Mayor LaGuardia evidently believes in taking a fellow at his word. Yesterday was Aldermanic President Bernard S. Deutsch’s fiftieth birthday and the day before Mr. Deutsch, as is customary on the day preceding a notable’s birthday, was approached by City Hall reporters and asked how he was going to celebrate the festive occasion.
“The affairs of the city, Mr. Deutsch informed the curious reporters, “are far too pressing to admit of birthday celebrations!”
So yesterday, true to his promise to mark the day by getting to City Hall “bright and early,” Mr. Deutsch got on the job bright and early. No sooner had he doffed his hat than he was called into the Mayor’s sanctum.
“Run out and cover a luncheon of the liquor dealers for me,” the Mayor crisply ordered, himself being busy yesterday morning with hearings on the tax program for relief measures.
“O. K.” Mr. Deutsch succinctly replied. He then added, somewhat wistfully if one can picture the militant, energetic aldermanic leader and president of the American Jewish Congress being wistful, that he was having a birthday.
“Well, well!” ejaculated the Mayor, beaming on his side and grasping his hand. “Congratulation! And now will you look after that luncheon for me, Barney?”
However, if Mayor LaGuardia was callously oblivious of the Deutsch natal day and took Mr. Deutsch’s expressed determination to stick to business all day with brutal literalness, the City Hall reporters and the staff members of the Aldermanic President’s office were determined to celebrate.
The office crew and the reporters staged an informal reception to Mr. Deutsch and merrily paid their respects to him.
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