New-York tribune., 1921-08-12
Inability of Mayor to
Give Information on
Official Duties Forces
Brown to Call Craig
Inquiry Adjourns
In Partisan Uproar
Hylan Admits Employee
List Could Be Gut;
Recants Campaign Vows

At the conclusion OF Mayor Hy-
lan's third appearance before the
Meyer Legislative committee invcsti
eating the city administration YES
terday Elon r. Brown, the commit
tees chief counsel, threw up hiss
hands with sigh, asserting that hef
had got mot too much light froms
the Mayor and that he would have
to call Comptroller Craig to obtain
the desired important information
with respect to the city's financial
affairs. The Mayors examination
will be postponed until after Mr..
Craig has testified.
The committees counsel had bent
every energy during the morning
and afternoon session to obtain from
the Mayor some suggestion whereby
the cost Of government might be re-
duced. The Mayor declared he
didn't know how the next budget
could be cut down below the previous
one and that it was merely quos-
tlon of how much it would Increase
No Economy Rule for City
When Mr.. Brown insisted that ccono-
mics were being effected in both the
state and national governments and
asked the Mayor if he didn't think a
cut OF 10 per rent could be made In
the clty'5 running expenses, the latter
replied possibly through supplies md
the like of that bat not through wage
or salary reductions. He added that s.
change IN the city's charter giving it
powers equal to second and third class
cities world help.
Mr.. Brown submitted numerous let
ters of the Mayor to department heads,
and his inaugural address, in which he
demanded that strict economies be
practiced in the various bureaus, that
no salaries must be increased. and that
chief not falling in line with his in
structions would be dropped. The Mayor
said he did not know whether any such
economies had been adopted or not, and
that in the matter Of wages and sala-
ries he rad TO depart from the policy
ne laid down and actually recommend
increases.
He did insist, however. that the
bureau OF inebriety" I'd been abol-
ished, to which Mr.. Br-wn replied he
would not make the obvious remark"
Employees Applaud Mayor
The hearing was marked by an ur-
usual demonstration in favor of the
Mayor j.tst at the close of the morning
session, when Mr.. HyIan emphasized
his stand against any cuts in the wages
Of per diem or salaried employees of
the city He said he wanted to correct
misrepresentation of his teztimonv of
the day eefore, when he had said that,
while he was opposed to salary reduc-
tions, the advisability OF cutting per
diem wages was being investigated.
The gallery and floor If the hearing
chamber were packed with spectators a.
the time, many of them apparently en-
ployees OF the city and friends Of the
Mayor. When the Mavor sent his
sentiment home with repeated thumps
on a desk, he was loudly cneercd by
the friendly part Of the audience.
The Mayor protested he did not in
vlte the applauders, and when the
emonstration continued the hearing
was adjourned The place was then
Republican partisans arguing over the
chamber on Mr. Hylan's merits as u
Mayor. Little groups debated in loud
voices in every corner.
John P. Sinnott, the Mayors secre-
tary and son-in-law became involved in
one Of these with Republican at tho
foot of the stairs in the lobby, and was
pushed IN the face by his opponent A
fist fight was averted by the interyen-
ton of riends
Whispering Cabinet Attends
In other respects, the examination
of the Mayor yesterday differed from
Its predecessors in that there was an
easy conversational air about it. and
was entirely lacking in the chickering's
that marked the first two grillinrs.
The Mayor had prepared himself with
sort Of whispering cabinet OF as
slsIants, who were grouped behind him
win voiuminous papers and documents
IN h2nd. At almost every question PIT
by Mr. Brown there was a hurried
buzzing by this cabinet
Inc procedure so finally aroused NJ.
brown, that when one Of the Mayors
a assistants answered in a clearly audi
Die voice query put TO the witness.
the committees counsel snapped:
Let the witness answer alone for
while. | have been fair about this"
The Mayor continued to fall back
upon his complaint that mandatory
leg slation was responsible for the in
crease in the expenses of almost all
the city departments. but when Mr..
brown showed that in a large number
OF Instances there was no such in
huence, the Mayor said he hadn't made
an investigation and didn't know how
departmental costs could be reduced
The Mayor then referred to truck
loads" Of information which the cora
lnittee could have if it would inform
him where it wanted the information
Mr.. Brown then heaved sigh and
raising his hands, remarked
Mir. Chairman, not too much iicst
nas been thrown on the leading oaes-
lions that have asked by an examina-
lion Of the Mayor. referred to the
AK limit, the debt limit and the sink
ng fund. He has himself requested
hat in relation to those matters | so
o the Comptroller. The examination
,as taken somewhat different course.