The sun., 1915-05-29
800 PUPILS PLEAD
FOR RIVER BATHS
Prendergast Objects. Saying
City Can't Afford to
Spend $4,000.
STAND STIRS AN OUTCRY

II Comptroller Prendergast ever runs
for Mayor OF the School City-an organ
.zation through which civil government
is taught practically in the grammar
grades--he Is likely 20 be showed under
unless tho children's memories are as
shor, as those OF most grownup voters.
Three hundred OF the small citizens
,rooped before tho Board OF Estimate
yesterday to plead for the continuance
OF eight floating baths around Manhat-
tan Island. and the rebufY they got from
the Comptroller was sharp and complete.
He would have none OF the baths be-
cause. In his opinion. the city could not
afford the requisite $4,000 appropria-
ton. lie also said that the children
had no business at the City Hall--that
in school hours they ought 10 be in
school. He argued SO bluntly that ye!ls
Of Put him out OF office." "Impeach
him." and ''He isn't At to represent the
children but by men who sympathized
with them. In fact there was such a
hubbub that acting Mayor McAneny
E'oy clear the room II IL wasn't stopped.
Borough President Marks was strong
for the floating baths, He said there
was no danger OF any OF them springing
"A leak and letting in foul river water
TO pollute the limpid Croton. as one Of
them did last year. He disagreed with
a report OF a joint committee OF the
Board OF Estimate and the Board OF
Health that the interior bathhouses
scattered about the city were sufficient
for the needs OF the poor.
'To swim in the open air and sum
shlne--that's what the boys want" he
said. Where can they do II? II they
jump into the river they are arrested.
What are they TO do? The floating
baths are in parts of tho city where no
interior baths with sufficient accommo.
dations are accessible"
The School City pushed forward sew
eral boys and girls as spokesmen. One
OF them. Alfred Losensky. who Is asso-
ciate judge in School 20. Is blind.
II can't see the sun shine" he said,
but plead for those who can"
Other four foot officials OF the School
City. from mayor down to process
servers. had their say. Big folks also
bespoke floating baths-among them
DR. Simon Baruch. James p Holland.
Assistant School Superintendent: Ed
ward w. Stltt. Robert Crosby. william
Lustgarten and Col. Frank Hines. Su-
per!ntendent OF Public Buildings OF the
real city. Some of these spoke OF the
relation between swimming opportunity
and better morals.
Comptroller Prendergast applauded
the children's oratory. but said ne wss
not convinced.
he said. THE teachers salaries go on
Just the same"
THE children ought to be here" re-
torted President Marks. 1T Is good
for them TO come here and see what the
city is doing. 1t Is "A main part OF
their civic training"
ITS monkeyshines. someb body
grunted and the Comptroller said: Yes,
that's a good word-inonkeyshines.
MY objection does not rest on any
ground OF health" he went on. ~ sim
ply do not believe that this expenditure
Is necessary this year. We have got to
stop spending somewhere, We must re-
trench. and tho inland batha are suf-
fcient Anyway. going into bath
doesn't mako a person moral ! doubt
II the moral standards here are az high
to-day as they were years ago when
there were no public baths. Public baths
are not necessary to cleanliness To be
clean only requires the inclination. soap.
water and towels. All this demonstra-
tion has no effect on me. Police and
penitentiary records prove that improve
ments such as these do not decrease
lawlessness. These baths are a diver
sion. not a necessity"
"rhere IL no question but that they
are among the measures which have cut
the death rate In half" said Acting
Mayor McAneny.
Better sanitation has done that" re-
piled the Comptroller.
AT the request OF Mr.. Marks the board
postponed a vote for ono week Mr.
Marks said he hoped to have the Comp
troller converted In that time.
my mind Is made up" Mr.. Prender-
CAST said firmly. 1T won't be changed
by next week."
The money cannot be appropriated
without thu hoa rd,s Una nj rnnus vatA