The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-07-06
MAYOR STRS UP ALDERMEN
MESSAGE on STREET STAND
GRAFT SURPRISES THBN.
Alderman wenael. Named IN IN nxhibR
Attached. Demands an IDquiEy-in-
famous d the word Mayor Applies 60
Extortien Preesssed IN the Business.

Attached. Demands an IDQutPy-ln.
famous u the werd Mayor Applies 60
Ext0rtien Preesssed IN the business.
Mayor oaynor called on the Aldsrns1
yesterday to relieve themselves ard
him from the odium OF being delivered
by the traffickers in permits for stree.
stands. The Aldermen did not rocsivc
the message with enthusiasm. but viii
order an Investigation of the trsfio
The Mayor has been investigating and
has pretty well satisfied himself that
there are both politics and graft in the
business
As the law now stands an application
form has 20 he filed in by the person ask
ing for a stand privilege and the form
must b. signed 10y the Alderman Of the
district and by the owner OF the premises
in front OF which the stand 10 to be placed
II is the custom Of some OF the Alder
men to leave blank forms signed by them
at their clubs and these are issued to the
applicants usually by the district cap
tains. The Aldermen sign the forms
in blank because they don't know and
don't bother 10 find out the names OF
the property owners. VINO should properly
sign first The filing in OF this detail
ia left to the district captains The APP
plicants for a license. it is alleged. arc
not only compelled 10 Join the Alderman
political club and TO pay a years dues
in advance but the district captain who
takes charge OF the individual seeking
a stand privilege has q chance 10 insist
ON a rakeon for his own pocket These
are cases. however. where the graft
amounts to only about % or SO. The
district leaders and Aldermen personally
interest themselves in news stands under
the elevated railroad stairs and in boot
black and fruit stands. the licenses for
which are transferred for a. much a.
from 81 500 to 5000 For the moment
the Mayor il not after these Gases. Il
IL the smaller grating fry that prey
upon the little stand owner whose reve-
nues he now seeks to cut on.
The Aldermen were doing - usual
at their meeting yesterday while the
clerk droned OF the items on the calsn-
dAr when they were stirred into life nv
the appearance Of Robert AdAmson. the
Mayors secretary. with the announce
ment that he had a message from the
Mayor. This was the message. VIII ich
vas at once read:
BY sections So3 Se5 sst and ses Of Tho
Code Of city Ordinances stands for the sale
OF newspapers. periodicals. fruits and
backing OF boots may be licensed by Au-
thority OF the Mayor. such licenses to h.
issued by the Mayors bureau Of licenses.
hut prerequisite prescribed by the said
ordinances to the granting OF such license
IL that the Alderman OF the district in which
I stand II to he located shall give his assent
thereto in writing. Without such consent
IL would seem that the Mayor cannot grant
he license
shortly after became Mayor a woman
who had a licensed newsstand came TO me
and complained and made oath that she
could not get the licen@e removed except
ny the payment OF $3.50 To the political
district captain Of the district In which the
stand was I investigated the matter
and found her statement to be true. A. ]
refused to grant the license to anothe per
son Who was brought forward for II she "
IN possession 81 the stand yet and i likely
20 remain there
shortly after many complaints began to
come 20 me of the same eNtortion by district
political leaders. both Democratic amt
Republican Later on hogan to come COM
plant. that the said district leaders would
not permit the applicant TO get license
until he first Joined the political club NJ the
district. Republican or Democratic. accord
ing to " hiCh party the Alderman Of the dis
triot belonged
/ investigates this matter and found
II 10 he apparently true I annex hereto
a report To the Comptroller made by one
OF his inspectors showing the prsr'ic-,
To prevail and also letter of the head
NJ the bureau of licenses thereon AVID
that both OF them be read With thi,
message
| want TO he understood a. not even
intmating that the members Of your honor
nhl- body are implicated IN this general
eNtortiou n would seem that some rf
YOU are being imposed on. The fact re-
mains. however. that these district leaders
cNtort money for these LICENSES before
hey will consent 10 them. aud In some
way they then get the Alderman of ~.
district to consent to the issuance 81 the
license and then they get the chief of ~"
Mayors bureau 81 licenses 20 issue the
license
The fact il that the members of youT
board and the Mayors bureau &c licenses.
which really means the Mayor him-elf.
are being delivered. as the phrase II, IN the
granting OF these LICENSES for sums rang
Ing from Is To $500 IA each case I arm
sending th.s message to your honorable
Dody to put your honorable members on
heir guard against cou-enting Co any
more of the licenses except H. Gases sbere
Il Is entirely certain that no such extortion
Is being pTactis~d by district leaders Or
other persons Persons applying for these
licenses cannot get them until they join
political club and pay that club = specified
amount Of money. or uGtil they pay some
political captain = prescribed sum OF money.
/, IL too inln NOUS a thing to be permitted
IN continue. ani I ask the privilege of unit
ng With the honorable members Of your
board IN putting On end to 10. II seems
10 me that the system % licensing IL wrong
md should he amended.
The annexed letter Of Chief Oliver of
he bureau Of licenses told about the
'orrns signed an blank by Alderman and
eft at their political clubs and then dis
Tbuted Ivy distric: captains.
In this way said Mr.. Oliver. "a num-
80 Of Intermediates gst Into oootA0s
with the issuance Of tho licenses. and
hc rvsut l. easily concluded. Il n . oom-
400 practice for tho Aldermsn not TO