New-York tribune., 1921-06-19
IIylaln BIal11es
arysCrowd'in i'm
School Expose
Revelations of Firetraps
and Insanitary Buildings
Propaganda, Says the
Mayor in a State IN e nt
Declares He Spent More
Cites Increase of Repair
Bills From Million to
Two and a Half as Proof

Mayor Hylan yesterday declared that
the report filed with Aiming S. Prall,
president of the Board of Education,
by committee representing forty
women's clubs and civic societies, as
serting that the condition of many OF
the public school buildings was so in
sanitary and dangerous in case of fire
as to be menace to the lives and
health of the teachers and children,
was formulated by persons "in sym
pathy with the old Gary school crowd"
The Mayor assumed that the impress
sion sought to be created was that his
administration had been derelict in the
upkeep of the schools. He declared
that this was untrue. The Mayors
statement follows:
"The newspapers on Saturday carried
an article purporting to summarize a
report of nine organizations whose
sympathy is evidently with the old
Gary school crowd, respecting building
conditions in public schools in this city
The implication sought to be conveyed
was that the present administration
has been derelict in respect to upkeep
of buildings by way of repairs, etc.
The conclusion thus sought to be
spread is in keeping with subsidized
malicious propaganda. Its untruthfu-
tanned from public records Its falsity
can be readily demonstrated
"In 1917, the last year Of the
Mitchell administration (Which they
say nothing about), there was provided
(and expended) by the Board of Esti-
mate and Apportionment for repairs
and maintenance of public schools
$795,201,26.
Appropriations Increased
"In 1918, the first year of the present
administration, the amount available
for expenditure was $1,000, ,8944S. In
1919 the amount appropriated was
S926.939,24. In 1920 the amount ap-
propriated was $2,550,000.
From the foregoing it will be seen
that the increase of moneys spent or
appropriated for repairs and main
tenance purposes of public schools has
been increased over the last year of
the Mitchell administration approxi-
mateiy from 20 per cent to 275 per
cent over the 1917 figures despite con-
ditions due to the war prevailing in
the interim.
"lnstead Of revealing neglect these
1gures show a steady surprising of
the effort of preceding years in provid-
ing tor the repair and maintenance
upkeep of the public school buildings
1.-The low mark, $795, 5,201.26, in provd-
ing moneys for repairs and main
tenance was reached in 1917 in the
Mitchell administration. Z he h q II
mark, SS2,550,o 900, for providing CORE
spending moneys has been reached this
year in the present administrations
The theoretical ideal of per cent
Of structure and equipment value
(s2,6o0) that should be provided each
year for repair and maintenance has
practically been reached this year for
the first time in the history of the city.
THE last administration neglected
to keep pace with the construction of
schools to properly seat the children
of the city, and procured the passage
OF laws which retarded the construc-
tlon of new schools. The present ad-
ministration had the law amended.
$40,O00,o00 for New Schools
This administration appropriated
S40,000,00O for new schools. Twenty
seven new schools and large additions
are now under contract, seventeen of
which will be open in September and
probably twenty-five will be available,
providing seating for an additional
10000 children.
eff the Gary propagandists could
have some of the older schoolhouses
(Which have been used in past admins
trations as we'll as the present) con-
demned, it would further their evil
purpose of retarding the increase Of
seating facilities for school children
and accomplish their purpose of fitting
the child solely for the mill and fac
tory"