The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-25
TRIED TO BRIBE MAYOR
Political Support Alleged
to Have Been Offered for
Signing Of Contracts.
UP TO THE GOVERNOR NOW
Untermyer Will Ask Smith to
Give Case to Attorney-Gen-
cral-Tammany Opposes.

tOunSel 1Or tne aLOChNOou cOiIlllliI-
tee pressed hard on the trail of build
Ing grafters yesterday while waiting
for word from Gov. Smith regarding
the criminal investigation growing out
OF the scandal and developed two
startling pieces of evidence. These
were:
That big sums of money went into
a blind pool and We're used as "ex-
penses" to regulate the system of ex-
tortion and oppression, and that a
representative of the system had Of
fered to Mayor Hylan n pledge of
union labor support if he would sign
the big court house limestone con-
tracts.
Samuel Untermyer. chief counsel for
the committee, is ready to go through
District Attorney Swami from all par
t'cipation in the criminal end of the
case. The committee expects quick
action in the criminal prosecution.
Mr.. Untermyer will call on the Gov
ernor to-day and serve notice that the
nary Grand Jury with the Attorney
General as special prosecuting officer
must be granted.
Tammany Pressure ON Smith.
The Governor has not Indicated in
any way that he does not intend to
comply forthwith with the committees
lr,,
tcrday that tremendous pressure is be-
Ing brought to bear through Tam
many to force the Governor to
turn down the request and leave the
District Attorney in charge of the
criminal end. Mr.. Untermyer indicat-
ed he would not accept that decision.
John II. O'Cornor, counsel for Robert
Z. Brindell. president OF the Bui ding
Trades Council. IS the Tammany nom
inee for Assemblyman in the Twelfth
Assembly district. in which Charles +.
Murphy lives The Assemblyman from
that district always represents Mr.
Murphy personally In Albany. The
O'Connor running for the Assembly was
not identified until yesterday as the
lawyer who stood up last Friday in the
Assembly Chamber and denounced and
dehed the Lockwood committee. He
vas an assistant District Attorney under
Mr. Swami for few weeks
Alderman Kenneally represents Muir
phys district in the board of city
fathers. Kenneally Is understood to
rank next to Brindell in the Building
Trades Council Both O'Connor and
xenneally are close TO Murphy polit-
calIy. 1t was Kenneally who made the
light for Tammany in the famous build
nE code conflict few years ago.
All Fear BrfndclI.
Brindell has been described in the
housing Investigation as the master Of
the building situation. His rise to tre-
1nendous power Is little short of marvel
lous. Rich men have pleaded that they
should not be compelled to answer ques-
tions concerning him. for to do so would
mean ruin. Testimony was given last
week that $4,000 was paid to call of
strike with the understanding" Brin-
dell would and could do it.
No word has yet been spoken before
The Lockwood Committee connecting in
any way members OF the Tammany po-
lticaI organization with the subject un-
der investigation. But merely because
of the connection OF prominent politi-
clans with Brindell, Untermyer and his
association gave notice yesterday that
they would inform the Governor to-day
that Il would be impossible to proceed
unless the request that the Attorney
General handle the prosecutions be
granted. The District Attorney has not
indicated any desire TO mix up I'm the
case. In fact, he sent word through Sem
ator Kaplan, n member OF the committee
that he would gladly step aside In favor
OF the Attorney General. The Governor
Is expected to give his decision to-day
Mr. Untermyer had arranged for an
all day conference with other counsel
and members OF the committee to-day I'm
his home 70 go over the evidence IN hand
and prepare for the weeks procedure
But that plan was upset lnst night when
MIR. Untermycr announced he would
come TO the city early TO wait the Gov
ernor's arrival and then press the de-
mand regarding the criminal handling
of the investigation.
Promise 10 the Mayor.
One OF the startling pieces OF evidence
which has come 10 the attention of the
committee In the last few hours deals
with the proposal, amounting in reality
10 a political brlbe, made to Mayor Hy-
ian bv some one representing tho ''sys-
tom" in connection with the court house
contracts.
Following the Mayors action last Fri
day In refusing TO sign the court house
contracts as passed by the Board of Es-
/. innate It has been learned by the Lock-
wood committee that a prominent mem-
ber Of tho building coterie called on the
Mayor 90 sign the limestone contracts
for s2.3T2 900 and made the definite and
positive promise that II he would do so
no would have the enthusiastic back
ing" OF the $4,000 members OF the
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