New-York tribune., 1918-12-07
Z. S. G.. Refused
Annual Fund bv
Estimate Board
Expense Appropriation Is
Rejected Because Detailed
Estimate Was Not Offered
Subway Plans Are Halted
Money for Extension Also
Held Up at The Request
cf Controlled Craig

The Board of Estimate, at its meet
ing yesterday, refused to appropriate
Sf,999.966 for the Public Service Com
mission during the coming year.
The board took this unprecedented
action on motion Of Controller Craig,
Who gave as his reason failure of the
commission to- specify why the money
WIS required.
Later the board. again at the in
stance Of Controller Craig, refused to
appropriate $4,000 600 also asked by
thc Public Service Commission to com
U'etc the dual subway system.
Hamrcrins l. Charged
H. making requisiiio0 FOR the ST.
sea,966 for eXreNses during the com
ne year, Charles Buckley Hubbell
chairman of the commission. charged
the Board of Estimate with hampering
its work by withholding needed funds.
so that it cannot perform its duties
and complete the subways.
Chairman Hubbell said that the COM
mission had been criticised for short
comings in rapid transit conditions
which were directly due to the failure
OF the Board of Estimate to appropri-
ate money for salaries Of experienced
employees.
AN examination Of this requisi-
tion. said Controller Craig. "and a
communication accompanying it. shows
an utter disregard of the statutory re
aulrements. There is not single in
stance IN which any purpose Is speci-
fed on which money is REQUIRED, nor
: any amount indicated rs the require
ment for any particular purpose.
The Public Service Commission has
Included i'm such communication a
mass of irrelevant and impertinont
statements. included in which are at
lacks upon this board. as we'll AS upon
examiners OF this board who haze
heretofore disclosed improper items in
the expenses Of the Public Service
s. careful misstatcment and suppress
slen Of the material facts 20 which
teh statement pu1ports TO deal.
Craig Advocates Refusal
'Jndcr lhc circumstances it seems
't me that it the duty OF your board
o decline to consider the purportcd
sauisltion and 20 eNpunge from your
rtcorGs the communication accompany
= it; giving notice 20 the Public Ser
zee Commission OF your action and
equirin@ that a proper reQuisition.
n compliance with the statutory re
eriremcnts. he submitted forthwith,
and in ease Of tl7eir default in so doing,
mat no appropriation whatever be
aadc ior the navmen. OF salaries or
c>penseS Of such commission for the
ar 1919.
la rejecting the requisition for
100000 Controller Craig said that
he commission had failed 10 live up TO
It's agreement with The Board OF Esti-
TNate TO submit q detailed report show
rg the particular parts Of the dual
ubway system &c. TO be contracted
'cf. with q close climate of the cost
os cach. and snCcifV the order or pri-
olity in which the various uncon-
'iactcd portions should proceed
He charged that 05O0.000 for rapid
transit work lies concealed and Gov
cred up in tax levy appropriations OF
vhich the public has no knowledge"
Craig and Hubert Clash
Just before the meeting adjourned
stewart Browne was the innocent
cause of d til. between Controller
Craig and Dock Commissioner Hubert,
which ended with fresh charge being
hurled at the Public Service Comms-
sion.
Mr.. Browne asked for copy of
letter from the Department of Docks
o the board. relative to port improve
ments. Controller Craig said that it
vas published in the morning papers
ei Thursday, before it was received
uy The board.
THAT is an untrue statement
shouted Mr.. Hubert, whose port ter
n.iual plans are receiving but little
.upport from the Hylan administra-
tion.
II Commissioner Hubert makes
any such statement as that he should
be asked to take his seaA" said the
Coutrolicr
The Mayor permitted Mr. Hubert
20 explain that he mailed the letter
Monday, three days before it was pub
l.4hcd