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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SUNDAY, MAY 14, 1944


CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

TEXT OF MAYOR F. H. LA GUARDIA'S SUNDAY BROADCAST TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK FROM THE MAYOR'S HOUSE, MAY 14, 1944, BROADCAST OVER WNYC AT 1:00 P.M. FOLLOWS:


Patience and Fortitude.

MEAT

The supply of food generally in the city is most satisfactory. There is sufficient fresh meats, pork and beef; lamb is a little short. Again I want to congratulate the housewives and homekeepers of the city in their very sensible approach to the purchase of meats since the removal of ration points. May I ask you not to indulge in the purchase of canned fish or canned meats at this time. There is a plentiful supply of produce and also fresh meat and therefore it is not good to buy canned fish and canned meats at this time. We want them on the shelves of the grocers where we can get them when the fresh supply is reduced.

I want to call your attention to a small sized consumer meat price chart now distributed by the OPA. They are very handy - be sure and get one. If you have any difficulty, either write to the OPA or to the City Department of Markets and we will be glad to help you get a copy. Please watch prices on poultry - live poultry and dressed poultry - and do not pay more than ceiling prices. If you notice any attempt to charge above ceiling prices report it at once.

As I said before, the supply is rather satisfactory. We had about the same supply of beef last week as we had the week before and just 2,000,000 pounds more than the corresponding week a year ago, and about 1,000,000 pounds more of pork this week than we had the corresponding week a year ago.


FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

That brings up the subject of the flow of fresh produce in our city. The crops are very good and very satisfactory in neighboring states as well as in California, which of course is to the advantage of the consumers. That is why we want to keep the wholesale terminal Markets open six days a week. Of course, all of the wholesale markets in city markets were open last Saturday. So, too, were the reliable and cooperative wholesalers in Washington Markets. I received a communication from the Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, D.C. referring to the desirability of 6 days operation of the fruit and vegetable markets of New York. Commissioner J. M. Johnson states that he is glad to see that New York City is cooperating in the 6 day operation of the fruit and vegetable markets, particularly the markets under its control and then goes on to say:

"This move on your part will do much to expedite the release of badly needed refrigerator cars, I hope the other markets will do likewise.

As representatives of the War Manpower Commission and Food Distribution administration were present at your meeting, and favored a 6-day week, I am sending a copy of this letter to those departments expressing my appreciation to them."

Copies were sent to Hon. Paul V. McNutt, Chairman of the War Manpower Commission and to Hon. Marvin Jones, War Food Administrator. The letter I have read is signed by J. M. Johnson, Commissioner, Interstate Commerce Commission.

Don't you see how far reaching an effect this has, not only in getting the supply here but in releasing refrigerator cars. There are 3 very important departments of the Federal Government -- The Interstate Commerce Commission, the War Manpower Commission and the War Food Administrator "" all concerned in the constant flow of fresh produce brought about by a 6 day operation of our terminal markets. I received communications from the growers and shippers of vegetable associations of California and also a communication from merchants in Washington Market in which they write:

'I am writing to commend you for the stand you are taking for a 6 day week. This is surely in the interest of the great majority of growers, particularly Long Island, New Jersey and along the Atlantic Seaboard, also in New York State.

It is of great benefit to consumers of New York City. These nearby vegetables are being hauled 150 to 250 to 300 miles into New York City by truck without any refrigeration facilities.

You see these are the nearby states covered by truck.

With the market closed here on Saturdays, this would mean that these vegetables would have to be harvested on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This can only have one result; the majority of the consumers of New York City will have to buy stale vegetables on Saturday for their Sunday dinners.

It would also impose a terrific hardship on the growers and a lot of food will be wasted as the grower cannot do any harvesting whatsoever on Friday. The last harvesting he could do for the New York Market is Thursday afternoon in order to get to the New York market on Thursday night."

We are not going to permit any spoiled food to be sold to the consumers in this city and I am issuing orders to the Department of Health to watch those dealers who are closed on Saturday who are attempting to bear down the price to the growers and increase the price to the consumers on stale and spoiling vegetables. We will watch them very carefully.

The Suffolk County Farms Bureau writes: "We would like to point out to you that a 5 day week in the New York City Produce Market is sure to result in a large wastage of Long Island grown vegetables." You know what that means - less vegetables and higher prices. We are watching that and I want to express my appreciation to the reliable, cooperative wholesalers who are helping.


