New-York tribune., 1921-01-03
Senator Robinson and
Assemblyman Steinberg
to Take Joint Action
for Sweeping Inquiry
Enright and Swami
Are Hotly Assailed
Present Administration
Probably Most Corrupt
in History of the City
From q Special corresponde~t


ALBANY, Jan. 2.-In a sweep
ing indictment of the Police Depart
ment and other departments Of the
Hylan administration and the Office
of District Attorney Swami Senator
Theodore Douglas Robinson and AS
semblyman Joseph Steinberg to-day
in a joint statement made public
some of the reasons prompting them
and numerous civic organizations in
demanding a legislative investiga-
ton of the city, county and borough
departments in New York City.
They characterize the present ad-
ministration as probably the worst
and most corrupt in the history of
the city.
The two legislators are working
on a resolution calling for such an
investigation, and announced to-day
that they would offer the document
when the Legislature convenes
Wednesday night.
Attempts are now being made by
few Republican leaders in New
York City, as we'll as agents of
Hearst and Tammany, who have on
other occasions rushed to the aid OF
the Hylan administration when it
was threatened and on one occasion
stifled a proposed Legislative investi-
cation Of the Police Department., to
prevent this latest effort to uncover
graft and corruption ia New York
City's official household.
Deaf to All Pleadings
Many efforts have been made to get
Robinson and Steinberg to reconsider
their determination to ask for an in
vcstigation, but both have remained
5teadfast and refused TO listen to any
pleadings or. implied threats or prom
ises
Robinson and Steinberg reviewed
some of the scandals in the Police De-
partment under Mayor Hylan's Commits
sioner, Richard e. Enright, and in other
departments of the city administration.
as well as in District Attorney Swann's
office.
They declared that in view Of tho
facts known to the public and assem-
bled by them it was no wonder that the
decent elements of the city and state
were demanding that the Legislature in
vestigate the Hylan administration at
once.
The statement Of Robinson and Stein.
berg follows;
"We call to the attention Of the
citizens of the city and sta few
pertinent facts in connection with the
three years Of corruption and misrule
under Mayor John F. Hylan, which
alone would justify ar investigation OF
the Hylan regime such as the people
are demanding. We propose to ask
the Legislature when it convenes on
January to make such an investiga-
ton.
l. wood Probe Recalled
"The citizens of the state should
bear in mind that the Lockwood COM
mittee, which is concerned solely with
the housing situation, has uncovered
and that the committee, through it's
counsel, the Honorable Samuel Inter
myer, publicly stated on December
that sufficient had already been de-
veloped By the Lockwood commi ittee
to show that legislative investigation
of the City of New York was sadly
needed in the best interests Of the
public.
"On the same day Mr. Untermyer
publicly stated that the Lockwood COM
mttee would require at least si;; to
twelve months of its undivided atten-
ton to investigate the housing sit1a-
ton and that it did not have the time
to investigate Official graft in the
partments. The indictments Of con-
tractors and others as a result of the
investigation of the Lockwood COM
mittee is more than 150
The public should recall the follow
ing facts:
"Frederick A. Bugher was removed
as Ponce Commissioner on January
30. 1918, after twenty-three days n
cfficc because he refused to appoint as
his deputies friends Of Mayor Hylan,
one Of whcm has been characterized in
court as counsel for the pickpocket
trust This man, Joseph A. Solovei.
Hoo !dtSi dppOi4ittu DIS ASSISTANT s-Ol-
poration Counsel under Mayor Eylaa.
and is now awaiting trial in the Fed
erai courts in this district on 4 charge
of bribery made by Internal Revenue
officers who had arrested alleged boot
leggers.
Mr. Bughers Letter
"Mr. Bugher, in a letter to Mayor
Hylan at the time of his removal, said:
'''i could not contin-e as Police Com
missioner without the aband donment Of
my principles and the loss Of my self
respect
at was not long after that John "
Golf jr., Deputy Police Commissioner,
resigned as a protes. against the de-
motion of Honest Dam Costigan and
for other things done by Bugher's sue
cessor, Police Commissioner Enright,
which Mr.. GoT characterized as not
in the best interests of the depart
ment.
"The city was next shocked by an
ether scandal in high police circles by
! the indictment of Deputy Police Conn
missioner Augustus Drum portar fn~