New-York tribune., 1920-12-08
Way Opened
For Sweeping; {;
City Inquiry
Untermyer Approves Sep.
arate Legislative Probe
Because Lockwood Quiz
Faces e Months Work

The way was cleared yester rday for
the investigation Of the Hylan admin
istration and some Of the county Offices
in New York City by special Joint
Legislative committee.
Reports that the Lockwood commit
tee would ask the Legislature to
broaden its powers SO that it could
probe into charges against the Hylan
administration were denied by Samuel
Untermyer, chief counsel to the com
mttee.
Mr. Cntermyer, in repudiating these
reports, repeated the declaration Of
other members of the Lockwood COM
mittee, who believe that it will take
at least six months to carry out its
Investigation Of the housing situation.
Meanwhile Senator Theodore Douglas
Robinson and Assemblyman Joseph
steinberg were receiving assurances
from prominent legislators that their
proposal to have a special Investigating
colmittee inquire into every depart
ment Of government within the city
of New York would 60 through.
Mr.. Jntermyer in his statement de-
clared that sufficient evidence had been
developed to satisfy the committee that
all investigat ion Of the Hyl Ian adminis-
tiitlon was necessary to the best in
terests Of the city. He added, how
ever, that such an investigation should
be done with thoroughneos and spirit
OF entire fairness and non -partisansh lip.
half Dozen Juries Necessary
MI. untcrmycrs statement, which
was made at the opening Of yesterday S
proceedings before the Lockwood COM
mittee, follows in part:
ut will be physically Impossible to
present all or any substantial part of
our evidence of existing illegal com
binations by the end of the year, al
though some have been and others ar
being honestly disbanded. while the
forms Of many are being transparently
and IN some cases pitifully camou-
tagged. 1t will take six months or more
thoroughly to expose all such combina
confine ourselves to the building trades
line.
"My purpose is, accordingly, if il
meets with your approval, to proceed
on the present lines during the greater
part of the present month, introduce
ing evidence in skctchy way demon
strat ng the existence and baneful
workings of a number of those com
binations. and then to turn over the re
mainder Of the evidence to the various
grand iurics that are now considering
the subjects and to those that are
being called for the January term.
Wants Inquiry Continued
''If this work is to be thoroughly
done it will require the exclusive time
of half dozen grand juries and OF
about thirty capable Assistant District
Attorneys and q large staff Of investi-
gators for many months to come. Will
the convening of the new Legislature
we shall be prepared to submit res
olution for the continuance Of the In
quiry in which the defects in the pres
cnt resolution viii be remedicd anC
the scopc of tho inquiry and the power
of the committee Will be materially
broadened
"You will recall my protest against
the emasculation by the Legislature OF
the resolution which | prepared, and ny
hesitation about acting for the commit
tee for that reason.s All the difiicultic:
that were then presaged have since
been realized The deliberate striking
out Of the immunity provision was {
glaringiy gratuitOus embarrassment, as
predicted at the time. 1t cannot, how
ever, be too strongly emphasized that
so far as | am concerned, and believe
that so far as the committee is con
cerned, or can prevent any such action
this committee viii not accept the dut!
or power to investigate the city admin
istration or the city departments, cithe'
before or after the conclusion of it!
present labors.
II do not mean to imply that the,
are not sadly in need Of investigation
Sufficient has already been developed
and still more is known to US to satisf,
me that such an inquiry is neccssar.
Continued on page sx)