REFRESHMENTS SOLD AT CEILING PRICES

I have received many inquiries of late concerning refreshments sold at different places, particularly on city property, asking if ceiling prices apply there, too. Why, of course they do. I attended to the particular complaint of the price of refreshments at the Staten Island Ferry. Commissioner McKenzie got busy right away and now you can get your coca-cola at the regular price. Coca-cola and pepsi-cola, sasparilla, usually sold at 5 cents, should be sold at 5 cents. At the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium where there is special service, whatever the price was in March 1942, is the ceiling price today. Of course, any concessionaire on city property must adhere to ceiling prices and regulations. Do not hesitate to inform the department or the Mayor if you see any disregard of the prices.


OPA ENFORCEMENT

This week the Department of Markets served 457 Magistrates summonses for violation of ceiling prices, 140 departmental summonses and 1,241 warnings. That is a pretty high amount of warnings - they must have been first offenders. During the past two weeks the City Sheriff issued a net total of 147 Magistrates Courts Summonses against 8 wholesale food merchants. One hundred and eight of these charges involved the sale of butter and eggs; 19 involved the sale of fruits and vegetables; 19 involved the sale of meats and provisions and one involved the sale of cheese. These are violations on the part of wholesalers.


WARNING RE: ITINERANT PEDDLERS

Again at this time of the year I want to warn people of the City of New York to patronize stores and to keep away from itinerant peddlers entirely. In the first place these men are not examined and their condition is not known. We do not know anything about their product and it is impossible to identify them in the case of short weight or fraudulent sales or sale of impure articles. I received a complaint about some peddlers in the garment center who are selling neckties and things like that. I will attend to it. I will tell Commissioner Valentine tomorrow at our regular weekly conference. Thank you for calling the matter to our attention.


HEALTH PLAN

Well, I am sure you want to hear of any progress in our medical plan for the City of New York - and there is. I have pioneered a great many things in my time, but I have never had so much universal encouragement as I find now. I am so happy to see that the House of Delegates of the Medical Society of the State of New York has voted its approval of a new organization, known as The United Medical Service, Inc. It will provide prepaid medical insurance for the lower income groups of the 17 lower counties of New York State. This plan covers insurance only for major operations or catastrophic illness. It does not seek to avoid catastrophic illness, but the plan does propose a general understanding of the problem. We will take advantage of this United Medical Service as long as we can get it and until a better coverage is available. This is a step in the right direction. It is great progress. I want to congratulate the Medical Society of the State of New York for this initial step and to insure them of our complete cooperation and also I want to congratulate Mr. Louis Pink of the Associated Hospital Service of New York. He has just announced that, in addition to offering semi-private care for hospitals, from now on he will offer ward care for those who wish to purchase the latter at a lower price, that is, care in a ward in a hospital.

Oh, don't you see how things are moving now. It all is leading toward the ultimate objective of prepaid health insurance. By the way, the first underwriter to our plan for organization was announced yesterday. Mr. David Heyman informed me that the New York Foundation agreed to underwrite $150,000 for preliminary expenses in getting the New York Medical care plan going. We are expecting other underwriters. I want to express my thanks to the New York Foundation for this first actual token of encouragement.


SELECTIVE SERVICE

Some definite rules finally have been announced concerning Selective Service. You now know that anyone employed in any activity relating to utilities, food, clothing, fuel, housing, health and other services between the ages of 30 and 37 may be deferred.

I asked Col. Arthur McDermott, the head of the Selective Service in New York City who, as you all know, is doing such an excellent job, as to its application to city employees. Col. McDermott informs me as follows:

"It is my opinion that Municipal Government and Administration may be regarded as an activity 'in support of the national health, safety, and interest' within the meaning and intent of Local Board Memorandum #115, and that consequently all employees of the City of New York who have passed their 50th birthday may properly be granted occupational deferments by their Local Boards."

That is very clear, isn't it. City employees in the age group 26 to 29 may be granted occupational deferment only if it is established that they are necessary men. Now that makes it clear. At the present time, I believe we have very few men left in either the Police or Fire departments of that age. We will cooperate with Selective Service and anyone under the age of 26, or under the ago of 29, who wishes to apply for deferment will first have to get the approval of his department head and then President Newbold Morris the head of the City War Manpower Committee and then of the Mayor. With the exception of Hospitals, I doubt whether we would approve any application of deferment unless it is of unusual and extraordinary skill or specialized service.


