The sun., 1919-02-08
MAYOR WRATHY IN
ESTIMATE CLASHES
Calls Citizens Union Biggest
Bunch Of Takers and Gets
RetOrt of an Exception.
OTHER OFFICIALS STIRRED
Street Cleaners Grilled and
Must Wait Day Off Until AZ
ter Palm Beach Trip.

Altogether It was an extremely hectic
affair--the meeting OF the Board OF Is
innate yesterday 1t was warm from
the start, but the atmosphere reached
the scorching point when Mayor Hylan
declared that the Citizens Union was
tho biggest bunch OF faNers in town.
and Leonard NJ. Wallstein. counsel Tor
that organization. raising his finger
toward the desk in Indignation exploded
with this retort:
with the single exception OF one
individual"
Take your seat" ordered the Mayor {;
but Mr.. Wallstein was through and re-
tired gracefully.
The Mayors wrath descended also
upon the representative Of the street
cleaners, who we're seeking one day Off
a week. lie promised to see that this
man was kept working by his depart
ment head so that he could not stir up
any more trouble. He ordered his body
guard TO see that an Alderman. who APP
peared for the city employees, took his
seat
Comptroller Craig and Borough Pres
ident Connolly had their usual exchange
OF pleasantries. more pleasant X possible
than usual. ending with the Queens Bor-
ough head asserting:
"Your arguments have become almost
nauseating to every one I have discussed
them with
The Mayor took hF weekly fling at
Acting Chairman Whitney Of the Public
Service Commission. and the Comptrol-
Ter and Mr.. Wallstein exchanged barbed
compliments.
The tilt between the Mayor and coun-
sci for the Citizens Union was over the
ge OF an appropriation OF $4,000
900 in corporate stock, all except ST.
900. 900. Of which is to be used in re-
funding rapid transit expenses OF previ-
DIS years. which have already been paid
out Of revenue bonds. later redeemed
to be used to retire revenue bonds now
outstanding.
Keeping Down the Tax Rate.
The Citizens Union has assailed this
proposition as being an attempt to keep
down the tax rate by cutting down the
debt mourning capacity of the city and
saddling expense on future generations
for interest and sinking fund charges
The s3.50O,000 will be turned over TO
the general fund. which will help to
that extent in keeping the tax rate
down this year
Comptroller Craig charged that the
Public Service Commission had wronged
THE city by paying some sl0,000,00 III
expenses out of revenue bonds, when
they should have been paid out of cor
porate stock and that the city would
rot be able to get any return on this
Investment from subway profits unless
the expenses were refunded in the form
OF corporate stock.
MIR. Wallstein asserted that there was
10 authority of law for such refund
ing proceeding. He went further and
declared the Comptroller to be wrong
in stating that only moneys paid for
construction in the form OF corporate
stock could earn d return from the con-
struction account. He quoted the con-
tracts. which declare that THE actual
and necessary net cost in money" shall
be included in the city's contribution to
the cost OF constructing the subways.
Tho question was raised Is 20 who
knew most about city affairs. and Ac:-
ing Chairman Whitney was referred to
as former pupil of the Citizens
Union" Mr.. Whitney was at one time
secretary OF that organization.
We'll he learned more about govern
ment there than some of you know
Mr. Wallstein suggested.
The Comptroller ought to he con-
graduated for showing up things con-
ceaied by the last administration and
the Public Service Commission" re-
marked tho Mayor.
Mr., Walistein suggested that Gov.
Smith. who had had 20 spend eight
months with the Board OF Estimate.
would not agree 70 such Il statement
because he was fairminded man.
election" shot out the Mayor. When
It was stated that the Citizens Union
did not support any candidate for Gov
ernor the Mayor branded that organi-
Ia lion as "the biggest bunch of takers
in town"
street Cleaners Turned Down.