New-York tribune., 1921-03-21
Bills for Bogus
Hylan Inquiry
May Be Blocked
Livingston Tonight or To-
morrow Will Seek to jam
Through Measure Mann
ing Mayor ON the Board
Craft Charge Won't Down
Governor, Too, Seems Con-
vinced That Rigid Investi-
CATION Is Needed Here
FROM a STAFF Correspondent

ALBANY, March 20. - Tomorrow
night or Tuesday the foes of q real
Legislative investigation into the
Hearst Hylan-T Tammany regime, as pro-
vided for in the Robinson Steinberg
resolution, will attempt to put through
one of the two camourflage investiga-
tions started by Jacob A. Livingston,
the Kings County leader.
Mr.. Livingston, who is openly on rec
ord against legislative investigation
of the Hylah administration, his ex-
pressed reason being that it would not
be good politics, is, however, for the
constructive" probe provided for in
the bills introduced by Senator Alvah
". Burlingame jr, and Assemblyman
Frederick A. Wells, both of Brooklyn.
These hills were identical in the begin
ming, in that they called for the crea-
tion of hybrid committee of six leg
islators and fifteen civilians, to be ap-
pointed by the legislative leaders and
the Governor. The Burlingame bill has
since been amended at the request of
the Hylan administration to include
Mayor Hylan and Comptroller Craig.
Not Graft Inquiry
Both bills call-not for an investiga-
ton of graft-but for an "inves estiga-
ton" of the departments under Mayor
Hylan, with a view to remedying con-
structural defects. The committee is
described in the bills as "the commits
sion on reorganization and retrench-
ment Of the City of New York"
Senate. The Wells bill is on the AS
sembly calendar in the order of final
passage. 1t will be acted upon either
tomorrow night or Tuesday. The plan
is to pass both bills and give Mayor
Hylan his choice, as being city bills
they must be sent to him for approval
or veto.
A few leaders in the party have been
won over to Mr.. Livingston's idea of an
investigation" Some of them declare
that in view of Mr.. Livingston's
espousal of the traction bills his wishes
should be respected. Other Republi-
can leaders in New York CITY are also
opposed to thorough investigation of
the alleged graft in the various Hylan
departments and probe of the charges
against District Attorney Swann's Of
'tlce, as provided in the Robinson-S Stein
berg resolution. These associates of
Mr.. Livingston, while not so outspoken.
are doing considerable underground
work.
Governor Miller, however. does not
share these views, as was indicated in
his attack on the Hylan administration
IN speech to the proponents of the,
New York and New Jersey port devel-
opment bill and in an interview the
following day, when he made it plain
that he believed that a Legislative in
vestigation of the graft charges lodged
against the Hylan administration was
necess ssary.
Evidence tending to show malfeas
ance in Office again:f one of the high
elected officials in New York City is
before the legislative leaders. One of
the leaders here in a recent conversa-
ton said:
'It seems to me that if only part of
what is charged against this particular
official is true the Governor could re-
move him at once"
This evidence had not been sub
mitted to Governor Miller before he
went away on his vacation last week.
Believe Livingston Will Fail
1t is not believed that the efforts of
Mr. Livingston and others who are op-
posing an investigation will be sue
cessful. In some quarters here the
opinion is held that Mr.. Livingston,
when he realizes how widespread are
the intolerable conditions, will demand
that legislative investigation such as
is contemplated by the Robinson Stein
berg resolution be inaugurated.
Friends of Senator Burlingame and