New-York tribune., 1921-10-13
Brown DenouncesDepart-
ment, He Says Hylan
Controls, as Incompe.
lent and Mislnanaged
Contract Award
System Assailed
Testimony Alleges Drug
gist, Named as En- ngineer,
Got Brooklyn Park Job

Elon L. Brown. chief counsel to the
Meyer legislative investigating COM
mttee. charged gross mismanagement,
great incompetency and waste of money
In the conduct Of the Street Cleaning
Department at tine conclusion Of his
examination into the affairs of this
branch Of the city government yester-
day
On the basis of the evidence adduccd
he asserted, the administration of the
department was SO "absurd' that its
reorganization should be effected, if
necessary, by the Leg stature.
Mayor Directs Department
Nest of the testimony upon which
Mr Brown based his conclusions was
developed through Arnold B. Mcstay,
Commissioner Of the department from
January. 1918. until January. 1921;
John ?. Leo, present Commissioner, and
other witnesses. 1t was shown how
the Mayor practically took over per
so1al supervision Of The department
soon after Mr.. McStay's appointment
and how the real conduct Of the de-
pargment vas placed in the hands of a
deputy commissioner at the Mayors
direction.
1t was revealed further how the
Mayor ordered the dismissal of H..
Warren Hubbard, Tammany district
leader. IS one of the departments dep
uty commissioners on the ground that
ne "did not want any one in the de-
parJment who used his Office for politi-
"a. purposes Hubbard, however, was
shortly thereafter given position in
the Department Of Markets at an in
cease Of $1,000 in his yearly salary.
Hr. Brown characterized the action as
6 case Of kicking Hubbard upstairs"
hubbacd's "remoyal' is said to have
~sn Influenced by his having hired
s.ucks for the department for $35 a
- iron +. Paul A. Naccareil, which
a,earelli obtained for $25 day.
Druggist Named as Engineer
Tie evidence also brought to lieht
10 appointment. al the Mayors direc-
ION. OF Dr. Henry J. Kemp, a druggist,
consulting engineer" to the Street
iieaning Department at q salary Of
$50 year. Dr.. Kemp, it was init
mated resigned from this position
saort. after and was appointed secre-
tary 70 me Comm, ioner Of the Park
9spsrtment in Brooklyn on July 7,
1870
Deivi7e into the alleged extrava-
S.nce o. the department in its disposal
+. asaes and rubbish, he pointed to
lie deal wherein the department hired
tss unloading plant at Rikcr's Island
from tie trustees Of the Daily & WINS
nm Tor tits' one days at 81 900 a day
ana spent $4,000 to pat the plant ip
ofaer. Shortly thereafter, = was tes-
tilted. IRE ontire plant was bought in
by tie Rogers & HaGgerty concern for
$4,000. The city has spent SLOT, 900
On the p,ant in fity-one days.
Ncre evidence Of alleged extrava-
gance vas offered in connection with
CARVING away only one load in two
moHtas. II a cost of 5000. 1t was
srown taat in orc instance the scow
niTed mad :ot been inspected and that
!; Co. .1e city 1911 10 put it in Z
condition for use.
Cost Increases in Brooklyn
Il was further brought out that a
system q contracting rom day to day
'or the removal of ashes had been in
yogue II me department, resulting in
N1lcllously hign prices to the city,
s"d tla- tne brooklyn ASH Removal
company was the favored contractor
"Ao got t0e work. In th.s connection
u va saown nat tt cost Two and a
nsI times more for the disposal Of
raooisn r Brooklyn than il does in
Aanaattan or the Bronx.
Joan r Leo, present Street Cleaning
Cor slooer. said on the stand that
ne nopfd 70 eliminate much OF the cost
o. rubbish removal through the erec-
ton of nclnfrators, for which, he
sad, the Board Of Estimate and APP
Poruoaneat lad appropriated $1,000
wv On July H. last. Mr. Brown pointed
o1i' however, mat the resolution set
Nng aside tcs money provided for
reclamation stations" and not incn-
eI1tore and tnat there is no more pos
s.Di.ly ~ Nr Leo's obtaining incln-
sSa'ot- that there is o. nay flying to
ne noon"
81 hrc"n's statement reads:
o7Yat % make Il record for the
eoMIa. ttse ~ the things tnat have
ossa eek.ng 70 establish, and think
re lfetty ~el- estaol shed ~ the egi-
III ! anderstand tae situation there
= ff@fe need of economy and il hap
Pe' every ittle while IN fact. prac-
>.ir 'a every department. that II is
'-el - reduce expenditures over
stf f4'rne ag pfar. N0w. TINS dcpart
rerGit01es ln 1917 amounted
1,): u 1919. s4.O32OO0; in
~ tf0 DJa, .0d 1920, @l3 ,1G3,-
~ an- either 1919 or 1920 was the
Fs< y rficeg, 1921, sle790,000
'st.f. from vhst ! ara golnr 10 say