The New York herald., 1921-07-18
RECORDS DISAPPEAR
WHEN SLUSH FUND
FACTS ARE SOUGHT
Books of Detectives Endow-
ment Association Show
No Entry of Albany
Expenses.
ENRIGHT'S SIDE ASKED
Senator Meyer Wants to
Know How Long Com
missioner Knew of
Scandal.
WON'T USE WHITEWASH
Chairman of Investigating
Committee Says Senator
Lusk Will Be Glad to
Aid Inquiry.
WON'T USE WHITEWASH

Records are missing in connection
with the activities of the Detectives
Endowment Association in pushing
the bill to make the positions Of de-
tectives permanent and to increase
their salaries, for the support of which
a slush fund. said to have amounted
to as much as 100000, was raised.
In the loose leaf note book, with
pages unnumtered, which Commits
sioner of Accounts Hirshfield has been
told should contain all the minutes Of
the meetings and records of expendi-
lures. he has been unable to find any
account of the meeting of March 25,
when. it Is said, the Smith bill, later
taken up by Senator Lusk, was in
dorsed. Nor is there any statement Of
expenses incurred in connection with
work for the bill. which Phillip
Hoerter, secretary Of the association,
said probably were somewhat in ex-
cess of $1,000. He will be examined
about the missing information when
he is placed on the stand at the con-
tinuation Of the investigation by Com
missioner Hirshfeld in the Municipal
Building this morning.
Suggestion that the Commissioner of
Accounts call Police Commissioner En-
right to say how long he knew OF the
slush fund before he. asked for AN In
vestigation was made by Senator Schuy-
Ter NJ. Meyer, chairman OF the legisla-
tive investigating committee. in a state
ment made at his summer home in Mil
ford last night
Meyer Answers HirshneId.
According to the newspapers" Sem
ator Meyer said, Commissioner Hirsh-
field has addressed a communication to
me concerning his investigation of the
Detectives Association and its connec-
ton with the so-called detective bill in
troduccd in the last Legislature by SEN
ator Lusk. He need have no fear that
the committee of which l am chairman
will interfere with his investigation. /
advise him to make his investigation
honest and thorough. In at least one
matter which our committee has inves-
tigated Mr.. Hirshneld has attempted to
apply literally his well worn whitewash
brush. We shall not follow that ex-
ample.
However, from what have read in
the newspapers the Commissioner has
already overlooked one or two points. 1
suggest that he call Commissioner En-
right and find out whether these detec-
tlves went to Albany and remained there
many days to lobby for the bill with his
knowledge and consent, and whether De-
tective O'Hara, Mayor Hylans brother
lin-law, attempted TO bring any pressure
to bear in favor of the bill with the
Mayors knowledge and consent.
Let him ask Commissioner Enright
why the two detectives who. according
TO Mr.. Hirshfield were guilty OF a crime.
were not dismissed ana why they were
merely denoted. thus receiving pun
ishment no greater than the punishment
inflicted by Commissioner Enright on
Honest Dan Costigan for being an ef-
ficient police officer. Let him ask Com
missioner Enright how long he knew of
the so-called slush fund before he re-
ouested an investigation.
Sure of Lusk's Aid.
Senator Lusk is out Of town ard will
be back on Tuesday or Wednesday.
am sure he will be glad to aid Commits
sioner Hirshfield to the extent of his
power with advice and any information
he may have"
When Edwin J. Burns. president of
the Detectives Endowment Association.
and Detective Hoerter, its secretary
were before Commissioner Hirshfeld on
Friday the latter was examined for
about half an hour on the action of the
organization In taking UP the detective
bill and what money they had used in
the way of expenses. The secretary said
he thought they had spent something
over $1,000. but 1t would all show In
the books. He said five members of
the association had been In Albany from
one to seven days each. a total of be-
tween twenty -eight and thirty-two days.
Hirshfleld figured that at a legitimate
expense OF SIS day for each man this
would amount TO only about $3.50
Hoerter could think of only about ss5
more that had been spent. but repeated
that the books would show.
SO the books" were produced late on
Saturday night on demand OF the Com
missioner. They proved to be one loose
leaf note book. such as students use.
The pages were not numbered and none
or them contained any account OF a
March 25 meeting Nor was there any
thing to show any expenditure OF money
In connection with the detective bill.
Commissioners Hirshfield said last night.
Some OF the pages seemed TO have no
bearing on those Immediately preceding
and following. BEFORE the secretary left
his office Mr.. Hirshfeld asked him to
number the pages consecutively and
initial each number. no that later the
Commissioner could not be accused of
having lost some OF the pages that are
needed to tell the story of the fight for
the Lusk bill.
Detective Joseph Cooney OF the West
Il ss.fx -.
missioner Hirshfeld on Saturday that at
a meeting OF the Endowment Association
T. April after the $4,000 had been
raised to further the Lusk bill. he had