New-York tribune., 1921-11-19
Commissioner Resigns:
Demands Retraction Of
Statements or Prosecu-
tion Based Upon Them
Hirshfeld Inquiry
Method Denounced
Meyer Committee Predic-
ton Efficient Official
Would Quit Is Fulfilled

Mayor Hylan lost another one of his
commissioners yesterday. John P. Leo,
Commissioner of Street Cleaning, re-
aigned in huff, resenting interference
With departmental affairs by the Mayor
and the latter's Commissioner of Ac-
counts, David Hirshfeld. The Mayor
lost a Police Commissioner under SIM
liar circumstances during the first
thirty-day period of his administration,
and now Commissioner Leo's going
marks practically similar period at
The closing OF the first Hylan admins
tration.
While denials that politics had any
thing to do with the Leo resignation
we're issued by Mayor Hylan and Mr.
Hirshfeld, the elimination of the
Street Cleaning Commissioners
troubles in his quitting the city serv-
ice created no surprise in political
circles in view of the Commissioners
acton just prior to the recent election
in suspending Michael Laura, Deputy
Street Cleaning Commissioner, or
charges. Mr.. Laura was the Demo
ratio nominee for Sheriff of Kings
County, and was one of the very few
"mmany candidates defeated in the
ccent city and county elections.
Leo's Efficiency Recognized
Commissioner Leo wassrecognized as
n efficient executive and firm discip-
linarian. He took over the Street
oieaning Department last January
when the work had SO deteriorated and
become so demoralized as to be pub
y scandal. He had encountered diff
culties before because Of his insistence
upon discipline as means of higher
efficiency in the work of the depart
ment, and because of his further in
sistence that he should run his own de-
partment.
The present climax was reached
when Commissioner of Accounts Hirsh-
field attempted to investigate certain
purchases of equipment by Commits
sioner Leo and demanded the books
and records of the department.. Com
missioner Leo fatty refused the
Hirshfeld examiners access to the
records without first being informed of
the nature of the investigation. Com
Mayor. The Mayor sided with the
the Street Cleaning Commissioner to
allow Commissioner Hirshfield ''to in
vestlgate any and every bureau in the
department"
"No Commissioner has the right to
demand of the Commissioner of Ac-
counts" said the Mayor, "the reason
for hissinyestigation or what informa-
ton he is seeking"
Commissioner Leo's resignation fol
lowed yesterday upon the receipt Of
the Mayors order. In his letter to
Mayor Hylan the Commissioner de-
ciared that his resignation was the re-
suit OF certain defamatory statements
70 the Mayor made about him, Leo,
which u true ought to result in the
criminal prosecution of the Street
Cleaning commissioner and which, if
not true, he would take steps to have
prosecuted by the District Attorney as
criminal libel.
Commissioner Demands Justice
Commissioner Leo announced his in
.shtion to advise the District Attorney
y secure his Indictment for official
Misconduct, or an indictment for Grim
'ass hDel against his traducers.
IN his letter to the Mayor he said
ia!rtner that when he became Commits
s.oner ne found the department i'm
.Vmpetently managed by the office dep
a.y as acting Commissioner, and that
ns ,6rooklyn Office was as badly man
steo' Referring to the Brooklyn Dep
usy-Laura-the Commissioner de-
Jared that IAN exhibition of moral
..a:akitude" by him compelled his prac-
s.;, assi removal The department, he
'a,a, was not in creditable condition.
many many Irregularities in the depart
aens existed, he said, and he had
.ound that one firm had a practical
monopoly in furnishing scows to the
uspafsment, having fifty-four scows,
Continued on gage slx)