U.S. MARITIME SERVICE INVITATION

I am very happy to extend an invitation, on behalf of Rear Admiral A. B. Randall, United States Naval Reserve Commandant of the United States Maritime Service, to the people of the City of New York. You have seen so much about Liberty ships, Victory ships, transports and Merchant Marine; and you have seen pictures of them in the papers, but I doubt if very many of you have ever visited any of the ships. Admiral Randall invites you to visit aboard the U. S. Maritime Service. It is a training ship and will be open to inspection on May 20, 21, 22 and 25.
The ship will be at Pier 1, North River, down at Battery Place, and will be open to inspection, let's see, on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, next, at Pier 1, North River. I think you will want to see just how the supplies and munitions are sent to our boys and how our boys are carried overseas. If you have anyone in the Merchant Marine, of course you will be interested, so avail yourself of this kind invitation.


SOLDIER BALLOT

In writing to your boys who are in the service with regard to the soldiers ballot, you know we always assume that everybody knows everything - put the direct question to them, 'Have you received the ballot to vote next November? Do you want to vote? Please answer these questions specifically? Answer each of these questions?' When he answers and says 'I have not received my ballot, yes I do want to vote', that in and of itself is construed as an application for a ballot. You can send that to the State War Ballot Commission and they will send the soldier or sailor a ballot. Be sure and do that. I am receiving a great number of applications and we are sending them right off to the War Ballot Commission. You can enclose a card to the boy in the service which you can obtain from the War Ballot Commission, which in turn he will mail and it will bring the ballot to him. Oh, I know, all this is involved, but I said that in the beginning. What we are trying to do now is to get the best that we can out of this cumbersome law and give the boys a chance to vote.


EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS

Some time ago you know I was criticized, well, not really criticized by any responsible people, but there was comment made on the use of prisoners in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Since that time, the prisoners have rendered 137,112 hours of labor, or 22,852 labor days, in hospitals as I announced at the time. The work is very satisfactory. In this period we lost 2 prisoners. I don't think we have lost them definitely. I am sure we will pick them up or get them again. The work is satisfactory and the discipline has been excellent. There has not been one instant where the conduct of a prisoner could be criticized. Of course, we are even short of good manpower in prison these days, but we will utilize all that we can.


ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT

I want to call your attention to the annual report of the SuperIntendent of Education which is out. The Superintendent of Schools presents his annual report of the school year 1942-1943 with facts and figures brought up to date. The report gives a picture of New York City public schools in war time. It is the report of Dr. John E. Wade, Superintendent of Schools. It is not quite as elaborate as the usual annual report of all the children, but it is a very elaborate and interesting report. The illustrations are just beautiful. You feel like taking some of these children and lifting them right off the page and hugging them. It is a very splendid presentation of our activities.

This is interesting. In round numbers, we talk about the $180,000,000 we spend annually for schools in New York City. The dollars broken down, that is, out of every dollar spent for schools 3.7 goes for administration; 85.2 for instruction; auxiliary instruction 1.2; operation of school plants 6.0; maintenance of school plant 2.9; fixed charges and miscellaneous 1/10 of a cent. That makes up the 100 cents in a dollar. That is a very splendid distribution breakdown of a dollar when 85.2 goes direct for instruction and 6.9 for your plant maintenance. I will tell you, you cannot beat that very much. This is interesting. You know that we have 10,172 handicapped children in our schools who require special attention, special treatment and special care in education. Of these, 1,396 are cardiac children in health improvement classes in schools, hospitals and convalescent homes; 4,415 are children with lowered vitality in health improvement classes in schools and in convalescent homes; 834 are orthopedically handicapped children in special classes in schools; 667 are orthopedically handicapped children in hospitals and convalescent homes; 178 are chronic medical cases in hospitals; 239 are tubercular children in outdoor classes; 1,693 are homebound physically handicapped children; 76 are orthopedically handicapped children receiving physiotherapy treatments and 750 are physically handicapped students transported to high schools. That is a total of 10,172 children for which wo have 623 specialized teachers in 414 classes. We visit and educate these children in 1,693 homes, 335 schools and the balance in hospitals and convalescent homes. That is a very useful work that we hear very little about.

The registration of children has fallen off quite considerably. For instance, in kindergarten in 1934, we had about 43,000, while in March, 1944, we had about 40,000. In the day elementary, regular grade schools in 1934 we had 680,000, while in March, 1944 we had 450,000; in special classes in 1934 we had 19,000, while in March 1944 we had about 17,000. Junior High Schools dropped from 118,000 in 1934 to 110,000 in 1944. Day high schools dropped from 241,000 in 1934 to 180,000 in 1944. Vocational high schools jumped from 22,000 in 1934 to 47,000 in March, 1944.

