New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-24
DENIES NAMING REFEREES.
Tammany Hall Secretary Says
He Only Tried to Help Friends.
LAWYER EXPLAINS REBATES
Justice Bischoff Says Rebates
Should Go to Estates-P. T.
Donohue Makes Deni2A,

Secretary Tom Smith NJ TammanyN all
denied yesterday that he had anything 70
do with picking the lawyers whom Tam
MANY Supreme Court Justices appointed as
referees in foreclosure suits You will
notice" said Mr. Smith, that these
charges are made by an advertising man
rsned Rlanke. who doesn't get any more
Of the advertising from these cases 10
Mace He puts it on man named LON
NcC;lvun that make ont list every day
~ Tho lawyers who arc 70 he appo'nteu
vefaraes and send II over 10 the supreme
Court
ct 90 not make any such list. This or
.e,,t,,.;o,, doo. not try TO say who shall he
apnointed referees. In individual cases
have done what I could TO get references
for LAWYERS who were friends of mine. -
LAWYER whom 7 knew would come 10 me
end ask no 10 got him some references
and would 20 to a judge whom Nne"
or write him a letter asking MIN 70 e'Ne
some references 10 my friend. That IS al
I have ever done.
81 know, Tom McGlynn in a casual way.
Tfo lives somewhere around 18th street ana
comes into Tsmmany Hall frequently Lo''
Of men do. But ] have never Spoh'"
eighteen words 10 McGlynn. What Me-
Glynn told Banke in order 10 MAKE MN
relieve that he could influence a LOT OF ao-
vertising / don't know. and ! am not re-
sronsible for IT, All 7 know about PM
Donohue il that he is I'm the ADVERTISING
business But I never made out list OF
LAWYERS IN be appointed as referees, and
don't know anything about such a list
z y. Blanke is the head Of the Lawyers
Advertising Company az No 70 Liberty
street His story Is that while he nad
partnership with Philip F. Douohue' treas
urer of Tammany Hall. he handled a large
amount Of the advertising for foreclosure
sales under references from the supreme
Court He saws that he had 20 pay A Dig
commission 10 Donohue FOR getting the ad-
yar-isinP and another commission 70 the
LAWYERS who gave H. out. He got tired OF
having the commissions. particularly 10
the lawyers. and afraid Of getting IN
trouble over the manner In which he was
told the advertising was obtained. and Spit
with Donohue. From then on. he SAYS ne
got no more Of the advertising 70 place As
the LAWYERS told him II had 10 70 10 D0no-
hue.
No 9eprimanc. Bernstein Says.
Six LAWYERS. according 70 Blanke. have
heen reprimanded by the Bar Association
for taking commissions for placing adver-
Using when. as referees. IL was their duty
70 swear 10 reports ~ expenditures ID
which tbeze commissions did not appear.
7 sidney Bernstein was one Of the law
yers named by Blanke.
as q result Of charges made by Blanke
that other advertising agencies gave 70
hates 70 lawyers and referees. said Bern
stein. the grievance committee OF the
Bar Association made an investigation sev-
eral months ago. and called before It a
large number Of men. II was then frankly
admitted that following a practice golns
far back. this had been done without any
belief that il was wrong The commlttee
IN itq report mentioned no names and rep
rirnandad no one though IL did say That the
nractice should be discontinued
Justice Bischon was asked yesterday
what he thought Of the practice OF lawyers
accounting advertising rebates. IF the ref
cree hold the commissions for himself. he
said. "or II he aid not charge Simply the
net amount i'm his bill. then there Is very
little doubt in my mind that gross impro-
nrietv was committed. The selection OF the
naner I'm which no advertses is left 70 him.
n ne can get a cheaper rate for sdver-
teinc ny placing IT through some agent
70 harm is done. so long a he does not
take for himself the difference between
what somebody else was charged and what
he actually paid.
ION several occasions there have come
IN an offhand way discussion on this
subject with mon whom / have named as
referees. 7 have said To- them very ok
rBcitIv that I saw no objection 10 their
accounting the rebates as long as tney
showed in their books and in their bills
that the state and not they were the bone
fciaries Of this practice
Phni1 T. Donohue. treasurer OF Tam
many Hall last night. at the Anawanda
club denied with emphasis and adjecuves
every charge against himself personally
and against Tammauy Hall made by r. y.
Rlanke Mr.. Donohue said that he was
alread suing M Blanke for nearly 5000.
which he said was due him under his CON
tract with the LAWYERS Advertising Com
7snv. but that now he would consult with
his LAWYERS this morning and SEQ II his
statements did not afford ground for both