A PURITY DRIVE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 356, 18 October 1932, Page 7

A PURITY DRIVE

WAVE OF "CONTRITIQN SWEEPS NEW YO'RK. Coincidentally with the surprise departure for Europe to-day of the ex-Mayor, Mr. Jimmy Walker, his successor launched a drive 'to clean up New Yoi'k. The campaign sticeeeds oue already starteu to cut £40,000,000 from the city's hudget, which the Mayor, Mr. Joseph V. McKee, eommenced with a £3000 cut in his own salary. The new Mayor, who gets down to the City Hall on most days long hefore the time his predecessor used to be out of bed, and who uses the elevated trains in preference to the luxurious car.New Yorkers gave Jimmy for mayoral use, made his statment this afternoon. He gave orders to the police to put an end to all gambling, to clean up all the poolrooms and abolish the bookmakers. , How far he will get with his campaign remains to he seen. , The chief indication of the double 1 campaign is that the Mayor is going to run to succeed himself in Novem- ' ber. He took offifie when Mr. Walker.: resigned in the midst of a probe into ; eharges against his administration. Mr. McKee conferred at length with the Police Commission and then announced that gambling must end. "I will tolerate no gambling as , such while I am in office," he said firmly. "The slot machine, gambling houses and pool-rooms are becoming a growing menace, particularly in 1 Brooklyn." Certain gamblers have been able 1 to continue their operations in the past by obtaining injunctions against the Police Department. To stamp out this praetiee, the new Mayor appointed a special committee of impor-

tant legal men, to study the law and devise means of cutting the red tape. Slot machines, Mr. McKee branded as the most vicious and meanest form of gambling because of its effect upon the young, and. he said he did not 'care if his campaign trod upon the toes of T'ammany Hall. The Mayor proceeded with ' ~ economy campaign by cutting the "softberth" police staff at th'e City Hall in half. Two captains ordered back to street duty were Walker appointees and favourites.

Mr. McKee also gave the New York city radicals their long-sought day in court. But after listening to a lengthy reeital of their "wrongs" he asked them for some suggestions for 5 praetieal cures for the bad govern- ; ment of which th'ey compiained. The • 30 spolcesmen for the 10,000 unem- ; ployed said they were stumped. ' "That's your job," declared Cary Win- ; ter, seeretai'y of the Unemplioyed ■ Council of Greater New York. "Oh, it is not," the Mayor retorted. ' !