MAYOR OF NEW YORK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 94, 22 April 1931, Page 9

MAYOR OF NEW YORK

EEPLY TO CHAECtES

PARTY POLITICS BLAMED

NEW TOEK, 20 th ApriL '

Governor Roosevelt, -of New YorK State, has received a 15,000-word document .from the Mayor of New York, Mr. James Walker, requesting that th» charges against him be dismissed. Mr. Walker has offered a strong defence of his administration, and has attacked,his, critics' accusations as "unwarranted and false." • '

Mr. "Walker has published in New York a spirited reply to charges made yesterday by the local representative* of the National Republican Club, criticising the Mayor's personal habits. Mr. Walker stated: "When such a. !body employs this means of creating internal dissent it seems time to call out the disinfecting squad, "This committee has laboured and brought forth a shower of sulphuretted, 'hydrogen gas, ■ offensive to Kepublicans as well ns to Democrats. . As to rayj 'private life, I will match it against those of the composers of this tirade." ' : Mr. Walker's supporters have characterised the Eepublican Club's attach <as "an outrage and an absurdity."

On 18th March the New York City, ,Aftairs Committee formulated tea 'charges against the Mayor, Mr. Janie* J. Walker, and demanded his removal. The charges, which appeared over tha names of Dr.' John Haynes Holmes and Eabbi Steven S. "Wise, spoke of tha Mayor's "gross betrayal of public duty,"his "failure to speak one olear and earnest word of' disapproval of this orgy of corruption," and alleged that he did not assist the inquiry which is proceeding into Magistrates' Courts, but "actually sought to block its progress.'' The Mayor, tho letter charged, was re« sponsible for the corruption of his subi ordinates, the breakdown of the do* partments of government, the collapsS of law and order, and the prevalence of low standards of public life under) his administration. He "had brought' tho city's administration into disrepute by daily neglect of the affairs of office, caroless standards of public life,_ and complete indifference to the inefficiency) and honesty of his appointed subordin.* ates," it was alleged. The charges arise out of the oondition of affairs which has led to New York being termed "a sort of municipal Teapot Dome." The Board of Standards, the hospitals department, the office of the Commissioner of Licences, the dock department, the Magistrates' Conrts, and Police Force have all been tho sub« ject of revelations of curruption. Last month the Mayor fled from "th» scandals of New York" to seek sunshine, rest, and quiet for a month in California. He could not, it was said, endure the epidemic of investigation! proceeding into ' the conduct of hia administration under the rule of Tammany Hall. The Society for the Prevention o^ Crime, acting in conjunction with tha Citizens' Union and 52 church organic ations, addressed a letter to every member of the State Legislature askmg foj a wholesale investigation into civitf affairs, and particularly into the ad« visability of relieving Mayor Walke^ of the burdens of office.

Mr. Walker's personal integrity, mi not assailed, but ho is acensed of flippancy and of being quite incapable of correcting the evil conditions which, prevail. Mr. Walker, however, was unperturbed. At Chicago he was asked "What have you to say to reports that charge*, of malfeasance in office are to be; brought against you?" "Nothing," he blithely replied. "Not thing but tho broad smile on my t&c&r-