New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-27
Somers Urges
Board to Seek
Craigg'sRe1noval
Declares Loose Talk in
Coney School Site Charge
Is Characteristic of the
Entire Hylan Regime
Decentralization Purchase
Former Education Hea d
Says Attack Is Unfair
and Asks Prompt Action

In the defense OF DR.. Edward B.
Shallow, made by Arthur s. Somers at
the last meeting of the Board Of Edu-
cation, the former president of the
board urged that it prefer charges
against Comptroller Charles l.. Craig,
and that the Governor be asked to re-
move him from office, it was learned
yesterday. Mr.. Somers said that he
was still of the same mind and would
ask the board to take up his recon-
mendation for action at the next meet
ing.
Mr. Somers established a precedent
when he proposed that this drastic
step be taken by the board. He based
his recommendation upon the charges
of irregularity in real estate purchases
made against Associate Superintendent
Shallow by Comptroller Craig as
result of the controversy over the Sc
lection of school sites at Coney Island.
1t was after a vote of confidence in
Dr.. Shallow had been passed by the
board that MI. Craig asked District At
torney Harry e. Lewis of Kings Coun-
ty to investigate DR.. Shadows recon-
mendations for the purchase of certain
sites on Neptune Avenue, charging him
with collision and Irregularities When
the grand jury met to examine the
matter, Judge McNahon warned it to
beware Of political mountebanks who
seek to use the powers and influence of
grand jury to assail the characters of
men without cause
In defending DR.. Shallow before the
board Mr.. Somers said that unless the
statements Of Comptroller Craig were
founded upon facts that could be alb
solutely proved, and unless he made
an effort to prove these facts if he had
any in his possession, Mr.. Craig should
be disqualified from Office.
II believe it to be the duty Of the
Board Of Education," Mi. Somers said.
ITO apply to the Governor of the state
and ask for the removal of a man who
makes such an unworthy and unholv
charge against innocent men and
women"
Mr.. Somers further declared that IAN
aspcrsion has been cast upon this
board, and more especially upon one
Of our own employees, Associate Super
intendent Shallow, who I'D to this mo-
ment has borne the brunt of the criti-
cism single-handed and alone" He
said that it was absurd to accuse DR..
Shallow of COLLISION, as he was not in
the real estate business and had been
proven to be q faithful employee of
the city
THAT charge, coming from and re-
iterated by the Comptroller, makes the
impression sink deeper and deeper into
the public miud,' Mr.. Somers said, "and
we have not entered one word of pro-
test"
Yesterday, when Mr.. Somers was
questioned concerning his remarks to
the Board Of Education, he said tho
matter would be brought up again at
the forthcoming meeting, which will
probably be called IN a month or less
ments," Mr.. Somers said yesterday,
that the Board of Education has been
guilty Of corruption and fraud. We
cannot permit language of this kind,
carrying charges of SO serious a nature.
to be used by city official. A man
who makes charges without proving
them is unfit for public Office. The
loose language used by Mr.. Craig about
the school site Is characteristic of the
entire Hylan regime
DR.. Shallow is bringing suit against
the Comptroller for defamation Of
character, but so far as the school site
controversy is concerned, it looks az
though the Com ptroller is trying to
skip 1t.
II went to Coney Island and looked
over the sites, and as far as could
see those selected by DR.. Shallow were
the only ones available. Those sug-
gested by the Comptroller were Of
questionable ownership and some Of
them were not filled in. There were
dredges and scows on the land and
great deal Of work had not boen !
started
"At the present time the whole thing |
is up in the air. we shall take up I
the sites again very soon; in fact, q |
program adopted at the last meeting OF |
the Board Of Education Is to go before |
the Board Of Estimate. This may pre- !!
cipitate the entire question again.
Yesterday afternoon, when Comp
troller Craig was informed Of Mr.. |
Somers's intention to ask the Board Of |
Education to present charges to the
Governor, Mr.. Craig sent word by
secretary that he chad nothing to say, |
officially or unofficially" He might, |
the secretary added, have something
to saw later