What is the prospect for. First of all there was some there was a request for the hearing during the summer and I think everybody agreed both the propellants and the ponens that the summit would not be the best time because many people and therefore would not have had the opportunity to express themselves then there was some talk of. There was a campaign going on as I think some of you remember I remember anyway and. Everyone felt that that wouldn't you couldn't consider the proposition and the objective light problem such as this deserves and I believe that within the next few weeks the board meetings will indicate that we should have that hearing very shortly as feeling that the board should settle as a matter of policy without a referendum when I do there was some question raised as to whether. It was legally proper now that someone said they had an opinion from the Cooperation Council as I understand it though he has not rendered an opinion as to whether that is a proposition which we could submit to the people on a referendum and there is some question too as to whether that is the kind of a problem which the governing body must take the responsibility for now I believe that we in these hearings the board will take an object of point of view and we'll want to hear all sides both sides full opportunity to discuss it. For you. The city to have a referendum would you favor a referendum I don't know unless Let's hear the arguments I'm not one of those who feel that as an elected official that if I can find some out from taking a position on the matter thing to send it to the people if there are good arguments for such a referendum it's legal I'm sure would be glad to but I don't think it should be used as a device for a public official from shirking his responsibility of making a decision those questions from sleeper now Frank McMaster Mr Merrick within the hour. Indicated regional problems such as salutes and then the. Construction of. Should be met at the state level and not taken up by the Metropolitan regional conference do you agree with that but I don't know what they said it had to do with a regional conference and athletic. Well. So far I have great admiration as I've said before of Bob Moses I don't agree with him on everything and sure he doesn't agree with me on everything but we still have that friendship and admiration and he's done good commission and. I do feel that the regional conference is something that. Is here to stay we all realize the elected officials of the metropolitan New York metropolitan region feel that they can do a great deal working together rather than. Separately and many problems that they can bring up and work out without going to the state and there are other problems that they can bring to the states attention and the various states the three states New Jersey Connecticut and New York and that. The greater opportunity to receive consideration from those states legislatures understand that the public officials the elected local officials are vitally interested in the solution that we can't possibly even working voluntarily as we are among ourselves solve these problems without state help but I think they must take a good part of the initiative the elected local elected officials and I may say too that in many instances we need help from the federal government but again with a unified group of public officials working as I say voluntarily together I think they have a greater opportunity of getting federal and state legislation Marvin's sleep getting back to my opening question about the two councilman who've been cited by your commissioner just a Geisha and one for an apparent violation of the city charter another for a technical violation conflict of interest private businesses and their duties as a councilman would you favor a code of ethics that's been suggested on an earlier radio show today by Harris Kline a former member of the transit authority that might be the answer to it just like it is on the state level well I suppose code of ethics are all right. I've often said that. I remember the code of ethics business in the state was started by Tom Dewey a little while ago after they had scandals up there in Albany and we never had codes of ethics during the administrations of Smith and Roosevelt and Lehman in Albany. Because it's up to the individual code of ethics if everyone feels that's proper is fine I think everyone should have high ethics in public life as well as in private life but some people think that's helpful that's all right what I do think more important phase and that sets an easy out this code of ethics business is for the council as they say they're going to resolution which was overlooked I think by the public that they are now going to sit down and have public hearings here public officials here groups. That are interested in government or individuals. Drawing up and clarifying in the charter just what Councilman can and cannot do as far as private businesses are concerned everybody knows clearly what he can or can't do we have an instance here with the councilman Murphy where it was purely a technical violation there was no wrongdoing involved and the commissioner of investigations has so stated and their stated that this should be clarified as to what he can and cannot do now I think that that's very important and I do believe that then councilman will know exactly where they stand and of a code of ethics is a good idea and it's been suggested not by Mr KLEIN It's been suggested by many others over the past few weeks the council feels that that's proper. About the city charter in the city try to make it. Very clear that a councilman cannot be employed by a firm that does any business with the city Well I think you've got to clarify. And I don't want to at this time judge what the council should do it's not my position to do that I'd be glad if they asked me in their meetings to get some thoughts from me I'd be glad to do it but here you have an instance as I understand it councilman Murphy who was working for a company long before he was elected to the council in an area and that company's business that had nothing to do with the city's business and then apparently his company did some work in another phase of their operations is no indication that the councilman in any way tried to influence anybody he just happened to be in the plots and phase of their operation on another phase of their operations for the city on I think it has to be clarified because you're going to find if you. Just have no room for people. Who are successful in business in the professions to run for the council in the whole purpose is to try to get a higher level person in the council if possible and people who just want to rely on that. Amount of money. Not think of it as a public service on the case