The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-17
LA GUARDIA ASSAILS'
HYLAN FOOD BUREAU.
Major Says Day Has Helped to
Increase High Cost of Liv-
ing by Incompetence.
MURPHY MEN IN FAT JOBS
Demand Made on Mayor for
Publicity Of Findings in
Market Inquiry.

Declaring that the Department of
Markets in the Hylan administration
was a rank failure and the money Of
the taxpayers was being wasted to fur
nish soft herths for Tammany favorites
Representative F. H. La Gaurdia called
upon the Mayor last night to make
public the report made by his Commits
sloner of Accounts on the charges lodged
against Commissioner Jonathan Day.
He was preparing to make formal de-
mand for this document, Mr.. La Guardfa'
Ola said.
The Republican candidate for Presi-
dent of the Board of Aldermen was
speaking at a rally of the Bath Beach
Non-Partisan League in Bath Beach.
The sooner the city employs COM
petent and experienced men the better
for the city, said the speaker. 1T is
indeed pity to see this department.
which could do important work at this
time Of crisis in the cost of living, being
misused
What we want is action, Il capable,
competent and honest personnel, which
could do a world of good to prevent
profteering and reduce the cost or liv-
ing"
Commissioner Day was Interested in
two private corporations that had been
formed for the purpose of cooperative
buying Representative La Guardia,
ocntinued
THE Commissioner of Markets has
| involved the city in a number OF food
and fuel deals which haye cost the city
money. Instead of reducing the cost of
food, as he ambitiously promised, he
has caused the city to lose money ana
thus teded in increase the taxpayers
expenses.
Top Heavy with Executives.
The Department of Markets is al
| lowed $214,S25 in the city's 1920 tenta-
tive budget, an increase of sS0,634 over
1919. The office staff consists of twen-
ty-seven. 1t is characteristic of the
profiigate and unbusinesslike onduct NJ
the office that over these twenty-seven
staff employees there are five execu-
tives. whose salaries total $500. There
is commissioner or deputy for every
six employees
I'm the bureau of Information the
deputy at $4,000 has a force of workers
consisting Gu total of one-a stenog-
| rapher and typewriter at s1,060.s
| THE bureau of purchase, sales
storage and distribution is big. in name
only. The $4,000 deputy has stenog-
| rapher and typewriter at s1.260 and a
| clerk at $1,000.
why must a $500 Commissioner
have four deputies. at a total of s21, 200
| more. to help him run a paper depart
ment. the total personnel of which in
Guiding laborers and per diem employees,
| is seventy-five? This. mark you, in
cludes charwomen. messengers and
janitors.
Charles F. Murphy and Tammany
! Hall have an inside track In the running
of the department. for two Murphy men
hold Jobs that the Commissioner and
the Board of Estimate consider rank
ing and calling for internal control
! An Expert in Oyster Fries.
! These two are: First. the Deputy
Commissioner in charge OF production,
| appointed March 10, 1918. He is WILL
lam w. Smith OF 1876 Third avenue. The
salary. is $4,000. Stills Oyster House is
at 1875 Third avenue and is frequented
| by the big and lesser lights of Tam
| many Hall and the Anawanda Club.
over both of which Charles r. Murphy
holds sway Smith was an owner or
manager of the oyster house. There