New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-24
Weak on Facts

Judge Hylan's speech of acceptance OF
the Tammany nomination for Mayor
(camoufaged by ignoring Tammany in
the notification ceremonies and playing up
the Democratic Fusion Committeeo re-
veals nothing new in the line of attack
on Mayor Mitchel's administration. Ihat
is probably because the Democrats already
have said the worse they could, and all
they could, against it. At any rate, the
issues, as the Tammany candidate presents
Them. are domination of the local govern
ment hv special interests" and the Rookie
teller Foundation, the Gary school sys-
TEN, Ubiquitous real estate deals and high
taxes.
So far as innuendo and assertion, I'M
backed by statements of fact susceptible
Of proof, were concerned, Judge Hylans
yreech was good-for those who like that
kind Of speech. He made the mistake,
however. fatal TO the maker of that brand
Cf platform utterance, of venturlng into
the realm of tolerably specific declaration
at one point in his discourse. Said he:
say to the people of New York that #
the Mitchel-Prendergast Board OF Esti-
mate had not wasted sl200000O on use
less courthouse and civic centre site; II
they had not wasted $1,2O0,OO0 on the pur-
! chase from William II. Reynolds Of land
/ for the marginal railroad; if they had not
wasted 81 100000 on the purchase from
Reynolds and his associates of Dreamland
/ Park; if they had not wasted $l,2OOOOO on
4 l. i,
ciates Of Ncponsit Park, at Rockaway
/ Point; if they had not wasted over ST.
100000 in rents through the untimely de-
! struction of the Municipal Building in
/ Brooklyn; if they had not wasted count
/ less thousands in the importation of so
/ called efficiency experts and in fads and
/ fancies-I say if they had not conducted
/ the business affairs of the city in this
! prohigate manner, there would be no need
/ for an increase in taxation and rents.
There would be plenty of money in the
citv's treasury to complete new school
/ houses and provide seats at school for
every child, instead of attempting TO care
for the children on a double-time make
/ shift system called the Gary plan. There
would long ago have been money enough
/ in the city treasury TO initiate system
of municipal ownership and operation of
( public utilities.
In other words, if the Mitchell admins
tration had not wasted" something over
( SIC, 100000 and the indefinite sum Of
countless thousands" Judge Hylan insists
to the voters of the community that taxes
would not have risen, there would be
money enough in the city treasury to wipe
cut the part time evil on the old basis Of
providing a seat for every school pupil
all the time, and there would still be
enough to begin the taking over of public
service corporations for municipal own
'arship and operation.
The absurdty, if not mendacity, Of such
statement is beyond characterization.
II is obvious that, even if SIC, 100000 and
countless thousands" made some differ
ence in one years tax levy, the sum would
rot go far toward the acquisition of the
Interborough- metropolitan traction sys-
tenn, or the B. r. r., or the Edison Com
pany, or the Consolidated Gas Company.
Even to initiate" system of municipal
ownership costs a lot of money. What
Il would cost to carry 1t through probably
Judge Hylan's fertile imagination would
hesitate to set down.
But there is no need TO go into con-
lectures. The Board of Education, not 50
many months ago. requested the sum of
S44,OO0,OOO for new schools and additions
TO schools in order to do away with part
time study and provide n seat for each