The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-27
sUNRULY PUP ONE GEM
Surety Companies Quoted as
Disputing Comptroller's
Statements.
BIG CUTS ARE REJECTED
Attempt to Abolish the City
Z Chamberlain at $4,000 Is
Not Acted Upon.

With the usual amenities. including
free use of the word liars the Board
OF Estimate managed yesterday to chop
100000 from the proposed budget OF
$685.. s0o. 900 for 1921. The chopping process
will continue to-day.
The bright particular stars Of yester-
days arguments were +. II. La Guaroha,
President of the Board OF Aldermen,
and Comptroller Charles L. Craig The
.Aldermanic President accused the
Comptroller OF stating a falsehood to
protect a $4,000 item for a favored
contractor, and the Comptroller res
bonded by calling La Guardia "a dirty
little Mar and an "unruly pup, ana
appealing to the Mayor TO shut him -.
The rumpus was a continuation OF a
row begun Monday, when the Comp
froller undertook to have an item OF
$1,000 for an automobile for Mr., La
Guardias department stricken from the
budget, and the Aldermanic President
retaliated by attacking the Comptrol-
Ier's request for $1,000 to pay con-
tractor who furnished cars for city pay
masters carrying payrolls. In support
of his request Mr. Craig said;
1.-THE municipal garage is not SUI
ficlently equipped to furnish the neces-
sary cars and 1 want TO say further lor
the information of the President OF the
Board of Aldermen. that the surety
companies would not bond the pay
masters riding in these cars furnlshed
by the municipal garage.
La Guardia Produces Letters.
Mr.. La Guardia went to the board
meeting yesterday armed with letters
from the Fidelity and Deposit Company
81 MARYLAND. the National Surety COM
many and the United State5 Fidelity
and Guaranty Company stating that
the companies saw no reason why they
should not bond paymasters riding IN
city garage cars.
Thus fortified. Mr.. La t5uardla inau-
surated the days proceedings by an
rouncing in a loud voice:
Comptroller Craig. you made false
statement Yesterday, and you knew II
was utterly false when you made H.
You made that statement for the pur-
pose of protecting one of your con-
tractors. I have caught you with the
goods I have letters from three surety
companies stating that they are willing
70 bond city paymasters riding in city
owned cars. You tremble at the very
thought of my reading them"
The Comptroller flushed holly.
You are dirty, sinking little liar!
he shouted.
.'You are no gentleman" retorted La
Guardia. mo gentleman would use
such language. You are afraid Will
read these letters"
II repeat," shouted the Comptroller
above the din OF the Mayors gavel,
that you are a dirty. sinking little
liar"
"Cornered as you are by these let
fers." said the Aldermanic President,
showing your assertions without foun-
dation. your only come back Is that OF
low. base language"
SEVERAL minutes of that sort of rep
artee caused Mr.. Craig 10 appeal TO
the Mayor, who all the while had been
trying TO restore quiet.
Craig Threatens to Withdraw.
II appeal to you TO preserve order.
Mr.. Mayor" he said IF you cannot or
will not. do not propose 10 sit hero
and be insulted. You must find way
10 control this unruly pup or 1 shall
refuse TO sit further IN these meetings
Announcing that he would undertake
so see that call the Comptroller's pick
ms are eliminated from the budget"
Mr.. La Guardia fortified his position by
a decision TO withdraw his request for
an automobile from the budget. He
had stated the day before that he
needed the car for the purpose OF
checking I'D on tho Comptroller. ItI
Withdrawing the item he looked at the
Comptroller and said:
IT think the Society for the Proven
ZION OF Crime might furnish me with
car when need one"
Frank II. Tyler Of the budget COM
rnittee Of the Brooklyn Real Estate
Board appeared. suggesting cuts de-
signed TO eliminate $500. 900 from the
budget. The Comptroller and the Mayor
;nterposed objections that the law would
not permit Of certain OF the proposed
cuts amounting to A.5Oo.0o0.'
when tho board reached the Sinking
Fund Commission account report was
lacking. Calvin y. Van Name Presl-
dent OF the Borough of Richmond.
moved 70 cut out the $1,000 salary OF
the City Chamberlain. Comptroller
Craig backed this blow at his ancient
enemy by promise 20 save the city
$4,000. In the absence Of report.
however. no action was taken.
Yesterdays reductions represent
merely the cuts agreed 70 by depart
sncnt heads