of the other councilman councilman Quinn who did appear before the board of standards and appeals. In the interests of his private real estate business that was a. Parent file ation of the city charter I said. Tonight the more specific. Should make it just as specific as possible so everybody would counsel in the public how far they can go. The commissioner of investigations said it was a parent he said it was a violation. Well apparently this report what do you think ought to be done about councilman Clint Well I don't think it's fair for me to comment on that right now because express my support of the commissioner of investigations report and the matter is now before a grand jury and I think in all fairness and on the American system we shouldn't comment on it while it's in that position certainly I'm not a member of the council He's a member of that body. I ask you a hypothetical question leaving Mr Quinn out of it do you think that Stern disciplinary action should be taken against any councilman or other city official violates the city charter and I don't think we should. We should limit any question of taking action against the councilman. Public elected public officials I have said and my philosophy and policy is that if anyone does anything wrong in the city of my jurisdiction we should take stern action and. The elected officials to and I'm sure that's the failing of the council as a matter of fact interesting to note that the proposal of the majority members of the Council two weeks ago was much stronger for an investigation than the one adopted the other day when they adopted the Republican policy everybody the press and everybody else was talking about the fact that it was a whitewash and so forth and urged them to adopt the proposal of Stanley Isaacs and they turned around and adopted a policy of the proposal to stand the Isaacs and all I said was three reiterate what the commissioner of investigations can do anyway. But Mr Mayor and Mr Isaacs original amendment to that resolution he called for the investigation of each and every city councilman and is written and then when it finally came on the floor of the council the EACH AND EVERY had been crossed out and any had been substituted which waited a much weaker resolution with this resolution so you have had a private caucus with the Democrats before they came out onto the floor and when he was asked if he had been pressured to change the if in any to any he said I won't say but I had never heard of any pressure do you know of any pressure Well we asked him and he wouldn't say Well I got it pretty rough to make an accusation without any backing if you know that he pressure well why didn't the passengers original film you had on which was I a good for I don't know what you have to ask Mr ISAACS I think but unless you know of some pressure that's a pretty rough accusation from what I told my heart I think that the list councilman Isaacs dealt with he had made his point and that the council was not going to investigate itself he had the feeling and I personally think with some justification the committee of five Council is going to investigate. Each and every member of the council somebody might say How about the five. Well I think that they accepted the other the other men yes that we have caused and said that we were willing to. Talk ministration to give them full service is a commission of investigation and the services of the cooperation council or any other department or any individual to assist in any way that I take it your policy. Matters a call to your attention or to the attention of the commission investigation on the information. That will be the usual investigation. Pretty clearly thinking and policy with respect to what's happening in the city council came to light last week story that number of men I think six at least six. Labor leaders have been carried on the payroll of the proper sanitation. Workers good Union men and they did nothing for the pay they received from the city. I think. I think it was the contention. Of sanitation that these men. Doing some labor relations work and settling some problems and brought this practice had been going on since the time of John Mitchell I understand some thirty five forty years. Under another name another name but it has been it's been known that. Apparently that was what the commissioner said and when it was brought to our attention that these men were not doing their job they went right back to work the next day. They are not so much. Point very clear that up right away I think the point of that situation is that these men may have been doing splendid labor relations work but the point is a somebody must certify the payroll they work so many hours a day for the city at least thirty of. The work. I would have to go into a little further maybe maybe one of these things over the years has been a practice which is now been cleared up and I think that's one thing that's been passed over in this everybody's talking a lot about custom and I think. That you plan to do anything about it. We have the Commission investigation has been in there as a matter of fact I understand that the district attorney is. Going with Mr MacMASTER was just talking about the mayor and of course we're living in a changing world and radio and television have an increasing function to perform in journalism. Like to ask you whether you have any objection to T.V. cameras filming public proceedings of the. Public interest I certainly have no objection we've always allowed them to come in since I've been mayor when they've made any requests we're glad I think it's a good thing as a matter of fact that's why we broadcast our all of our hearings on the capital budget on the expense budget so we'll allow the people of the city on the city station. Would be glad to have any other station be interested in it because in that way the people can understand the problems of the sea. In the problems the city officials face and try to work out a budget Thank you gentlemen been down there know that most everyone comes in there looking for an increase to the budget not too many come in with any suggestions the other way there are some of course and the more information that can be brought to the people through the press through the radio through T.V. I think is a done Coast something for the city and for the I had an ulterior motive as you may have guessed and that is that the council kept radio on television or barred television camera crews from its meeting. In that letter last week and I understand the council president was also a member of the Board of Estimate has no objection to that makes as a politician's of the moment that makes six votes with yours and other words if we get the three more votes than we were permitted to go into the Board of Estimate anytime