New-York tribune., 1920-11-11
Nine Lawyers to Assist
Untermyer in Numerous
Criminal Cases Result
ing From the Inquiry
Hylan Takes Stand
At Hearing g To-day
Mayor Defends Hirshfeld
Investigations as Duty;
Subway Bids Scrutinized


wood Committees investigation of the
building industry has attained such
proportions that Samuel Unternyer
The committees chief counsel, is EN-.
ploying some Of the best lcga! talent
IN the city to assist him.
The committees activities foreshadow
early and speedy prosecutions of a
large number of criminal cases arising
from the inquiry and it is understood
that preparations are being made to
push from eight to a dozen cases in
the courts at the same time.
In this connection it is announced
that Emory r. Buckner, member of
Ellhu Roots frm-Root, Clark, Buck
ner & Howland-has joined the legal
forces of the committee. In addition,
1T was said that eight other we'll known
lawyers soon would be on the commit
tees list of counsel. Mr.. Buckner has
had many years of experience as an
assistant United States District Attor-
ney, as we'll as an assistant trial dis
trict attorney in the county.
Many Crimes Unfolded
1t was explained that the testimony
Is disclosing additional crimes from
Gay to day. broadening the scope of the
committee so rapidly that the criminal
work has had to be completely reor-
ganlzed. Mr.. Untermyer spent most
OF yesterday going over this phase of
the committees activities. He is trv-
ing to obtain the services Of the best
expert available on drawing compn-
Gated indictments so that there will
be no difficulty about details, and he
Will remain personally in charge of
th!s department Of the criminal work.
All of this force of lawyers is in
tended to be transferred to the extraor-
dinary grand jury that has been
called for November q in the Supreme
Court, under the control of the Attor-
ney General and Deputy Attorney Gen
oral Berger.
Mayor Hyian will be the first witness
called to the stand when the Lock
WOOD Commlttee resumes its hearings
IN City Hall this morning. While tEo
Mayor made no official statement in
connection with the matter. he let it
be known that he would appear in ac-
cordance with Mr.. Untermyer's jnvi-
tation.
Mr.. untermyer asked the Mayor to
bring with him any data or letters
relative to dealings with John T. Het
trick, of "Codc Of Practice" fame. and
Robert p. Brindell, head Of the Build
ing Trades Council, charged by numer-
GUS witnesses with extortion. The
Mayor undoubtedly will be questioned
as to his knowledge Of the school and
other city contracts outstanding They
aggregate $G2, ,00O,0
Subway Contracts Probcd
AS q result Of visit by Mr.. Inter
myer to Comptroller Craiy's office YES
tcrday there was an intimation that
the contracts for the building of the
New York subways would come under
the scrutiny Of the committee. The sub
way contracts involve hundreds of mil
lions of dollars. 1t was understood
that these contracts and those affecting
dock building were the subjects dis
cussed at the conference.
1t could not be learned Just what
HVVPo .ii' oHtcillySl WOulu tdhc W
restrain Commissioner of Accounts
Hirshficld from continuing his separate
investigation of city contracts. Hrsh-
fields course has been approved by the
Mayor, who said yesterday:
mir. Hirshfeld. has a duty to per
form under the law. and l expect tlbt
he will perform that duty
In response to Mr.. Untermycr's at
tack on what he termed Hirshfield' s
"mischievous interference" with the
committees work, the Commissioner of
Accounts said: Mr.. Untcrmyer knows
very we'll that under the cit, charter it
is my duty to investigate any accusa-
tions made in which any city official
or city contract is involved, and l GER
tainly will perform the duty imposed
upon me by the charter"
He added that Mr.. Untermycr's cat
tempt to examine MAJOR Hylan is fur
ther evidence that Mr.. Untermyer is
insincere in his statement that he will
not permit politics to be injected into
his investigation" He further said
that "thc attitude assumed by Nh In
(Continued on next paoe)