New-York tribune., 1917-11-27
"AI" Smith Stays Away
From Meeting and Calls
on Murphy Instead
Plan to Eliminate
Gary School System
Superintendent Invited to
Suggest How Change
Can Be Effected

One Of the murphy boys" was absent
yesterday at the meeting Of the incom.
ing Board of Estimate at the Office OF
Mayor-elect Hylsn. so East Forty-sec-
ond Street. Sheriff "Al" Smith. Presi-
dent-elect of the Board Of Aldermen
went TO Good Ground to confer with
Chief Charles +. Murphy, who cut his
vacation short and returned from
French Lick Springs Friday.
1t was learned that Mr.. Smith re-
turned to the city long before the
Board of Estimate meeting adjourned,
but went to his home instead of going
to 80 East Forty-second Street. where
he has acted as the mouthpiece for the
Mayor-elect at ell the previous meet
ngs of the new board. The Sheriff's
absence led to the report that already
ONE differences Of opinion had arisen
between the new Mayor and the Tam
many members-elect of the new Board
~ Estimate.
Connolly tne SPOKESMAN
Maurice Z. Ccrrol!v. who was re-
elected Borough President Of Queens,
acted as spokesman FOR the board IN
the absence of Sheriff Smith. All OF
the other members, with the exception
Of Controller-elect Charles J.. Craig,
who is in Florida, were present.
At the meeting Of the new board last
week Sheriff Smith announced that
pf
Of salaries and elimination of certain
boards and committees connected with
The Board of Estimate would be pre-
sented by President Frank l.. Dowllng
of the Board Of Aldermen at yester-
DAVIS meeting. The schedule did not
materialize, and the matter was not
discussed, according TO Mr.. Connolly
President Bowling left the meeting by
a side door before it adjourned. 1t was
assumed that some hitch had arisen
in regard 70 the newa boards future
nolicy in the matter OF economy IL
hat direction.
There was considerable speculation
among some Of the political leaders
YESTERDAY as to what the alignment OF
the new board would be in case a de,
cided split should develop. A factlonal
control Of a majority Of the sixteen
.otes in the board seemed TO depend
upon the side with which Controller
elect Craig would stand with his three
votes.
Craig to Balance Power
without counting Mr.. Craig's votes
Il was suggested that the members
would take sides, in the event OF real
oreak. in the following manner: Mayor
Uvlan. 8 votes; Borough President ID
vsrd Riecelmann of Brooklyn, No'es'
borough President Calvin D. Van Naihs
Of Richmond. / vote; total, b Votes'
u, the opposite side: Alfred T.. smith;
President of the Board OF Aldermen
votes; Borough President Downing
votes; Borough President BrucKner Oh
the Bronx, l vote, and Borough Fresi,
dent Connolly, l vote, a totaI "a
votes. That would leave the Dalahce ol
mower with Controller Craig.
Borough President Connolly SAID that
he chief matters under discussion at
vesterdav's meeting were the cltys coal
srnnly and the development OF Iuturc
cisp 81 education in the public schoois.
A. irveetipation Will be started rlght
.,ya,. he said, 10 determine what tA-
.,al .,,up,v IN the city would Dc Whtn
the incoming board takes once OF
Wsvor-eiect Hylan was Of the
oninion. Nr. Connolly declared, tha1
ne educational system in the city
ought 10 be primarily in the hands OF
Skilled end experienced educators, par
ticularly the associate and olstrlc'
superintendents Of schools. Inc mem
hers were Of the opinion that the gary
system should be eliminated whereVer
POSSIBLE without lnconveniencihg 'he
,11f a
The associate and district superin'
t.odents of the schools Will be invited
.o attend the meeting Of the new ooarc
,aturdav and offer advice srd max.
suggestions.
Nixon May Succeed Woods
In reply 10 questions in regard &c
proposed cuts in the 1918 pudeet DA
.be Roard of Aldermen, President Con
LII I'D that the matter was not dis
cussed in detail yesterday. Referring
IN The attitude generally of the mem
bers NJ the new board, he said:
"This board does not feel obligated
,,bere money has been appropriated fol
an ofice or a project, TO appoint maj
20 that Office or 20 approve OF appro
Lewis Nixon. shipbuilder and forme'
leader of Tammanv Hall, was men
toned by tho slate-makers at tty4@l
besdcuartcrs Yesterday ~ the .ates
candida. FOR Police Comm.ssi sioner. Iht
report prevailed that Mayor-elect rs
land had switched from consideration
OF Bird S. Coler, former Borough Pres
dent Of Brooklyn, for the place TO Mr.
Nixon. II was said that Mr.. Coler wa!
now being considered as COMMISSIONS
Of Charities Asked about the Nixor
report, Judge Hylsn declared EN-
phaticslly that he had made no selec
tion for Police Commissioner or an!