New-York tribune., 1920-10-27
Craig Gives Lie
To La Cuardia
In Hot Debate
Comptroller Resents Hint of
Graft i'll His Department
and Calls on Mayor to
Calm Aldermanic Head
Members Near Blows
81. .349.532.76 Eliminated
From Estimates; Pruning
Process Continues To-day

Total reductions Of $1,349,532.76 OF
the nearly s9,ooo,ooo. which must be
eliminated from the present draft OF
the 1921 budget to bring it within the
legal limit Of S347 900, 900 were effected
al yesterdays session of the Board Of
Estimate. The meeting took a recess
Until 2:15 to- day, when the process will
be resumed.
The height Of the squabble which
accompanied the proceedings came
when Aldermanic President +. H. La
Guarda cast a broad intimation that
there is graft in the department of
Comptroller Craig.
troller A few seconds later he said to
the Mayor: "Unless you control that
unruly little pup shall leave TINS
meeting
Trouble Began Monday
The trouble between the two mem
bcrs Of the board really began when
the Comptroller on Monday said that an
item for $1,000 to employ chauffeur
for Mr.. La Guardia should be stricken
from the budget. The Aldermanic
President retaliated by calling atten-
tion to an appropriation Of $4,000 Tor
automobile hire in Mr.. Craigs de-
partment In explanation the Comp
troller said:
"These cars are used to carry highly
bonded paymasters taking money to
city employees. The surety companies
would refuse to 60 their bond if they,
used cars from the municipal garage.
As soon as the meeting had been
called TO order yesterday Mr. La Guar
dja produced three letters, explaining
,hat they were from large surety con
Germs, and asserted that paymasters
could be bonded if they used city
owned cars.
..Thev show that the statement made
1t was made simply TO protect one OF
his contractors" Mr.. La Guardla as
The Comptroller's face twitched with
,age Leaning far over toward the AL
dermanic President, he said: ,:.,
you're lara dirty, stlnking little
liar ,
said Mr. La Guardia. addressing the
Mayor "It is base and has no justi-
ncltion at meeting OF this board y
The Mayor sought to mollify the
}olligerent members, who strained
toward each ether across the table
Let us see if we can't get along
nicely now" he pleaded. eve must
proceed" p He was cut short by
Mr.. Craig.
Mayor Alleges Disrespect
This board is no place for his
hbelous statements,' shouted the
Comptroller. 81 insist, Mr.. Mayor, that
he be controlled He is simply trying
to lay the basis of defense against
criminal libel
II am going to read these letters,
came back Mr.. La Guardia. The Comp
tcller is shaking with fear. He IS
al raid to have them read. They prove
his statements to this board are false y
"Control that unrply little pup or
l shall leave the meeting Mr.. Craig
SAID to the Mayor, who responded that
he was trying to keep order.
"You are making miserable st.
tempt SAID Mr.. Craig. "You take
no exception to anything he says, but
YOU get terribly excited over my
answers. This board is simply being
made a med TN for the circulation Of
.belous statements"
Both of you have been most disre-
spectful,' the Mayor said. Now let's
try to get along. You are both out of
order
W@iIl ll!tSc ItLlcIS illeu Win tne
record of the proceedings insisted the
Aldornanic President.
"File Them ordered the Mayor. This
elected new oGtburst from Mr. Craig,
who again addressed the Aldermanic
President.
~ ou got your automobile as bribe
TO lick the Mayors boots" he charged
Never mind was Mr.. La Guarda' S
retort, the plckings in your depart
mcnt will be mighty slim this year.
1t won't help you any to get peeved.' y
Mayor Pounds Gavel
The Mayor pounded his gavel furi-
ously and plead vainly for consdera
tlon Of the next item. 1t was nearly
ten minutes before order was restored
and consideration of the budget re-
sumed.
After the meeting the letters filed
by Mr.. La Guardia were shown to news
paper men. They were from the
Fidelity and Deposit Company of Mary
land, the National Surety Company and
the United States Fidelity and Guar
antee Company. All said paymasters
could be bonded, whether or not they
rode IN cars owned by the city.
Inc items pruned yesterday from the
still excessive budget were as follows.