New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-14
Two Livingston Men and
10 Tammanyites Cast
Only Negative Ballots
After Bitter Debate
Unlimited Power
Is Granted Board
Committee Increased to
Is by Lusk Resolution;
Assembly Acts To-day
By Dennis Tilden Lynch

ALBANY. April 13.-The Senate to-
day adopted the Meyer resolution pro-
vid;ng for a graft investigation Of the
Hearst-Hylan-Tammany administration
Ten Tammany Senators and two fol-
lowers OF Jacob A. Livingston, the
Brooklyn boss-Senators Alvah Bur
lingame jr. and Maxwell S. Harris
cast the only negative votes. The AS
sembly will adopt the resolution to-
morrow.
The Tammany leader, Senator James
J. Walker, made a frantic effort to
prevent the adoption Of the resolution,
quoting Mr., Livingston as mis- author
ity that the investigation should not
be ordered
The resolution is the most sweeping
document of its kind ever presented to
the Legislature. 1t calls upon all city,
borough and county officers of the City
OF New York to assist the committee.
Immunity power, granted for the first
time to a municipal investigating COM
mittee since the Lexow committee, also
is conferred on the committee.
Investigation Is Unlimited
The most sweeping power of all is
delegated to the committee by the
legislature in the following paragraph:
The investigation of the committee
may include every other matter and
resolution, as though the same had
been specifed therein
The committee will consist of fifteen
legislators, although the resolution
calls for only eleven. The additional
four were created by the adoption of
special resolution offered by Senator
Clayton r. Lask, majority leader, pro-
Tiding that the minority and majority
.esders OF both houses shall be mem
scys of all Legislative committees, with
the power to vote on all matters.
This is considered by the legislators
. mean that regardless Of who is
elected chairman of the committee,
SENATOR l.usk and Assemblyman Simon
q Adler, the majority leader of the
iswer house, viii at least keep a guild
ing hand on the investigation.
1t is understood that Senator
Schuyler NJ. Meyer, of New York, will
ne chosen chairman. Senator Theodore
Douglas Robinson, who with Assem-
blyrnan Joseph Steinberg led the fight
in the Legislature for a probe, is sup
porting Senator Meyer for the chair
alanship.
Brown Choice for Counsel
Elon f. Brown, of Watertown,
orlner majority leader of the Senate,
sho drafted the resolution, and who
vas one OF the men who were largely
responsible in convincing Governor
t,a+
needed, is the unanimous choice Of the
influential members of both houses for
counsel to the committee.
The committee, which by virtue Of
the Lusk resolution will consist of
fifteen members, will be composed of
eight Assemblymen and seven Senators.
The eleven who will be appointed by
The Speaker of the Assembly and the
President pro TEN Of the Senate will
be selected Friday.
Shortly after the adoption of the
resolution, which carries with it an
appropriation of 100000, the Senate
Finance Committee reported out the
Meyer bill providing for charter re-
vision commission of fifteen to be ap-
pointed by the Governor.
The advancement of this measure
vas objected to by Senator Walker,
Eho said that the amount appropriated
for the work, $25 900, was too small.
Here you have graft investigating
committee appointed for the purpose
Of singing mud and you give it $780,
900, but this charter revision commits
sion. which could do some good work,
you give but $25,000," said the Tam
many leader.
Charter Bill Is Delayed
Under the rules, the objection of
Mr. Walker delayed action on the char
ter revision bill for twenty-four hours.
The graft investigating committee is
required to furnish all information it
develops which will be of assistance
tccntInued on page threc)