The New York herald., 1921-01-14
Untermyer and Chairman
Will Confer With EXecu-
tive This Morning.
DOUBT ABOUT RESULT
Opponents Of Inquiry Into
Financial Institutions.
Suggest Compromise.
CIVIC SOCIETIES ACTIVE
Investigation of New York
City Administration Again
Discussed at Albany.
DOUBT ABOUT RESULT
CIVIC SOCIETIES ACTIVE
Special Despatch to THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
ALBANY. Han. IA (

Special Despatch TO THE NEW YoRK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, Jan. l3.
Samuel Untermyer arrived here to-
night to take command of the Lock-
wood committee forces in their fight
with the legislative leaders who are
trying to block the proposed investiga-
ton Of financial interests in New York
The counsel for the committee came to
carry the appeal for help to Gov.
Miller.
Determined to force a showdown
Senator Lockwood and Mr.. Untermyer
agreed tonight that they would not
accept any half way compromise
measures put forward by the leaders
as offering an easy way. out of the
situation.
The Senator and Mr.. Untermyer
will talk over the situation with the
Governor tomorrow forenoon. They
will try to convince the Executive that
the public welfare requires that the
committee have the authority it seeks
to follow all trails Of graft and wrong
doing to the end.
Mr.. Miller has not III any public eX-
preston taken sides III the controversy.
His position has not been stated even
by his close advisers. although il is
known Ire is concerned deeply over the
situation. The Legislature is solely re-
sponsible for the life of the committee
and the degree of authority ii is to
have. The Governor may decide either
to keep hands off entirely or he may
heed the appeal of the committee and
its counsel and step out OF his way TO
use pressure on legislators in trying to
force through the empowering reso-
luton.
Doubt as to Governors Policy.
There is little doubt that II the Gov
ernor should take up the fight on be-
half OF the committee the resolution
would go through with q rush. But Of
ficials doubt whether the Governor at
the very outset of his administration
will care to take the position OF irving
TO dictate to The Legislature. lie has
indicated several tiiaes that he respects
the coord mate branch OF the govern
role OF dictator even in n contest OF
such vital importance TO the public as
this.
The committee and its counsel agreed
in the conference .o-nigh. that they
would not accept the suggestions which
came to-day for the first time from the
enemies OF the inquiry that an effort
be made to reach compromise.
This is the first sign Of weakening on
the part of the legislative leaders, who
boldly declared few days ago that the
committee could not have added power
to back it's probe Of insurance conipa-
mics and savings banks.
Even this slight evidence OF back
down gave Senator Lockwood and his
associates great encouragement
want. No HobbIed Iuauiry.
Mir. Untcrmyer upon arriving here
took the stand that IL was useless TO
talk about goins ahead with hobbled
committee That. he made clear, would
mean going through the motions OF
making an investigation which would
run up against stone wall OF legal
distractions as soon as anything vital
was discovered. That sort OF an in
quiry might serve the purpose OF letting
the Legislature out OF It's corner, but
Mr.. Untermyer said he could 60 only
half way at best.
The backflre started BY civic associa-
tions and other organizations supporting
the Lockwood committee apparently
began to countcract to-day the propa-
sanda OF the financial interests In the
contest here. AS soon as they began to
hear from the rollis back home. some OF
the lawmakers became more moderate
in their opposition.
Tammauy men IN the senate and As-
seinbly said to-day they could see no rea-
son why the legislature should not stand
back Of its committee IT Mr.. Lockwood
believes further inquiry Is justified. This
attitude Of the Democrats has caused
the Republican leaders TO reflect.
The investigation OF the New York city
administration also received consdera-
ton to-day. Senators Robinson n1d
Meyer. both OF whom introduced resolu-
tions calling for a municipal inquiry,
called on the Governor this afternoon
and discussed their proposals.