The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-08
JUDGE GARY URGES
PUBLIC WORK HASTE
Tells Mayor S5.OO0,000 Worth
Already Authorized Would
Aid Unemployed.
HE WOULD BAR OUTSIDERS

Judge Ebert II. Gary, as chairman OF
the Mayors committee on unemployment.
sent letter to Mr Mitchell yesterday
suggesting that public work already au-
thorized and which may be done in the
winter months should be started at once.
Tho Mayor approved Of the suggestion
and will place Il before tho Board OF
Estimate In his letter Judge Gary
said
The City Chamberlain advises US
that there are in contemplation by the
various departments Improvements OF
"arious kinds which may be begun in
the winter months aggregating approx
matcly s5.oOO.OOO There are in addi-
ton repairs and replacoments OF build
lngs and other public property provided
for in the annual tax budget Of very con-
siderable amounts. many OF which are
now required and may be properly begun
forthwith.
The committee realizes that the city
OF New York Is directly and indirectly
now giving employment to an exceptions
number OF men. The now subway con
struction is employing approximately
! -Nf"NV HAN' WIN HlOAtHly payroll oil
N2.j00,00o. An additional 5000 men arc
being employed on the completion OF the
Ashokan water supply system.
1T is noteworthy and fortunate fact
that the city is executing AT this time
Of industrial depression two OF the largest
public works undertakings in the history
not only OF the city OF New York but
OF any city of the world. These under
itakngs are doing much in legitimat,
way to mitigate distress.
| Tho committee may be permitted Il
| emphasize a fact well known to YOU and
| the members of your honorable board tina,
| prevailing prices OF materials are adyan,
tageous 10 economical construction at thi:
time.
| May We in closing urge that, II possi.
| bic, arrangements be made to give EN-.
ployment under municipal contracts pref
| erably to men who are citizens OF New
York in need OF employment and capabl,
| and willing to work? Under no circum
! stances should the unemployed of othel
cities seek to find employment here a
this time By doing so they will only add
10 the distress OF many thouss nds OF un
employed New Workers"
Comptroller Prendergast yesterday de
| scrlbed as wildly inaccurate" the CHI
| Gems Union assertion that tie city In hold
ing up improvements amounting o sis,
lSl,S29 by neglectinG TO issue stock whici
has been authorized The stock author
tied and not already encumbs.ed on Sen
TENDER 30. Mr.. Prendergast said, wa
slO4S6i715, and OF this ;57.6Si,76i wa,
rapid transit authorizations Other tenn
reduce the balance for general purpose
to sl9,0e7,oSs.
"ln further proof OF the fact that III
city has not been delaying It's work" IN
Comptroller said IN a letter to the Mayor
may tell you that during the perlo,
from September 80 10 December 81, 1914
this Office has certified contracts 10 IN
amount of s7,s29,675, This amount Woul,
have been augmented by 1900. 600 /
Il we're not for the fact that the labo
unions have sought this, the most I'M
fortunate OF all times. to force an issu
on the alien labor law matter and IN
Public Service Commission has been com
PEELED to withhold the letting OF contract,
for no successful D,dding could be secure
with this question in an unsettled state.
1T should be understood that tho az
gregate OF contracts certified. as state
above. does not represent by any mean
all the efforts OF the city department
within the last quarter OF the year
, preparing for public work During tina
period contracts representing very larg
sum have been prepared but not adver
tised. This work OF advertising 10 pre-
ceedng all the time"