The New York herald., 1922-04-29
Demands Action by Tran
sit Board in Series of
Resolutions.
EXCUSES ARE DISPUTED
McAneny Says Estimate B0dy's
Explanation Is 'Mendacious'
and Smoke Screen

Mayor Hylan and the Board of Esti-
mate bowed yesterday to the mandate
of Gov. Miller. They approved unani-
mously three important "key" con-
tracts for subway construction aggre-
eating s212.444.75. Just nine days had
elapsed since the Governor, speaking
on April 19-Lexington Day-had
denounced the city administrators
policy of transit obstruction and had
ordered 1t stopped under penalty of
more drastic action"
OF the three contracts voted. all of
which have been in the hands of the
Board Of Estimate since last summer
the first was s95,500 for ties and tim
ber for use on various lines, but largely
for the Fourteenth street. Eastern Dis
trict B. r. It. subway, the dire need Of
which transit artery Gov. Miller had
emphasized in his address. 1t went to
the board May 26, 1921.
The second, in the sum of s19.500.
was for treated ties" exclusively for
the Fourteenth street. Eastern District
line, and the third, appropriaing $97.-
444.75, was for track installation in the
Livonia avenue yard Of the Inter-
borough's Brooklyn extension. They
were sent to the board on July and
May rs. respectively. 1921
Excuses Action of Board.
49, rJ-,oo ta.,,na - .xrlanof fArv
comment In which he endeavored 10 shift
upon the Transit Commission the burden
for the long delay. The Mayor said:
Il am voting to approve these three
contracts because the prices are now
not widely at variance with present
market prices. In doing this 1 ara alive
to the fact that If the State Transit
Commission had advertised these con-
tracts after we declined to approve
them last August 1t could have obtained
lower prices. particularly along about
September of last year. 1t Is only be-
cause market prices have gone back
little that / approve these contracts at
this time. but this does not excuse the
nine months delay of the State Transit
Commission in the matter. Ii could
have readvertised these contracts at any
time during these past nine months and
could have lad them back her. within
any two week period on a lower basis"
The capitulation by the Board If Esti-
mate was accompanied also BY long
preamble and resolution, introduced by
the Mayor and adopted unanimously by
his colleagues. 1t was detailed indict-
ment of the Transit Commission for
that body's alleged sins of omission and
COMMISSION. Members of the Transit
Commission characterized it as che
most amazing display of inaccuracy and
mendacity ever spread upon public
'tcord," and as "a smoke screen emitted
b an effort to save it's face by lie city
administration"
Transit Chairman Pleased.
George McAneny. chairman OF the
Transit Commission, said:
THE action taken by the board In
finally approving the delayed key con-
tracts for the Fourteenth street and LIZ
yonia avenue work Is of course pleasing
10 the Transit Commission. Both OF the
major contracts in question--that for
ties and timber, without which no track
work at all could be commenced and
that for the track installation In the Lii
,vonia avenue yard, without which the
Livonia avenue extension, otherwise long
since completed. cannot be operated
were sent to the Board OF Estimate on
May 26. 1921.
There has been, therefore. a little
more than eleven months OF delay. That
period has measured in turn the delay
upon the other parts of these two i'm
portant lines. The contracts returned to
the commission two days ago and since
readvertised were for minor parts OF the
work. tThey aggregated $4,000, chiefly
for spikes, nuts. bolts. tie plates. &c.)
The vital part OF the delayed work can
now proceed without interruption.
THE commission has no further conn
ment upon the incident OF the moment
except to suggest that the record com.
pleted by the Board of Estimate to-day
speaks for itself. The general resolu-
lions adopted by the board concerning
previous failures of action, which the
commission must regard somewhat in the
nature C a smoke screen for the action
that followed. we assume viii be for
mally submitted to us. When they are
received and the various suggestions
they carry have had proper considera-
ton the board may be assured II will
set prompt reply"
Tells of Good Intentions.
The preamble and resolutions which
Chairman McAneny branded as "menda-
cious" and "a smoke SCREEN" set forth
that 'the Board of Estimate and APP
portionment has been desirous OF taking
favorable action upon contracts In order
10 progress construction of the Four
teenth street-Eastern District line and
such other subway construction as Is
under way"
The first of the series of resolutions
condemns the Transit Commission for
lis inexcusabe nine months' delays in
Icadvertlsing contracts IN connection
with the Fourteenth street-Eastern Dis
Continued on Page Seven.
Theatrical and Hotel and Restaurants.