The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
CITY RELEASES
100000 HELD
ON CONTRACTS
Facing Lawsuits, Mayor Re-
cants From Position on
Paying Builders.
CRAIG QUITE CAUSTIC
Asserts Hylan and Hirsh-
field Want to Pose as
Guys Protectors.
hackers TRIAL GOES ON
Million Dollar Fund Being
Raised by Labor Unions for
Brindcll's Defence.
HACKERS TRIAL GOES ON

David Hirshfeld. the indicted Com
missioner of Accounts, after having
announced Friday that upon instruc-
ton from the Mayor he had held up
payment OF s1,000,000 OF city war
rants to contractors pending examina-
ton Of the honesty Of their contracts,
said yesterday that the Mayor had
ordered the warrants paid. The Mayor
was silent on the subject and the Com
missioner Of Accounts gave no reason
Their than that Mr.. Hylan had told
him he thought II would be too bad to
subject honest contractors to hard
ship because OF the possibility OF
crooked work on the part OF others.
1t is known that number of the
contractors were preparing to sue the
city tomorrow for payment of at least
100000 of the impounded warrants.
IL could not be learned whether the
prospect of that action Influenced the
Mayors decision.
According to a statement issued by
Comptroller Charles l.. Craig, who had
approved the warrants before the
Mayor held them up. the sole purpose
OF the action of the Mayor and the
Commissioner OF Accounts was TO
create the impression that Hylan and
Hirshfield are the only ones who can
protect the peoples interests"
The Comptroller added that continu-
ance of their attitude would have been
disastrous TO the city and actually did
result in the city being compelled to de-
fault In payment OF 100000 TO redeem
natured CORPORATION stock. the first such
default in the history Of the city.
Hearst Lawyer to Aid Probers.
Announcement was made that william
\. DeFord, formerly an Assistant Dis
trict Attorney In New York county, has
been added TO the legal staff OF the
Lockwood committee His duties VIII
have to do particularly with prosecutions
OF violations OF the ANTITRUST. law.
: Among the noted cases which DeFord
has conducted successfully are the prose-
cution Of the American Ice Company
the poultry trust and the 80 cent gas
case. The fact, however, that DeFord
has been the attorney OF William K
Hearst for number of years and is said
still to hold that connection. made his APP
pointment the subject OF considerable
surprise, in view of the bitter attacks
the Hearst newspapers have made upon
AR. Cnternyer. The cordial relations
between the Mayor and the Hearst news
Papers and the bitterness Of exchanges
between the Mayor and Mr.. Untermyef
since the inquiry began added 20 the sur
prise OF the appointment
Although Mr.. Untermyer first had an.
nounced he would have nothing more 70
90 with tho Mayor or the Board or Esti-
mate inquiry, he has ameliorated his
feelings sufficiently 10 agree 70 meet
with the Mayor and the Board OF Esti-
mate in secret session tomorrow TO ad-
wise the Mayor and the board concerning
the city inquiry.
The pounding upon the Mayor and
Grover A. Whalen. Commissioners OF
Plant and Structures. because a con.
tracing concern with which whalen
formerly was associated was one of a
number which had permits to dump
ashes on the Court House site. shifted
suddenly yesterday 10 the Comptroller.