The New York herald., 1920-01-28
LA GUARDIA CALLS
FOR FOOD INQUIRY
Board of Aldermen Head Asks
the Reason for Large
Profit.
LETTER SENT HlRSHFlELE
Republican Would Know Who Was
Paid for Trucking-Prom-
iSeS Aid.

Investigation OF the sale Of army food
By lie Department or Public Markets
was asked yesterday by f. IL la Guardia
President Of the Board of Aldermen. in a
letter TO David Hirshfied, Commissioner
of Accounts. Mr.. La Guardia stated that
he particularly wanted to know why the
army foodstuffs were not sold at cost
plus expenses. instead Of at a large profit.
now $ls7,S9 was spent for help" when
policemen and city officials were detailed
for that purpose, and to whom the s145, 42
charged to trucking was paid
Mr.. La Guardia's letter followed one
from Commissioner Hirshfield in which
the latter called upon Mr.. La Guardia for
any information in his possession. Mr.. La
Guardia stated that he was ready to help
Commissioner Hirshfield in any bona
tide' investigation. Mr. Hirshfield, in a
second letter. resented the imputaton that
he was not conducting his investigation in
good faith.
AT the close of your letter." wrote Mr..
Hirshfield, you assure me Of your CO.
operation in any bona fide' investiga ton
that am conducting. Do you mean to
fmpute that do not conduct all investiga-
tons honestly and, if you do, by what
right? / have now been in office for more
than two years and have conducted a good
many Investigations. The only ones who
ever found fault with me were those whom
II had investigated and found guilty of
shortcomings. and it was left to you to
question my honesty in the performance
of my official duties
In his letter to Commissioner IIirshfield
Mr.. La Guardia said he would like to
have the former ascertain the following
five points regarding the sale of army
food
Il. Why this food was not sold at cost
plus actual expenses and why it was sold
at prices to bring in such enormous profit.
the disposition of which seems to en-
barrass the city officials?
- VIII you kindly obtain an item
lied statement showing how the sum OF
$lso,So9V1 charged to hire of help was
spent. In this connection will state that
am reliably informed the policemen and
city officials were detailed TO each sell
ing depot and they received no extra com
pensation. I am also reliably informed that
watchmen who also handled the unload
ing of the food, were the only ones paid
and that they received "a a day. / am also
informed that there were large number
of women and men who volunteered Their
services and did not receive any compensa sa-
ton. This being public money. | am cer-
tain that the officials in charge took
proper vouchers for every cent they dis
'"'SNN' ~ NpANitiSs liitItlOIt, SnOulC
be produced to account for this amount
). VIII YOU kindly also obtain d
detailed statement showing how the
amount of s145.425.4 charged to trucking
was spent. The name of the truclmen
and the number OF trips will no doubt ap-
pear on the vouchers. This also being
public funds. the public officials no doub,
have vouchers for every cent they dis
bursed. 1t is also stated that the truck
ing privilege was given to Long Island
contractor and, he in turn, hired other
truckmen at q margin of about s. for each
truck. | am sure you will look into this
to determine whether or not this par
tcular transaction was to the best inter
est of the city and the use of the funds
a. There Is an item, am informed of a
little over 5000 charged TO miscellaneous
charges The vouchers making. up this
item, believe. should be also examined.
''5. Inasmuch as the purpose of the sale
Of this food was TO get 1t direct to the
consumers, il would be interesting to OBJ
tain information concerning the sale OF
the dried and evaporated fruit. ! under
stand that sale slip for each sale was
made and kept. IT is stated that the food
was not sold direct to the consumers but
to a few jobbers, at a profit Of from seven
to eight cents a pound"
A resolution for an investigation of the
army food sales by the city was offered
at the meeting of the Board of Aldermen
yesterday by Alderman 3. Charney Via
deck, Socialist leader. and referred to the
Committee on Public Markets. The reso-
luton stated that the department of Pub
lie Markets had fixed a higher margin OF
profit in these sales than any private
dealer or food profiteer.
The Board passed a resolution requesting z
the Legislature to amend the city charter
chan ging the name of the Department of
Public Charities TO that of the Department
of Public Welfare.