New-York tribune., 1919-10-16
Candidate allsMayor'sStand
Camouflage and Attacks
242 p. C. Jump in Funds
for Garbage Contractors
Finds Beaches Polluted
Denounces Dumping Filth
at Sea; Talk of High Tax
''Hot Air. Asserts Craig

Mayor Hylan's declaration that he
would oppose the tentative 1920 budget
of S316,521 ,427, an increase Of $685.
493,992 over the final budget of 1919,
was characterized yesterday by Major
Fiorello II. La Guarda, Republican
candidate for president of the Board
of Aldermen, as political camouhage.
Mayor Hylan is responsible for this
budget" said La Guardia. at is the
creation of his administration. His
attempts to dodge responsibility for it
are meant solely for political effect
Mayor Hylan is personally and directly
responsible for the budget. In 1917,
when he was a candidate for election
he promised economy in administering
thc city by cutting down the budget
fach year he has increased it to record
figures, unparalleled in any city of the
wCId. This is sample of how he
keeps his promises. And it is typical
Of the Hylan administration as a whole
winch is extravagant, inefficient and
incompetent
This budget means a tremendous
increase in the tax rate, which will
have to be borne by not only the real
estate owner, but by the rent PAYERS
and every one doing business in the
city"
Although this statement of Major
La Guardia was made early in the
day, Mayor Hylan and the other mem
bers of the Board of Estimate re-
mained silent, with the exception of
Controller Craig, who said:
"All talk Of high tax rate is hot
air"
La Guardia returned to the matter
OF the gigantic budget again last night
at reception rendered by the Bronx
County Womcn's Republican Club to
the new county leader, Richard W.
Lawrence.
La Guardia Asks Safeguard
La Guardia charged that the reason
Tor the increase was policy of ey
travagance adopted by the Hylan ad
ministration.
"To safeguard the public against the
administrations policy of cxtrava-
gance, favoritism and procrastination," 4"
SAID La Gua"dia "it is necessary to
have somebody in the Board of Esti
mate opposed to Tammany Hall and it's
policy of jobs and contracts. Tammanv
Hall now controls the eight members
of the board. Somebody with an eye
to economy rather than to contract.
should ~ sit in that board as protection
~ VIC puDl1C
In his speech La Guardia took up
one item in the budget-the $4,000, 900
provided for the disposal Of garbage.
ashes and refuse-to emphasize his
charge that contracts were at the bot
tom of many of the huge increases.
"The 1919 budget" said La Guardia.
"also made by the Tammany admins
tration, provided $3.OO0,OOO for this
purpose, or more than double the
amount allowed for this work by the
previous administration, whose 1918
budget contained an item of 81 36O. 900
tor this work. So that in two wears the
Hylan administration has increased
this one appropriation alone by ST.
This is the result of an outrageous
policy of inefficiency, favoritism and
procrastination.
Chicago Makes Profit
"While New York City is at the
mercy OF an extravagant and incompe-
tent administration, as evidenced by
this and other blunders, other cities
"'o -" tho disposition of garbage
to profitable advantage. For instance.
.u 9. report Of the municipal de-
partmen:s of Chicago for 1918 saws
that during that year the municipal
plant took in $oS0,OOO, and for the
ilrst time profit will be realized, ap-
proximatcly $4,000 over the cost OF
production.' Compare this with an
appropriation in the 1920 New York
City tentative budget Of $4,000, 600
rms money of course has nothing to
90 with the pay of our street cleaning
force, but is money paid to private
contractors. Just imagine! Not one
cent will be returned to the city
he administration still is resorting
to the barbarous method of dumping
garbage at sea, although this was the
subject OF protest from the Navy De-
| partment. which deplorcd this pollu-
ton. This method was abandoned
years ago in all large cities.
The disposition of garbage is a
municipal function and should be per
formed by the city and not let out ia
private contractors.
Bathers Are Menaced
"bathcrs at Coney Island, Brighton
Beach, the Rockaways and other places
near by Will remember how the filth