New-York tribune., 1921-10-10

were 1ound TO nave no regal basis.
Many Democrats Voted for Bill
THAT is wllful perversion of the
facts, and the most regrettable part OF
it is that Comptroller Craig knows it
to be SO. In 1918, due to war condi-
tions, the necessary requirements for
higher wages for mechanics and labor
on subway construction led to a stop
page Of work. All realized that the sub
ways should be rushed to completion.
"a bill providing for readjustm ents,
TO be made jointly by the Public Service
Commission and the Board Of Estimate.
was prepared after conference between
members Of the Board of Estimate and
the Public Service Commission, and
was requested to and did introduce the
bill, which passed.
"Comptroller Craig we'll knows that
Association; that many prominent
Democrats voted for it, including his
former legal associate, then Senator
Foley, now Surrogate.
mayor Hylan approved the bill in
writing, required by law. where was
the Comptroller when the Mayor had the
bill under consideration? Surely if
anybody was trying to get money from
the city improperly that, Of all times,
was the time to tell the Mayor about it.
Was he on speaking terms with the
Mayor, or did he remain silent so as to
put Mayor Hylan in bad?
Comptroller Paid Large Sums
"Comptroller Craig declined to act
under it, because he did not want the
other members of the Board Of Estimate
and the Public Service Commiss ion,
which made the contracts, to partic
pate in any readjustments. He pre-
ferred to act alone, under an old sec
ton OF the chatter, and paid out large
sums in readjustments.
81 personally opposed the other con
tractors relief bills because they did
not provide for the consent of the
Board Of Estimate.
The talk Of $4,000 900 cost to the
city is nothing but cheap campaign
Of the bill, not one dollar could be
paid out except on a just claim, frs.
approved by the Board Of Estimate.
"A second statement by Comptroller
Craig refers to the 1921 contractors
bill
"The Comptroller knows that op-
posed this bill for four years He
knows that | did not vote for il. and
that II was brought up while ] vas
away on housing matter When
elected Comptroller, as ! fully expect
TO be, | shall decline to act under II
and shall require that all such claim 3
receive public consideration before the
Beard Of Estimate and Appointment,
and not be privately adjusted. shall.
at once seek TO have tie Legislature
amend this act
No Interest in Subway Contracts
"Comptroller Craig also said:
1t IS understood that my opponent.
Senator Lockwood, has the support Of
the subway contractors in his candi-
dacy for Comptroller
IF Comptroller Craig ever received
such information i is wholly false
/ ! demand that he make public every
/ bit OF L with out delay. ! will tolerate te
no further SANDER II he cannot win
honestly in clean campaign he ought
10 be willing to lose.
~ have never had any interest. OF
had any clients with any interest II
subway contracts. and | have no rer-
sonal acquaintance with any subway
/ contractor.
"Comptroller Craig, who frcquentl,
visited Albany in the last four years
apparently has been most friendly II
his personal relations with me. arr OF
many occasions has voluntarily praised
my legislative work Tn.s continue
down 70 the exposures made before tht
joint legislative committee on housing
Of whicn i am chairman, by S>nGe
/ Cntermyer. is counsel.
Craig Favored Bid
a resolution passed BY the Boar,
Of Estimate Decem Der 30. 1919. pro
vided shat the Comptroller be and IA
hereby IS continued T. a committee o.
courthouse, Win authority to approv
Of sncn changes in plans. specification
and form of contracts as shall not ma
terially Increase the cost Of construc
ton or chanre the quality Of The work
etc
The testimony before the housin
committee showed that the Nettric
matched bid for the limestone or IN
courthouse WAS approved By the Boar
OF Estimate, Comptroller Craig an
others voting in favor of it; Pres'den
OF the Board Of Aldermen la Guer6i
and President II the Borough OF Man
haitian Curran voting against It.
The bid was for Sl.S40.000.
Other testimony showed that pr
vate corporation contracted for tn
sume quality and about the same guam
tity Of hmcstone at about the sam
time for about $4,000.
Allowing for difference in coat o
labor and transportation, the huge sur
Of $4,000, we had going from the tax
epayers' pockets on this Job $S0o,00l