at any time where because we've got there's a problem any disrupt everything in there but I think it can be worked out in an orderly way I'd be glad to have the command. I think the most members on board what I haven't talked to him How do you feel about them coming into the city council and doing the saying well I'm not a member of the city council or a separate body and they can make their own rules and regulations and what reasons they have had for such a rule I don't know but if I was a councilman I would vote to allow them in I expected you to say that that's why I started with a part of. The more important legislative body anyway I'll come back to the. System as I never get it in the joint committee appointed by the governor and yourself to go into the school relationships between the states had a rather rocky time with this report and everybody is. Hit hard at the proposal for city income tax for tolls on the bridges but the report itself as I read it spoke of those things as a sort of a last resort. Do you find anything any material in that report that you think is constructive. Because what they did in the number of areas. Back up the contentions that the city has made over the past two years up in Albany. Showing that we have not been receiving what we think is a full share of state aid and in some areas we have been discriminated against particularly on share of the. Tax and the gasoline tax number of other areas I do think that part of their material can be very useful in the future too and for the discussions that will certainly take place when the constitutional convention meets in the in the next within the next few years think that the proposal such as removing the. Real estate tax limit for our narry budget purposes are modifying the constitutional limits on borrowing power something. That ought to be treated by a constitutional convention right now that's right we. Are in such condition here in the city that finance is good we don't need any of those powers but you get down to again two fundamental question as to whether legislators from upstate should have so much to say over the affairs of the city of this size. After all where the ones who are responsible to the people and if they don't like what we do have the opportunity at the next election to change things but I take it then you agree with the basic conception of that report as I read it and that is that's right I should be given broad taxing and financial powers and carry along there with the broader responsibility that's correct organizing one's abilities now of running the city and we should have the powers and the people here very strong. And said this is a matter that perhaps would be best baited in a constitutional convention where you could get a ways to some extent from the political phases and something that we don't need at this time. On taxes. Do you agree with City Councilman Robert on casting the only vote was voted against the budget was adopted as a wondrous colleagues. This administration didn't stop didn't spend less money and then it has in the past three and a half years and what they're actually approving is not capital budget for next year but on income tax I think we're going to come to that speech he made had some sort of political touch too. In an election where as we are approaching another election for. Mayor and the rest of the city officials I don't take those things too seriously we have to expect that from people like that but. I don't know is he for less schools. Cutting out some of these vital services that are needed for the city and I can assure you that there is no thought in anyone's mind in this administration of any income tax for talking about the tax which you mentioned a little while ago control of your office says that he's going to get enough money I think tax I think I mentioned. Share of the motor vehicle things which is collected by the state. Well in reference to the auto use tax which you. Gave some indication it might be you might be able to drop your last campaign. The controller says that we're getting enough money in from the sales tax now to possibly be able to use tax. One who can give us the figures. Or an estimate as to what he can collect I think we have to wait until those final figures around the time of the preparation of the expense budget I haven't seen any indication that this being collected at that rate be glad to get it from the. Members of the board. Now in connection with the auto use tax last year and year before and I'm sure again this year we will urge the legislature to give us our share. Of the counties of the state of New. Reimbursement from the tax. Hikes in one of the sort of vehicle tax and the gasoline tax the only five counties receive anything of the five within New York City we say that is not fair we should receive the full amount and we have tied up. The requests for that legislation right in the bill itself with the repeal of the auto use tax if my recollection of control definitely say that. Perhaps even the amusement that would be glad that's something that we will have to figure out when we come to the. Preparing for the expense budget and I'm sure I can assure you that everybody on the board would be delighted to be able to read repeal any number of attacks the actual size of the budget next year to be larger than this year's don't you strike are you over the natural course of events because of the mandatory expenses that the city must assume and the inflationary times in which we live and we also feel that our. Collections will be high so we have no thought whatsoever of any new tax. Going to be one hundred fifty million dollars gap that a minimum in the next five years or so and that the only way to close this gap is by spending less money or we want to spend less more and I'm going to show you we're not going to have any new taxes he was merely setting forth their thinking on it because I don't believe he at the same time as I remember reading the report gave any indications the returns increase to in. Inflationary period when we get our question where do we get this big hundred five million dollars from for another from another nuisance tax you know kind of absent his opinion he's expressing his opinion and I can say this that any if there is any increase this year will be offset by an increase in. Revenues thank you very much and Mr Mayor and gentlemen and savings to thank you for a very interesting and stimulating discussion mayors conference has been presented as a public service by the radio and television stations of New York today Mayor Robert F. whitener answered spontaneous questions from Paul Kroll of the New York Times Frank McMaster of the London of the Long Island Press Marvin sleeper of the New York Journal American. Radio and television newsman pressman.