This report is so fascinating I could go on indefinitely. It closes with a very good outline and picture of the postwar school building program. I do not know how plentiful or available these reports are, but anyone interested should apply direct to the Board of Education.


CITIZENSHIP TRAINING IN SCHOOLS

Talking about schools, the other day, while I was sick at home, I had plenty of time to listen to the radio and I was very much impressed by a program from the Brooklyn Technical High School. They were talking and teaching about democracy in school. Their details and their technique were very good. They developed the idea of how training in the school is useful to good citizenship. In answer to some suggestions made in the course of the main program, Ann Goldman of Junior High School 10 in Queens, shot this question to one of the narrators. 'I disagree with you. I think that in some class room elections, it's a case of 'you nominate me and I'll nominate you'. Also, students frequently get together and form cliques, to decide who should be placed in an office. In that way, once in a while, totally incompetent people are elected to office.' Ann, you are so right. That is just a part of democracy. Ann, do not get discouraged. It is not only in the class room, but it happens in municipalities, in counties, in states. It happens very often. But you are very keen. Your observation is right. But that is just part of the price we pay for democracy, on the whole it works out very well.


COURTESY

Last week I talked about courtesy on the part of employees in buses and transportation, subways, and so on. Well, I was very happy to receive a letter from Miss Edna B. McNamarra of Standish Arms, 169 Columbia Heights in which she commends a conductor of a subway train for having recovered her purse which she forgot. She worried about it until midnight when she got a telephone call from the Board of Transportation that the conductor had turned in her purse. Well, that is how it should be, and we are very happy.

Now here is another suggestion, this is very good. I asked last week that the People cooperate with the bus drivers. A passenger calls to my attention the fact that sometimes passengers are reluctant to go to the rear of the bus. When the driver pleads with you and asks you to go to the back of the bus, please do so otherwise the entrance is congested and it makes it very difficult for everybody.


COMMENTS ON BROADCAST

I am very happy to say that apparently I am going to continue to talk to you on WNYC for some time. I like this station and you know, I like to keep you informed. As I said, I have always done that and I will always continue to do so. One way or another I will always find a way to keep you informed. I want to thank all who wrote such encouraging letters. They wore encouraging and I appreciate them so much. Even a Mayor can be human - a pat once in a while does not hurt at all. We did got some letters, there were very few, in opposition. I would say the score was about 127 to 1 in favor of the continuance of this program. We got about 14 or 15 letters in opposition. Some of them I could not read over the air and some of them were not mailable, but of course, the writers did not put their names or addresses. Most of them, of course, were based on personal reasons. I think you are entitled to hear some of the opposition, so I have picked one of the milder ones. It comes from the Nativity Rectory, 20 Madison Street, Brooklyn:

"Your Honor:

Please give the radio and us a rest. You have convinced me, at least, that you are vain, conceited and abusive. Why waste time proving what you have proven a thousand times? You might give us a farewell speech when your era of persecution is over. But make it short -please.

John L. Belford"
Nativity Rectory
20 Madison Street Brooklyn, N. Y.

That is one of the mildest of the few in opposition that came in. I will not be able to answer all of your encouraging letters but I want you to know that I appreciate them so much.


I AM AN AMERICAN DAY

Just before closing I must tell you about "I Am An American Day", next Sunday at Central Park, May 21st, at 2:30. I
told you last week that we are going to have scenes from Oklahoma. We are also going to have three or four scenes from Carmen Jones. We are going to have Oklahoma because it is so typically American in its originality, both in story and music. Carmen Jones, we think, is typically American, because it shows the adaptation of foreign music to American life. I am sure you are going to enjoy it. I think we have announced already that the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, Judge Irving Lehman, will administer the oath of allegiance.

There are plenty of seats and I think we are going to have good weather. We always do. But we will be there anyhow at 2:30 next Sunday. We are going to have the combined bands and a very attractive program.

I want to say to each of you who has received an invitation from the United States Government, the United States District Courts and the Bureau of Naturalization, that we expect you to be there because this is your party.


MOTHER'S DAY

I want to send my love and congratulations to all the Mothers of the City of New York. This is your day. I wish it could be more completely happy for all Mothers. I know that many thousands of you are thinking of your boy in distant lands. We are thinking of him and you, too, and we are praying with you for him. Happy Mother's Day. The war will soon be over and in the meantime,


Patience and Fortitude.