The New York herald., 1920-01-24
REPUBLICANS CAUSE
LIVELY BOARD ROW
Curran Wants to See ReSolu-
ton on Court House
Committee.
MAYOR DEFENDS CRAIG
La Guardia Promises Inquiry
Into Sale of Army
Food.
AAYOR DEFENDS CRAIG

The two Republican members of the
Board of Estimate sought with little sue
cess, at the meeting of the Board yester-
day to strengthen their position in that
body Since they took their seats with the
Democratic members on January l both
Borough President Curran, of Manhat-
TAM and Major La Guardia, President OF
the Board of Aldermen, have tried at each
meeting to trace the whereabouts Of rec
ords of resolutions hurriedly passed by
the Board at the meeting on December so,
the last meeting before the Republicans
took office.
Borough President Curran yesterday in
troduced resolution designed to make
all communications. petitions and reports
intended for the Boards consideration and
action available prior to their introduc-
ton. The resolution provided that all
such matters should be addressed to the
Board and delivered or mailed 20 the sec
retarys office "at leas. two days before
the meeting at which they are to be pre-
sented, and upon such delivery shall be
open to public inspection in said office -
The resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Finance and Budget, without
action of recommendation.
Mayor Hylan and Borough President
Curran clashed when a resolution offered
by the latter relative to the grade Of
streets within the new court house site
was referred to the Committee on Court
House." Mr. Curran wanted to know who
composed this committee and the Mayor
informed him that it was the Controller.
Asked who appointed the Controller, the
Mayor explained that the Board appointed
him and Borough President Connolly, of
Queens. explained that this COMMITTEE
was appointed at the meeting on Decem-
Der 80,
Can't Find Resolution.
''That's the first time ! have heard
that" said Mr.. Curran. Where is the
resolution appointing him? I can't find it
either in the secretary's office or in the
Controllers office. I asked the Controller
have been put off,
1t was then explained that the resolu-
ton was a verbal one and should be in
the minutes. Borough President Connolly
declared that he thought Borough Presi-
dent Curran was right and that the re-
solution appointing the committee and au-
thorizing the appropriation Of $7,000,O00 to
construct the court house should be in
writing, as such resolutions are.
If the court house committee is COM
posed only of the Controller, you confine
the spending and the auditing of the ac-
counts to the same man." said Mr. Cur
ran.
wen, II s ali SdNu tne mayor.
"The Controller is a competent man and
an honest man, too"
The Mayor and Borough President Cur
ran crossed swords again when the resolu-
ton providing for the appropriation of
$4,000 for the purchase of one hundred
municipal buses was considered. The Bor-
ough President declared that he had been
informed that a ten cent fare was being
charged on some of the buses. This
aroused the ire of the Mayor who said
heatedly that it was not true.
"Traction Interests" Again.
You are informed about lot Of things
said the Mayor. Don't you make any
such statement here and think you are
going to get away with it, for you are not.
The fare is five cents and is SO advertised
on the buses. We are not going to allow
the traction interests or any of their
representatives to block this. The trac-
ton interests have had the people by the
throat"
The matter was put over for week,
however, on the request of Borough
President Curran to permit him to obtain
a copy of the report of Commissioner
Grover A. Whalen, of the Department of
Plant and Structures, who has charge OF
the operation of the municipal bus lines.
Mr.. La Guardia, the Aldermanic Presi-
dent, offered a resolution that the Con-
cent sales of army food by the Depart
ment Of Markets. in order to ascertain
what profits or surplus there We're, and
how the $lS5,000 said to have been spent in
conducting the sales had been used. The
Mayor explained that there was a 100000
surplus, which had been turned over to
committee, and part Of which 1t was pro-
posed to expend in purchasing ice with
which to supply the poor of the city next
summer,
Mr.. La Guardia called attention to the
fact that hundreds of those who worked
voluntarily for the army food sales had
petitioned the Mayor for part of the sur
plus as payment for the work they did.
The Mayor said he had received such pc
titions but insisted that the money first
should be utilized in buying.
Major La Guardia said after the meet
ing that in view of the Mayors attitude
he would take steps to have a Congress
sional inveStig tiOn of the matter