New-York tribune., 1920-06-22
Maj. La Guardia
Sheds His Coat
To Fight Craig
Comptroller Threatens to
Have Him Put Out of
Budget Session; Major
Also Turns on Kerrigan
Agree Upon Salary Raises
20 Per Cent Increase Is
Given Most Employees;
5000 Boost Minimum

VIVA AAOoS AAAA f1AO NNO
5000 Boost Minimum
The committee on finance and
budget Of the Board Of Estimate
which includes all the members Of the
board, held a stormy session for five
hours yesterday in the Comptroller's
Office. during which Comptrol er
Charles l.. Craig threatened to have
Major F. H. La Guardia, President of
the Board of Aldermen, expelled from
the meeting and La Guardia started to
take off his coat with the apparent
intention of hitting somebody.
the press and the public. The question
Of salary increases for the city en-
ployees caused the rumpus.
1t was decided finally to grant a
20 per cent increase to all city en-
ployees, with the exception of certain
county officials and those employed es
who have already received advances
in salaries through legislation at
Albany. A resolution to that effect
was adopted with the proviso, insisted
upon by Major La Guardia. that the
minimum increase should be $500
wherever possible Borough Pres-
dent Henry H. Curran voted against
the resolution because representatives
of the uniformed fremen and police
men. who favored fiat money increase
instead of one on the percentage
basis. had not been heard by the COM
mites.
Ia Guardia, Ingnored, Is Furious
The trouble between the Comptroller
and The Aldermanic President started
wheH the Comptroller ignored the de-
Mand of Majo La Guardia that the
committee reach a decision Immediate
ly en- the question of salary increases,
instead of dropping the discussion on
that subject and taking up other mat
ters. at the suggestion Of the Comp
troller The Major became furious
and jumping up from his chair turned
upon the Comptroller and accused him
said that the Aldermanic President did
not know what the committee was do
ing because he had been absent from
several recent meetings.
"Iou say that again and you will get
what you deserve" said the Comp
troller.
Major La Guardia continued to defy
the Comptroller and the latter told
him to sit down or he would have him
put out of the meeting. The Comp
toller pushed button for his attend
ant, who Immediately came in. Mean
while Borough President Curran and
Collin H. Woodward, Secretary of the
Borough, who sat on the other side of
the Aldermanic President, took hold of
him, preventing him from taking off his
coat.
Charles F. Kerrigan, secretary Of the
Finance Department, had edged over
between the Comptroller and Major La
Guardia. who sat beside each other
The Major turned upon Kerrigan and
ordered him to sit down
You're not a member of the board!''
he shouted. Get out of here"
La Guardia Assails kerrigan
herrlgan quietly informed the Alder
manic President that he was going to
stand there until he (La Guardia) !
cooled off. The latter resumed his seat.
and as Kerrigan moved away the AL
dermanic President fired volley of
uncomp p!imentary remarks at him, in
which he characterized Kerrigan as
"Craig's valet" and "a bootlckinc en-
ployee."
But Pm no 'wop,'" said Kerrigan as
he resumed his seat.
La Guardia jumped to his feet,
started to peel off his coat second
time and moved toward Kerrigan
around the corner of the table de-
handing:
Say that again. Say that again.'
The Aldermanic President did not
get far before Borough President Cur
ran and Mr.. Woodward had him in
their clutches again and showed hin,
back into his seat. Kerrigan remained
seated, with half smile on his face
his hsts clenched, ready for the bout
Mayor Hylap sat quietly throughout
the hostilities until La Guardia started
Tor herrigan, when he turned toward
the corDatants and admonshed the m
with "Be quiet, boys"
City Employees Are Heard
The Comptroller expressed the opin
!on that Hunter College, the Publ,
Library and other institutions which
unslccesstully sought mandatory leg
!slaton at Albany to compel the city
authorities to increase salaries, shoule
not be included in the wage increase
a!!otments at the expense of other city
employees. There was objection to tn,
Comptro!ler's suggestion, and it wa.
decided TO hear the representatives O.
CITY departments, who were waiting ir
the corridor.
Officers of the Fire and Police de-
partments appeared and argued for {
nat percentage Increase Mrs. Harr,
Lazy appeared as the spokesman fol
hunter College. She said that the,
rad gone TO Albany to get mandatory
appropriation such as is cnjoyed BY
the city College, and not merely :
salary increase
"hen the question of awarding the
contracts on the bids for constructor
"ofN on the new county courthouse
cane cane before the committee it was de.
ciceo' on the suggestion Of Comptrolle,
Craig. TO re4dvertise the 81 200 noo =; \
5or the granite work as benz Y'I Zoo b;oh oi1
Inc board will seek the architact,s
9SpI"len on the advisability of using
limestone 'nstead Of granite, by which
e saTing Of about $4,000 900 could be
erected. The contracts for the foun.