The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-24
STEINBRINK NAMED
TO AID CITY INQUIRY
Hylan Accedes to La Guardia's
Request for Republican in
Probe of Contracts.
INSISTS ON WIDE POWERS
Must Have Equal Rights With
O'Brien, Says Appointee,
in Accepting.

Mayor Hylan yesterday appointed
Meier Steinbrink. attorney. of 215 Mon
tague street Brooklyn, as associate
counsel with John p. OBrien, Corpora
ton Counsel, to direct the Board or
Estimate inquiry into city contracts.
The appointment was made upon recosn-
mendation of +. II. La Guardia. Presi-
dent of the Board OF Aldermen, who,
with Henry II. Curran, President of the
borough Of Manhattan. the only Repub-
lean members of the Board OF Estimate,
has fought for the privilege Of naming
a Republican associate counsel. that the
kind regard in which Tammany poll
ticians hold each other might not AFFECT
the conduct of the inquiry.
Mr.. Steinbrink stipulated his own
terms upon which he would accept APP
polntment as associate counsel. The
Mayor agreed to those terms, which
give Mr.. Steinbrnk power equal to that
of the Corporation Counsel in direct
ing the course OF the inquiry, and binds
the board to pursue to the end any line
of inquiry Mr.. Steinbrink may suggest
Any prospect that the appointment OF
a Republican associate counsel would
serve as a wedge upon the Tammany
side of the city administration received
a rude jolt. for almost simultaneously
with the appointment of Mr.. Steinbrink,
COMPTROLLER Charles L. Craig let 1t be
known that he would not give the Cor
poration Counsel benefit of documentary
evidence in his possession bearing upon
the activities of the city's contractors
and vital to the investigation.
Mr. La Guardia recommended Mr..
Steinbrink particularly on account of
the work he did in the Hughes aircraft
production investigation. The Alder
manic President was pleased with the
safeguards against a "whitewash' out
ired by Mr.. Steinbrink, and believed
that his entrance into the case will do
much to. prevent the sort of flasco Sam
vel Untermyer, counsel of ,the Lock-
wood Committee. has predicted Mayor
Hylan would make of the Board OF Esti-
mate inquiry.
Mr.. steinbrinks conditions were set
forth in letter to Mr.. La Guardia. indi-
eating his Willingness 10 serve as ioI-
lows:
"Of course. you understand that an in
yestigation of this kind might be OF far
reaching Importance. and for that reason
no lawyer should enter il with any pre-
conceived notion concerning the merits of
the subject matter. but rather to do
that which the Mayor indicated--to make
the investigation most searching and TO
spare no one.
Before / would enter. however. upon
this work l would want II understood
that even though l were to be associated
with 1t rather than in charge, any line
of inquiry which l indicated should be
made would have to be made In return.
of course. there would be no line Of in
curry which tNn CORPORATION Counsel
night desire to follow which / would not
be willing to carry to the end.
Experience in past Investigations has
taught me that where. as here. much
might depend upon bookkeeping and ac-
countancy II is OF great Importance that
the accountant be wholly unconnected
with any one involved in the controversy.
and at the same time one whose name
would command respect. should. there
fore, expect, of course, that whoever ~
in charge of the investigation would
agree with me with regard to the ac-
countant and consult with me with re-
gard TO those who were to do any of the
actual investigation. In work of this kind
men must be unfettered and must not
play favorites.
These are the conditions on which
would be willing TO enter this work in n
spirit of public service. Without them
of course, the purpose of the minority
members of the Board of Estimate, as,
well as the interests Of the city. would
not be served"
Mr.. La Guardia. submitting the name
of Mr.. Steinbrink to the Mayor. quoted
the lawyers letter setting forth the fore
going stipulations
In reply Mayor Hylan requoted Mr..
Steinbrink's letter and added:
II unhestatingly accede to your sug-
gestion as to an associate counsel in
the person Of Mr.. Meier Steinbrink Tho
participation of an associate counsel
nominated by you will make doubly GER
tain that the investigation into these
contracts will be searching and unspar-