New-York tribune., 1918-12-03
Legislative Quiz
Into City Garbage /
Contract Is Urged
State Senators to Introduce
Resolution Asking In
quiry Into $l,OOO-a-Day
Deal Made by Mayor

The Legislature of the State of New
York will be asked to investigate the
$1,000 day contract made by Mayor
Hylan and Street Cleaning Commits
soner A. B. MacStay with the New
York Sanitary Utilization Company. if
the Board of Aldermen fails to make
an inquiry, and Mayor Hylan and other
officials will be summoned as witnesses.
Governor elect Smith who is a mem
Der of the Board of Estimate it is be-
lieved, will demand that he be heard
IN any state Legislative investigation
Friends of the Governor elect have said
he knew nothing of the proceedings
that led up to the making of the CON
tract
The determination to ask the Legis-
lature to investigate was reached after
several conferences between New Yo,t
City members of the State Legislature
and representatives of the Board Of
Aldermen.
After 1T became known that Mayor
Hylan had failed to give what those
behind the investigation regard as
full and complete" information con-
corning the contract in his communi-
cation yesterday to the Board of AL
dermen, one of the conferrees said
that an investigation obviously was
necessary.
Senator to Ask Inquiry
A State Senator of New York CITY
said during the course of a conference
with Alderman Squiers:
This garbage contract is a matter
which requires investigation, and when
the Legis ature organizes during the
first week of January | shall intro
Init
vestigation of the entire affair by
either a joint legislative committee or
by Senate Investigating committee. ."
Alderman Squiers has a resolution
before the Board of Aldermen looking
toward a thorough investigation. The
resolution has been in the Rules Com
mittee for a week. Alfred Z. Smith.
President of the Board of Aldermen
and Govcrnor-elect is chairman of this
committee. Mr.. Smith, has not attend
ed any of the board meetings for up
ward of month";, however, so that he
is not actually responsible for the
failure of the Rules Committee to re-
port on the Squiers resolution. Robert
l.. Moran, acting president of the
board, and the ranking member of the
committee, has acted as chairman.
Will Press Resolution
81 intend to press my resolution"
said Mr.. SQuiers last night. 81 believe
there is chance of passing it and
getting the necessary money to CON- @
duct this investigation, which, | am
sure. will reveal a situation which
will startle the city.
ut is singular" he continued, chat
the Mayor held up this report until
within two hours of meeting of the
Board of Aldermen in special session to
consider the budget for 1919. What I
would like to know is why the budget
carried the enormous total of 5000. 900
camouhaged under an item labelled
'hnal disposaP2 Who was afraid in the
Administration that, in view of the
garbage deal, an increase of 81, ,639. TAT
Tor final disposal would have provoked ID
criticism ?"
The item "fnal disposal" covers the
cost of garbage and ash removal. This
year it cost less than 81 400 900.
Part of this sum, it is said, repre-
sents what was to be paid to the New
York Sanitary Utilization Company for
dlsposing of garbage. Under the
Mitchell administration the contracts
with private concerns for the disposal
OF garbage provided that these con
Germs should pay the city in the neigh.
borhood of s25O,OOO year for the
prlvilege-or about $500 a day.