New-York tribune., 1920-11-26
Also A dvises Action
Againet Holland Com
pany to Recover Funds
Paid for Ash Removal
Agrees to Confer
With Steinbrink
Again Attacks the Hylan
Inquiry as Mayor Writes
Note to Justify Himself

Samuel Untermyer, counsel for the
Lockwood committee, investigating the
housing situation, in letter to Joseph
Haag, secretary of the Board of Est-
mate, has advised that suit be brought
against members of the firm of Holland
Co. and Commissioner Grover A.
Whalen of the Department &C Plant
and Structures for the recovery of the
money the city has expended in remov-
ing ashes dumped on the site of the
proposed new courthouse
1t was brought out at hearing of
the committee that Holland & Co., who
had city contracts for street cleaning
and ash removal in 1918, dumped ap-
rroximately $4,000 cubic yards of ashes
on the site which the city had paid
large sums of money to have exca-
waited. To remove these ashes and
have the site cleared again the city is
said to have contracted to pay $4O0,00O.
Mayor Hylan's Version
Mayor Hylan, in a lengthy statement
yesterday, however, gives another YER
sion of the ashdumping affair. He
says that after the buildings were torn
down the courthouse site was left in a
dcporable condition, with water and
refuse in various parts. To give it q
respectable appearance, he says, the
Courthouse Commission granted per
mission to dump steam ashes in there
to fill it up.
81 understand" added the Mayor,
that there were in the neighborhood
Of 500 permit holders who had been
given permission to dump ashes in this
fill and not one contractor. as Mr. I'm
termycr would like to have the public
believe"
The Mayor also cited facts and
dates tending to correct what he de-
CARES might be a misleading impress
sion obtained from the testimony in
connection with the time of his appear
ance at the Even Street Police Court
in Brooklyn, where he is sand to have
met Commissioner of Accounts Hirsh-
field, and where, Mr.. Untermyer has
brought out, John 7. Hettrick, the law
3 stcnographer The Mayor also at
tempts to show that attacks on him
are inspired by private interests.
Commissioner Whalen, on the witness
stand, has said that he had half in
terest in the firm of Holland & Co.
until August, 1917 when he said he
severed all connections with the con-
Germ. He declared he gave away every
dollars worth of his interest in the
partnership to Edward B. Holland, the
other member of the firm, but that nc
deeds or writing OF any kind figured
in the transaction. The transfer was
and he didn't remember where it took
place.
Untermyer Alleges Vandalism
In connection with the suggested suit
Mr.. Untermyer added: "Therc is no
doubt in my mind Of recovery, and il
will then also develop under what all-
dalism was perpctrated."
He declared that there seems to be
such an obsession on the part Of GER
tain officials of the city that they car
succeed in covering up their own short.
comings by drawing red herrings across
their unfortunate trails in the form Of
abuse and misrepresentation of my
every act and deed that it is unsafe for
me and inimical to the inquiry | am
conducting to have anything to do with
them"
Mr. Untermyer inclosed the con
tracts, atfdavits and other documents
prepared by the Board of Estimate il
carrying out his suggestions to protect
the city and which the board has asked
him to scrutinizc. The forms were re
vised by Mr. Untermyer, who pointed
out that they contained such drastic
changes that they should be fully dis
cussed before action is taken on them
Having declined to meet the Mayor OF
Corporation Counsel O'Brien on tbs
niae,ei, however. he agreed to meet
Meier Steinbrink, the newly appointed
associate counsel for the board.
Mr.. Untermyer also enclosed a let
(Continucd ON nam sIxl