New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-05
S4,l27,0OO Is
' oted to Fight
Next Snowfall
Board of Estimate Approves
the Budget, With Comp.
troller Craig Opposing
the Program of Hylan
3O7 New Motor Trucks
legality of Issuing City
Bonds to Cover APP
preparation Is Attacked

The Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment yesterday voted an appro-
pration of s4,127 900 for new equip
ment to be used for snow fighting pur-
poses by the Department of Street
Cleaning. Commissioner MacStay of
the department said that the new
equipment was necessary to prevent
the recurrence of conditions Of last
winter, when the streets were blocked
and traffic stalled for several weeks
after big storms.
Commissioner MacStay asserted that
the present equipment of the depart
ment was obsolete and practically
worthless in coping with big snow
storms. The Commissioner explained
thai S2,75700o OF the appropriation
would be used to purchase 307 auto
mobile trucks, 600 snow plows, eco
tanks or tractors and 200 flushing ma
chimes. The rest of the money would
be used for the construction OF repair
shops and twenty-five garages.
Comptroller Charles L. Craig
strongly opposed the appropriation
and had clash with the Mayor over
the matter. The COMPTROLLER cues
toned the legality of issuing city
bonds to cover the appropriation, and
asked that an opinion be sought from
the Corporation Counsel. He pointed
out that such an appropriation would
practically exhaust the $15,000000 is
sue OF bonds for non-revenue pro-
ducing improvements allowed the city
under the law and would preclude
many other contemplated improve
mcnts.
Mayor Shakes His Finger
The Mayor, however, shaking his
finger at the Comptroller. announced
that he would no longer stand for the
dilatory tactics OF other city officials
who were retarding his departments
from properly functioning.
Il decline to assume responsibility
any longer for delay IN this very, vital
matter and for which other people are
responsible" said the Mayor I'm
going to have a showdown right now
The Mayor pressed for vote on the
and it was carried, with the Comptrol-
Ter voting in the negative. The Comp
troller, however, cot in few more
punches, when another resolution was
lntrcdUCed at the request of the Street
Cleaning Department, asking for per-
.l.i'sion to open bids and make a CON
Tract for the unloading of scows in re-
moving ashes. The Comptroller de
clared that he had never seen these
proposed contracts, and objected to Civ
ing authority to the department to
make them until they had been
thoroughly looked into.
Worst Record in History
This department, that has the worst
record in the city administration,
said the Comptroller, comes in here
in This slipshod manner and asks per
mission to make contracts that have
not even been considered by mem ers
Of this board or any one else. 1t is
contrary to public policy
A representative OF tho Street Clean
ing Department explained that the
city had no plant or means OF removing
the ashes since the old contract was
discontinued last ADril. lie declared
that the department was losing $10,-
o000 day by trying to do the work
under present conditions. That state
ment drew a reply from Mayor Iiylan.
We'll have to get action right here
to-day," he said. We can't go on
losing money"
The resolution was adopted, the
Comptroller voting III the negative