Charles W. Berry

Charles White Berry (April 11, 1871 – April 30, 1941) was an American physician, soldier, and New York City Comptroller.

Life Berry was born on April 11, 1871, in Catskill, New York, the son of Frank M. Berry and Almira Horn. He moved to New York City with his parents when he was 9. He then began practicing medicine in Brooklyn, devoting much of his time to childhood diseases. He was heavily involved in public health, working for the New York City Department of Health and the New York State Department of Health as a diagnostician and epidemiologist. In 1917, he received a degree in doctor of public health from New York University. He also lectured at several medical schools, including the Belleuve Medical School, New York University Medical School, and Long Island University Brooklyn medical school.

When America was preparing to enter World War I, Berry again enlisted as a private in the 14th Infantry. He was commissioned a major of infantry, transferred to the 106th Infantry, 27th Division, and set sail for France in May 1918. He commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 106th, stationed in the Ypres sector in Belgium. He was then promoted to lieutenant-colonel and transferred to the 105th Infantry. He led the regiment at Dickebusch Lake and the Battle of Vierstraat Ridge. He was second in command of the regiment in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line and the subsequent advance to Canal De La Sambre. After the Armistice was signed, he returned to the United States in November 1918. For his military service, he was awarded the Croix de guerre with Palms, the Conspicuous Service Cross, and was cited for gallantry in action. In the 1920 New York state election, he was the Democratic candidate for New York State Comptroller. He lost to James A. Wendell. In 1923, Smith again appointed Berry Adjutant General of New York. In May 1923, Smith appointed him Major-General, Commander of the New York National Guard, to replace General John F. O'Ryan. He was succeeded as adjutant general by Edward J. Westcott.

In 1925, Berry was elected New York City Comptroller. He served from 1926 to 1933, serving under New York City mayors Jimmy Walker, Joseph V. McKee, and John P. O'Brien. Once he took office, he demanded a definite policy for financing the then-ongoing subway construction and urged it be done with long-term bonds instead of short-term ones. He also proposed a 10-cent subway fare to make the subway self-sustaining and help the city financially, but this proved unpopular. He merged several bureaus for tax collection in the New York City Department of Finance into a single bureau. He saved the city millions in the acquisition for of parks and school sites by ending the old method of acquiring the land through condemnation proceedings, and favored extending the city parks. He was a member of the New York Academy of Medicine, the American Public Health Association, the American Health Association,