The New York herald., 1921-10-04
.HYLAN BARSSO
FROM FORMER POST
Over O'Brien's Advice, Mayor
Insists City Has No Place
for Major Demarest.
BEFRIENDED BY CURRAN
Budget Increases Surpass Cuts
in Day, 100000 Going to
Legal Expenses.

Mayor Hylan refused yesterday to
sanction the reinstatement in the Fire
Department Of Major Charles S. Dem
Arrest, world war veteran, who retired
from the municipal service to enter
tho army and who served in the ord
nance Corps in charge OF the MAIN
tenance and repair OF tanks used by
the A. r. F. in France.
The Majors reinstatement was rec
commended by the examiners and came
UP when the Fire Departments bud
get requests for 1922 were being con-
sidered at a meeting Of the Finance
and Budget Committee of the Board OF
Estimate. He was drawing $4,000 a
year as chief Of construction when he
retired to don service uniform. The
tentative budget included an appro-
priation for his back pay.
The Mayors opposition was against
the advice of the Corporation Counsel,
Mr.. O'Brien. who held that special acts
passed by the last Legislature were
for the express purpose of enabling
men of Major Demarest's value to re-
enter the city's service. The Mayor
said:
This man retired and I don't care
how many special acts he got. Hes
retired and he'll stay retired"
Chief Kenion, who attended the hear
ing with Fire Commissioner brennan.
explained that Demarest applied for re-
tirement at the end OF twenty years
service and that. in accordance With tn'
law, the Fire Commissioners was re
quired to approve the application.
Clarence Fay. Commissioner OF Publit
Works, representing Henry n. Curran
Borough President Of Manhattan. who
has interested himself In the fight fol
Major Demarest's reinstatement. at
tempted to show that the Major had
sought a leave Of absence to enter the
army and that hts application had beer
denied Chief Kenlon was not certain
of this, he said. Fire Commissions
| brennan said he thought" Dcmares'
had stated in his application that he
was entering the army.
The committee adopted most OF ths
recommendations of the examiners re-
garding next years budget approoria-
lions. These included an increase OF
$l05. .sOS over the present year for the
Corporation Counsers office and one OF
$s5S. .26e for the Board OF Child Welfare.
The other increases recommended were
81, SO for the Kings County Supreme
Court s2.t6s for the County Courts In
Queens and s3.122 for the Kings Surro-
gates office.
A decrease OF $50. .126 for next year was
recommended for the Department oi
Health and one OF Si06.02o In the appro-
, priation for the Fire Department. Other
decreases were s10.1 1g1 In the expenses o.
the Board OF Elections. 1850 for tho
Surrogates' office in New York county
81. .so5 for the City Magistrates Courts
| $.oD for the District Attorneys office In
Richmond. s2.ibs for the Bureau oi
Weights and Measures and sS.@l In the
appropriation for the Commissioner OF
Accounts.
An increase of more than s132.o0t
in one item Of the Department OF Health
figures over last year was investigated
when Commissioner Copeland appeared
tn urge the requests for his department
II developed that the contract for tho
disposal OF ofYai which was approxi-
rnalely evU.VVU VI NVutu w
$4,000 for 1922. Or. Copeland ex-
p;ained that only one bid was received
II was originally lower. he said, but
after n delay OF ten months. "due to the
Comptroller" the bidder refused to sign
the contract and demanded the higher
figure.
"All this will continue until we come
to a proper method of garbage disposal.
said Or. Copeland.
"we're oil the way toward the solu-
ton OF the problem answered the
Mayor ITS practically holdvp."
Dr Copeland also was successful In
obta ming the tentative approval of the
committee to between $4,000 and si3.-
600 for salary increases in his depart
ment. despite the disapproval OF the
examiners Most Of the other budget
heads failed IN similar cndeavors Bor-
ough President Riegelmsnn of Brooklyn.
who was In a joculsr mood. attributed
Or Copeland's success to the box Of
candy which he passed TO the commit
tee members until the last piece was
gone.
The committee will resume its session
at 10 80 o'clock to-day