New-York tribune., 1922-08-25
Ruston Urges
Hylan to Seize
Market Books
Kings District Attorney in
Letter Says Inquiry Has
Revealed Negligence and
Discrepancies i'm Bureau
Insists ON City Probe
Also Advises Suit to Recover
sMulcted Moneys; O'Mal-
ley Silent ON Charges

District Attorney John E. Ruston of
Kings County, in letter addressed to
Mayor Hylan yesterday, urged an i'm
mediate investigation into the methods
Of Market Department employees by
the Commissioner of Accounts and the
seizure of all books and records of
the department to prevent any tam
pering with them. The letter also ad-
vised that suits be commenced by the
Corporation Counsel to recover
moneys Of which the city has been
mulcted through official negligence and
dishonesty.
The District Attorney points out
that conditions were discovered imne-
diately after he began grand jury
investigation into the market affairs in
Kings County which caused him to an
ticipate in letter his intention of
making later report to Mayor Hylan
covering the whole ground of the In
quiry.
Acting Mayor Murray Hubert said
Mayor Hylan was out of town during
the day and the Ruston letter had not
reached him as acting Mayor. I He
refused to comment on published ver-
ssons Of the letter, indicating probn-.
bility that the communication might
pc held for personal action3by the
Mayor.
Commissioner of Markets o,Marley,
who, Mr. Ruston says in his letter,
has confessed an amazing ignorance
as to the contents of weekly reports
filed by pushcart supervisors" was in
his Office during the day, but denied
himself to reporters. Other officials
spoke OF the Ruston letter as "excitinp
IN implication but otherwise deficient"
Commissioner of Accounts Hirshfield
declared it "mere hogwash."
Mr.. Ruston's letter to the Mayor
reads:
My Dear Mr.. Mayor: Investigation
by the grand jury Of this county into
the pushcart peddlers' markets in the
County of Kings has at the outset de-
veloped situation which, I think,
rhould be called to your attention at
cnce.
Giaring Discrepancies
weekly reports filed by some Of the
supervisors show most glaring discrep-
ancies, and the Commissioner of Mar
kets has confessed an amazing ignor-
ance as to their contents. They have
been filed in his Office in a most slip
shod, manner, and apparently have
reyer been audited. They bear no Off
cial file marks. No books are kept
making permanent record of their
contents. No business enterprise could
remain solvent week with such meth
DDS.
I'm some instances there has been
TO attempts to make the reports bal
ance. One supervisor in the year 1921
shows on the face Of his own reports
balance of nearly $500 entirely unac-
counted for. The same supervisor re-
Forts over $500 expended in incident
ais tor which no vouchers are fledno
items given. Other weekly reports
show items for payments made to la
iborers' supported by vouchers signed
by the supervisor himself. Others
show vouchers for money paid to la
borers on the pay roll of the Street
Cleaning Department.
Others show frequent weekly bal
nnces of sums over 500 which should
nave been turned into the sinking fund.
bgts instead of this, were distributed
during the following week to additional
labOrers' and assistants
1t has been my intention to make
complete. report to you Of the result
OF my invetigation when it is, COM
pieted, but deem it my duty to write
you this letter now, so tina. you may
safely impound the reports of super
visors in other counties of the city.
AS | have said they bear no file marks
y . I n. - "a