New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-08
GET WORK GOING
GARY URGES CITY
Tells Mitchell $1,000, 900
in Pending Contracts
Awaits Voorhees,.
MAYOR APPROVES
IMMEDIATE START
Prendergast Denies Delays and
Blames Unions for Raising
Alien Labor Issue.


work amounting to more than S5,OOO,-
coo on pending city contracts which
can be accomplished during the winter
months, Ebert II. Gary, chairman OF
the executive committee Of the Com
mittee on Unemployment, has written
to Mayor Mitchell suggesting that tins
work be got under way as soon as pos
sible.
THE executive committee does not
regard II wise 10 urge new and spe-
clal public undertakings to give en-
ployment," wrote Mr.. Gary. But IT
urges most earnestly that every ef-
fort be made 10 work a double benefit
by executing all contemplated public
works at this time Of distress. If. for
example, 1t is proposed to commence
operations on the new courthouse in
the near future il would be helpful If
the work of execution could be begun
at once"
81 heartily approve" says the
Mayor in his reply, "of the action that
has been taken by the executive com
mittee of the Committee on UnemplOy-
ment, and | will submit the sugges-
tions to the Board of Estimate.
have received schedules which show
pending contracts and list Of 100000 900
OF work that can be done in the win
ter months"
Mr.. Gary spoke Of il as n fortunate
TACT that two of the largest public
undertakings in the history not only
OF the city, but also of the world,
happen to be under way. He referred
TO the Catskill aqueduct system and
the new rapid transit lines. There are
5000 on the former and more than
10000 on the latter work.
1t was suggested that. if il were
possible, employment on the new city
work be given only to persons who
were citizens of New York.
A statement prepared for the com
mittee by City Chamberlain Bruerc
states that there are pending contracts
for general improvements amounting
to about 100000 OF that number
about S5.500,000 worth can be done in
the winter months and Sl.000,000 can
be started almost Immediately.
Writing to Mr.. Gary yesterday, in
reference TO statement sent 10 HIM
by the welfare committee of the Citl-
zens Union, recently, in regard TO the
possibility of the city proceeding at
once with work under contract, Con
troller Prendergast said:
II deem it my duty as the financial
officer Of this city TO tell you that
most of the important statements made
in the communication Of the Citizens
Union are wildly inaccurate and based
upon entire ignorance Of the city's
financial condition. Not only as an
officer, but as a citizen, ! very earnest
~ deprecate the dissemination OF false
informal on. which would be wrong at
any time. but particularly so at pres
ent. when il is the duty Of men 10
deal with facts and avoid every pos
sible circumstance that might add to
the general unrest and hysteria due
10 unfavorable business conditions.
The gist of the Citizens Union case
is contained in the following sentence
which | quote from its letter:
"The last available report OF the
corporate stock issues shows that 81 o.
ISL, 829 50 has been authorized Tor me
various public works. but not issued.
The Controller then went on 70 snow
that there existed on September 80, the
date used by the Citizens Union, un-
encumbered balances of authorization
amounting to S104,664,775. Of that
amount s57,6S4,761 was for rapid tran.
sit and ss,668 ,233 for the Board OF
Water Supply. ~
Going further. he showed that the
unencumbered authorizations for all
purposes had since been reduced to
$40 .097. O3g. Part of these, he said, re-
ferred 10 work that needed further IN
vestigation, because there seemed TO
no unouestionable evidence that the
CITY ought not to undertake the WORK
at all. IL
not been delaying its work the CON
troller pointed out that between sep
tember 80 and December 81 his once
certified contracts amounting TO 81
q2g 675. and that S11 10000 more would
Lave been certified had il not been for
the fact that the labor unions had
taken this most unfortunate time 10
force an issue on the alien labor law.
The conference committee from ZOo
trade unions. East Side Jewish Fedora
t;or and Protective and Benevolent as
soc;ations to arrange for opening soup
Kitchens for the destitute unemployed
renorted last night that 1t had engaged
Odd Fellows Hall. IS FORSYTH ST.
where the first Of the soup Kitchens
will be opened in two days.
The kitchen is q large one on me
oround floor. The other parts OF the
buildine will be used as depot from
which groceries and provisions Will be
supplied to needy families Of unem-
nIoyed. II was also reported that a
committee Of twenty-five will send out
wa~nns to-day, each wagon to be ac-
companied by member Of the com
roittee who will ask for contributions
from storekeepers to add TO the pro-
,ie $50 which may be bought. The com
rnittce will make its first report to-
day as to its success in getting contrl-
buttons from trade unions and other
bodies toward the relief fund.