New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-11
Poor John

~
so far as our reading of the records
has disclosed, no public official, much
less a chief magistrate Of the city,
has ever made such spectacle of
himself as our present Mayor in his
appearance during the last two days
before the legislative investigating
committee in City Hall.
We say that without rancor. We
say it without satisfaction. We say
it without partisanship. We say it
because it is truth whose utterance
not only duty but the well-being of
the city imposes. We say it in the
spirit of the truest pity for John F.
Hylan.
No spectator of what went on in
the Aldermanic Chamber on Tues
day, and again yesterday--no spec
tator willing to divorce himself of
prejudice and forget partisanship
aud put aside the natural resentment
produced by the misgovernment and
the maladministration of the last
three years and eight months-could
listen to the man on the witness
stand without being moved to pity.
He does not mean to be evasive. He
does not mean to be defiant. He
stumbles, he hesitates, he qualities,
or, again, in sheer desperation under
rhe pressure of his inquisitor's ex-
animation, turns to the lawyers sit
ting at his side for some sort of an
answer. 1t is not his ignorance
which excites pity. For ignorance
we have only contempt. 1t is his
sheer stupidity-the stupidity of
schoolboys We can recall who were
even incapable of making their lips
reproduce the answer whispered to
them by a desk mate.
Incredible, unbelievable as it may
seem, it must be accepted that on
Tuesday last the Mayor, although he
had been chairman of the Sinking
Fund Commission for forty-four
rlcnths, did not know the purpose
for which the commission exists He
has undoubtedly been told since, but
Il he were our witness we should
hesitate to submit him to opposing
counsel to-day to be examined on the
same matter He would either have
forgotten what he has been told or
would have such hay picture of it
in his mind as to prejudice a jury.
Yesterday the Mayor admitted
that he did not know that the Bor-
cugh Presidents, under the charter,
we're required to file reports with him
every three months. He could not
remember ever having seen, much
less read, these reports. So many
reports go to the Mayors Office.
Again, he was against inspectors.
There were too many inspectors; too
many inspections by government.
But he had never thought of reduc-
ing the number Of inspectors now
employed by the city. The number
is III excess of two thousand Their
pay roll exceeds S4,000O00 a year.
Senator Brown, counsel to the com
rittee, gave him that information.
The Mayor on the witness stand
produces the impression of never
having thought about anything hav-
ing to do with the welfare of the city
end the lowering of taxes. Consoli-
dation of departments, he agrees
With Senator Brown, undoubtedly
would reduce the cost of admnistra
ton, but ne has never evolved plan
nor caused one to be prepared.
Forty-four months at the head of
tAc greatest business corporation in
the entire world and not a plan pre-
pared nor one to suggest for more
economical way of conducting it
And yet Tammany and Hearst
! propose this man as our Mayor foy
q another four years, Why we now
? know. 1t is clear why they stand BY
him and urge him upon the people
They can do with him as~thev will
He does not know and never vii
know what it is all about. Stupidit,
fcrbids.
Drcy. TNbrf