The New York herald., 1921-10-13
Favoritism and Gross Mis-
management Barred by the
Meyer Inquiry, Says
Brown.
POLITICIANS GOT PLUMs
No Discipline, No Competition,
Just Absolute Monopoly in
Brooklyn, Asserts Com
missioner Leo.

Under the system Of "gross mis-.
management" which has prevailed in
the Department of Street Cleaning
there has been great and unneces-
sary waste, favorite contractors have
been. given their plums year after
year and political necessity has side
tracked business efficiency, Elon r.
Grown, counsel. charged when he
summed up the testimony given yes
terday before the Meyer committee
regarding dozen phases Of the de-
Iartmental activities. He urged the
committee to try to improve condi-
tions through helpful legislation.
Arnold B. MacStay, Street Cleaning
Commissioner for three years and
now Deputy Welfare Commissioner.
told the committee that Mayor Hyian
was complete boss of the department
curing that entire period. The Mayor
dictated all appointments, forced
deputy to resign, insisted upon the
appointment of his druggist to an
engineers job and directed how con.
tracts should be handled, the witness
said.
brooklyn pays about two and
half times as much as Manhattan
for its removal of ashes because of
practical monopoly held on the busi-
moss by one concern. Paul vaccarelli,
known as Paul Kelly, collected S35
TOR trucks which he hired-for S25 in
1918 and 1920. David Hlrshfield,
Commissioners OF Accounts. made
report stating that vaccarelli. John
A. Mccarthy, intimate friend of
Charles F. Murphy, Tammany leader,
and others were leasing trucks to tho
city.
Loss ON Rikcrs Island Plant.
Scows loaded with ashes turned
o1er at their piers and the city paid
'he expenses of dredging. The city
took over q plant on Hikers Island
ou a lease Of 1000 a day for fifty
Two days, spent s5e,00O on it in that
time and sold it for sol, zoo, a loss in
two months of $4,000.
rhs motor equipment purchased by
tie city last year at a cost OF SO, 900. 900
u not manned adequately for snow re.
iroval ard It is a question whether
fls experiment is 10 be a success.
The plan OF building garages at CEN
tral points for that equipment SO the
snow removal apparatus will be 10.
Gated conveniently for storms has not
been carried out. Instead OF spending
$4,000 on several garages 100000 has
been epent on one under the BROOKLYN
Fridge and space is now being rcnted
In other localities.
John p. Leo, Commissioner OF the
department. since last January. ad-
mltted freely he had encountered
many handicaps when he took over
the management, and recited the i'm
provements he is seeking to make.
The Commissioner made the most ia
vorable impression before the commit
tee OF any representative of the HyIan
administration who has been on the
stand. III his summary of charges
against its management Mr.. Brown
said that he liked Mr. Leo and his
conduct, and added his administration
held promise of better things, but ex-
pressed fear he could not do what he
hopes.
Browns Statement.
In his statement Mr.. Brown said:
"This departments expenditures in
1917 amounted TO s7,s29. 900; in 1918.
ss.o3s. 900; in 1919. sl1.e4o,ooo, and in
1920. sIS.1s3.o00. and either 1919 or
1920 was the peak OF prices; in 1921.
s1s.790. 900, and this year. thanks for
the favor. st.ooo.o 900 less, but million
dollars less is on very small scale OF
reduction.
What am going to say about this
I am going to say. first. excluding
Commissioner Leo in relation to the
state of the department. The con-
tinuance Of the practice for years OF
disposing OF the ashes and sweepings.
rubbish and garbage OF the city by
daily contracts has resulted in pillng
UP expenses most unreasonably. II Is
In violation OF all rules OF business.
The Commissioner was notified on
December 27. 1918. TO take care OF
the Brooklyn waste for twenty days
when he had no equipment for doing
Il. That was dono at an outrageous
Continued os Ninth rage.