The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-11
HYLAN TO FACE
GRAFT HUNTERS
He Will Have Free Swing as
Voluntary Witness at
Hearing To-day.
WON'T STOP HIRSHFIELD
T.. r. Bruckner Appointed to
Prosecute Building Grafters
Before Grand Jury.
WON'T STOP HIRSHFIELD

Mayor Hylan will be the star wit
ness to-day before the Lockwood Hous-
ing Committee when the investigators
turn attention to city contracts. The
Mayor indicated yesterday that he
would appear as n voluntary witness
to submit TO cross-examination, but
at the same time refused to call off
his Commissioner Of Accounts, whose
inquiry is causing the State COMMITTEES
much annoyance.
After they had completed their pro-
gramme for to-day's session in City
Hail. the members of the committee
in conference with Samuel Inter
myer, chief counsel, and his associates,
worked out a plan for complete re-
organization Of the criminal depart
ment OF the investigation.
Emory r. Bruckner, a partner in
Elihu Roots firm, was chosen to take
charge Of the criminal prosecutions
before the Grand Jury. He will have
staff OF six or seven lawyers to assist
in the trials. Indictments will come
to keep several trials running at the
same time, counsel for the committee
assert. II is the intention to press
for trials as fast as indictments are
presented rather than to permit the
criminal cases to pile up.
Free Rein for Mayor.
all the time he wants to-day to say
whaever he wishes regarding city con-
tracts for public schools and other build
ings or the Court House job. When he
has finished he will be cross examined
at length by Mr.. Untermyer, who win
take up several phases of the school con-
tracts. The Mayor has been asked to
produce any correspondence he may
have had with Robert p. Brinden. head
of the Building Trades Council. or John
T. Hettrick, the lawyer. who ran the
clearing house for contractors The
Mayors voluntary appearance relieves
the committee of the necessity of serv-
ing him with q subpoena.
Mayor Hylan appeared yesterday TO
be quite willing to go before the COM
mittee and lend any aid he can 10 show
Ing up crookedness in city contracts.
But in answer TO the insistent demand
from Mr.. Untermyer that David Hirsh-
field be compelled 20 cease his mis-
chievous activities" in running an oppo-
sition investigation. the Mayor said he
intended not 70 interfere with the Com
missioner.
ffgftN.
duty to perform under the law and ] ex
pect him to perform that duty" the
Mayor explained.
The Lockwood committee will insist
to-day when the Mayor is on the stand
that Mr.. Hirshfield be directed to drop
his inquiry
Hirshfield Rakes Untermyer.
In long statement assailing Mr.. IN
termyer. the Commissioner charged that
the chief counsel for the State COM
mlttee wanted to keep in the limelight
all the time. Perhaps Mr.. Untermyers
attitude could be explained, Hirshfield
continued. BY a report that he may be a
candidate for Mayor next autumn. When
this was brought 10 Mr.. Untermyer's at
tention he laughed heartily and said
there was mo need OF discussing such
rubbish"
The case against Robert p. Brindell
will be completed this week. counsel foc
the committee expects. Scores of wit
resses have been examined In the last
three days by Leonard Wallstein aud
Samuel Berger, associate counsel. and !
mass OF testimony accumulated 1earinr
directly on the activities Of Brindell and
his agents.
Not all OF this viii be presented be-
fcre the committee IN public hearings.
the foundations on which to proceed
against Brindoll have been laid along
so,eral distinct lines. The commit >
can take as much corroborative test.
r.ony as it wishes 20 the Grand jury
without first presenting it at the public
hearings, and this Will be done.
The procedure 70 be followed IN Brln
Gell's case. as in several others, Is 10
permit the new criminal branch OF the
committees organization 20 have all tbs
evidence OH these several subjects. In
the event that indictments are returned
atainst any OF those named masses OF
new evidence may be saved for presen-
tation in the trials. Sensational stories
dealing with the trades council VIII be
tuld to-day.
To Take Up Larger Questions.
with this phase OF the case ou' OF tn"
way the committee will turn its atten
ton next week TO the larger question.
involved in the housing problem These
will include the operations OF big comb.
rntions said to exist 20 regulate prices
81 all kinds OF building materials
Some OF the most prominent men IN
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