New-York tribune., 1922-02-18
Craig Presents
lrate Role in
Scrap of Papers
Stewart Browne Appears as
lncensed Citizen and
Serves Those Documents
at Estimate Board Meeting
Policeman Acts as Escort
Hubert Plays Peaccmakcr,
While Riegelmann Turns
Self Into Verbal Bounccr

The Board of Estimate put on an un-
usually good show yesterday. Mayor
Hylan, who crcated tho role Of peace
maker, being absent, Acting Mayor
Murray Hubert undcrstuded him. but
with somewhat less success In the part.
Borough President Ricgelmann OF Brook
]yn, who relieved MIR. Hubert momcn-
tarlly, interpreted the role with more
torco. Comptroller Charles l.. Craig
WAS in his oft-stagcl part of the irato
coined1an. Stewart Browne, prcsdcnt
OF the United Real Estate Owners AS
sociauon, playing citizen, did his
pest, "nlch was none too good
Mr.. Browne got his cue when the
board meeting opened. He made his
way into the well. where the reporters
sit, and approaching the Comptroller r
waved couple of legal documents at
him and then threw them on the desk
III trout of Mr. Craig. The Comp
troller, who is not unused to the form
and hkcncss of court contempt papers
pushed them back at Mr.. Browne With
out looking at them.
axe that away said the Conn
troilcr "Thcrc Is time and a place
for everything"
Browne Makes Angry Exit
BY way of reply Mr.. Browne showed
the papers back at the Comptrollcr and
the Comptroller instantly showed them
back again at Mr.. Browne. Thev slid
over the edge of the desk and droppc d
to the floor beyond the eve of Mr.
Craig. Mr.. Browne did not stoop to
PICK them up. With jaw set and with
out audible uttcrancc he left the cham
bcr.
The Comptroller called q mcssc 1ccr
ana sent him scurrying after the real
estate man, with request that he
come back before the board. The mes
scngcr and Mr.. Browne argued all the
way down The stairs into the lower
corridor of City Hals. Patrolman
Michael Cox, who is stationed on the
ground floor approached to inquire
INTO the trouble. The messenger cx-
planned and the patrolman escorted
the arguers back to the chamber and
stood them in front of the bar of the
board. Mr.. Brownies features indi-
Gated surprise.
Turning to Acting Mayor Hubert
the Comptroller exclaimed:
Mr.. Mayor, ask you to use your
power as sitting magistrate, right
here, and commit this man Browne for
OlSOTucTly CONQuCt.
Mr.; Browne tried to speak. His
mouth opened, but no sound came out
He merely gasped. Borough President
Rlegelmann cut in
Mr.. Mayor, that's out Of order" he
said; "wc have Board of Estimate
calendar to dispose Of"
The Acting Mayor looked from o. c
to the other Of the members of the
board, swept a glance at Mr.. Browne
but said nothing.
IL move we proceed" continued the
Brooklyn Borough President, "and that
Mr.. Browne be escorted out in state
by cop"
The real estate man left the cham
Der quietly, escorted to the door by 6
policeman. He had his say after be
got outside. He explained that the
papers he tried to serve on the Comp
cent decision of the Court of Appeals
ordering the Board OF Estimate to re
store several hundred thousand dollars
OF city employees pension funds which
had been cut from the 1922 budget.
Paper Service Explained
GAS the Board OF Estimate is in con
tempt of the Supreme Court, the Appel
late Division and the Court of Ap
PColo III NV Itdhll5 lhC Ouu6CI 90 "a
dered," said Mr.. Browne, lit became
necessary to serve the members Of the
Board Of Estimate with certified cop!
of the Court of Appeals decision. I ha,
no trouble in serving any member cX
cept the Comptroller.
"If it is possible to bring Craig W
before the police court or the Supreme
Court for his actions I will do so, d:
some remedy must be found to put {
stop to his disorderly treatment Of Su
preme Court orders and those wh<
serve them on him."
After Mr.. Browne had left the meet
ing the Comptroller summed up hi.
side of the case as follows:
"If Acting Mayor Hubert had gone
through with the plan to try Browne
for disorderly conduct Browne might
have been in Jail by this time and un
able to poster the Board of Estimate
Browne will make public nuisance O.
himself once too often. don't know
what Brownies papers contain and
don't know what happened to them"
No one else in the Board of EST
mate seemed to know either. Mr.
Browne declared that he did not takt
them away with him. He insisted tina
the Comptroller had been legall.
served.