New-York tribune., 1919-10-19
Every Abuse Agains, Which
Mayor Hylan Has Rallied
Is There, Lawyer for the
Citizen. Union Declares
Big Sums for Contractors
Situation Is aggravated bv
Mayors Crocodile Tears,
He Adds in Statement

Leonard NJ Wallstein. counsel to the
eity government committee of the Citi.
sens Unio~, in q statement issued last
night. cha rges that the tentative $3I6,-
900 0Ge budget of the Hylan admin
istrstion. which the Controller says he
hopes % see reduced to s2S2 900 600, is
creating an opportunity to provide for
q whole crop of new jobs.
"lt is great many years." says Mr..
Wallstein, "since the public OF this
city have been so brazenly fou:ed by
10 outrageous distribution of public
moneys among political henchmen. A
study OF the tentative budget discloses
very clearly the reason for the unpre-
cedented secrecy with which the Hylan
administration shrouded its prepara-
ton
OBVIOUSLY the Hylan administration
10 passing around big increases in the
salaries of political retaners already
installed 10 their berths, furnishing a
Aeet of new automobiles and carload
o. commodious armchairs and swivel
chairs to favored officials. big and lit
tie and providing enormous increases
in the amounts to be available for con-
tract work.
Every Abuse Is There
every abuse Of the city payroll and
Of the public funds against which
Mayor Hylan has rallied in the public
press is. in great profuson, to be found
tucked away among the thousands of
items in the tentative budget, which
was handed to the public but moment
before it was invited to discuss it and
which was concocted in secret con-
clave of the members Of the Board of
Estimate.
THE situation is aggravated by the
Mayors crocodile tears over the huge
budget increase OF nearly S68,G00 600.
He is a member of the finance and
budget committee of the Board of Es-
innate, which prepared this scandalous
estimate. At any moment, while it
was being framed, word from him
would have prevented the jobbery
which this document embraces.
"The Controller is eloquent in blam-
ing the law for the budget increase,
but the excuse which he offers upon
the ground of statutory provisions and
court decisions is wholly untenable.
= at the CoNtroler has ia nd he
Mayor in getting new political jobs
for his own ice and in boosting the
salaries of present exempt appointees.
Altogether, 1t is difficult to conceive
q more complete demonstration of the
hypocrisy and demagogy that has
brought this city administration into
public contempt. than is afforded by
Shis tentative budget.
Board of Education Figures
.partment of Education there is allowed
more than $4,000 900 to be raised by
TAX levy for new school sites and
buildings during 1920. There is no pur-
pose to which the people OF the city
would rather see their taxes devoted
han to securing the best educational
advantages for their children, both as
20 teaching and housing. The in
ciusion. however. of $4,000 900 in the
tax levy for new sites and buildings
IN single year is so palpably unjus-
titled as to warrant the suspicion that
that item was included in the tenta-
'iye budget for no purpose other than
20 provide a huge figure which might
ne eliminated, while the provisions for
new patronage jobs, higher patronage
salaries, new automobiles and fat con-
tracts were retained.
Finally, this administration plead
ed at Albany in 1919 that the 'pay-as-
Jou GO act hould be suspended for
The duration of the war and for one
year after its termination evidenced
by a proclamation of the Presden
This plea was founded upon the asser-
tion by Controller Craig that the city
must DE permitted to issue its long
time bonds which the 'pay-as-you-go
act prohlbited) in order 20 raise the
money necessary for the construction
Of additional schooI buildings, which
were made essential by reason of this
administration's abandonment of the
policy o. using existing school facili-
Nes more intensively.
pom shat plea the Legislature
2assaa and the Governor approved the
Don1roller's bi /. which ia now law
u n tate and which is fully oper-
I'VE 70 permit The issue Of corporate
ocA for whatever sums the Depart
.uen1 Of Education can spend next year
% new schoo sites and new buildings
ne on reason advanced for the ad
hin!stfatlon's failure 20 emp'oy thg
method Of finance is the controllers
resentment al certain court decisions
%nicn nave thus far prevented the
Expectations Of the city administra.