New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-05
So, 900 SouvenirPrograrn
at Olympic Reception,
With Mayors Picture,
Is Committee Evidence
Uplifters Called
Publicity Bureau
Early Hearing ON Charge
That City's Funds Are
Used to Pay Boosters

Among the early disclosures prom
ised by the Meyer legislative commit
tee in connection with its investigation
of the Hylan administration is said to
be one concerning the alleged fritterinx
away of the city's money to "press-
agent" the Mayor. This subject, it was
Indicated yesterday, probably will be
one OF the first taken up by the COM
mittee upon the Inauguration Of its
hearings in City Hall tomorrow.
Members of the committee say that
as result of careful inquiry they
will be able to show that from the
moment Mayor Hylan took Office the
municipalities funds have been squan-
dered on various publicity enterprises
designed to popularize the Mayor and
his administration. They point to the
small army of Mayors committees''
organized ostensibly for upiift and well
fare projects, and indicate that an
effort is being made to find out how
much of the citys money has been ex-
pended on these committees.
Olympic Banquet Scrutinixed
A typical instance of the so-called
exploitation of the Mayor and his rule
is mentioned in connection with the
return of the American athletes from
the last Olympian games. At that time,
it is said, one of the Mayors numerous
committees welcomed the athletics with
a banquet at Nle Waldorf-Asroria. The
bill rendered by Oscar, covering all
formation in the hands of the investi-
gators, approximately $4,000. There
was no dispute about the reasonable
ness of this charge, and it was paid.
The bill for printing and engraving
in connection with the affair, however
was for more than $1,000, according to
the committees information. The ma
jor portion of the expense of this item
seems to have been incurred in the
preparation Of a souvenir program the
most prominent feature of which was
a full page engraving of the Mayor.
This $1,000 bill for printing and en-.
gered City Comptroller Craig, who
promptly held it up for investigation
So far as the committee can learn the
concern that turned out the souvenir
has not yet been paid.
Among other methods Of alleged ex
ploitation of the Mayor being investi
gated by the committee is one referred
to by members as joy-riding on the po
lice boat John F. Hylan. The commit
tee is convinced that the craft has
been used for little or no police work
and more recently has been employed
they say, for taking out select parties
of the Mayors friends for Surveys Of
the harbor," Examination of port ia.
cilities" and for various other "civie
Improvement" trips.
Pay Roll-Padding Charges
Members of the committee declared
yesterday that they had reason to be-
lieve that the Hylan administration ha.
begun a systematic loading Of the city
pay roll with small-fry politicians. Il
is investigating reports that the Tam
many-Hylan district leaders are bur
dening the bureaus and departments
with per diem employees.
Another phase of the administration.
activities under scrutiny of the Meyer
committee has to do with the rail.
roading through the Board of Esti
mate during the last two months o1
fat appropriations for the purchase Of
obsolete ferryboats, which must in.
evitably. say the committee men, b.
operated by the city at big loss.