New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-07
Meyer Is Urged
To Lift Lid Off
Graft Queens
ronnolly's Democratic Rival
Demands Alleged Evil
dence Obtained by Com
mittee Be Made Public
Borough Must Wait Turn
Affairs of Board of Esluca-
ion May BE Sensation
at To-morrow's Hearing


n.necrstic nomination for the Presi-
s.rcv of the Borough of Queens in OPP
.os;tion to Maurice f. Connolly, the
.rsspnt incumbent, made demand
soon the Meyer Legislative committee
;rvssticating the city administration
Yesterday that it reveal at once alleged
.r;asnees of graft in the borough de-
.,.red to be in possession of the com
mittee
oLeary. in the course of a letter to
Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer, chairman
~ the committee. intimated that the
committee was aiding the candidacy of
Connolly by withholding the exposure
until after the primaries.
Queens Must Wait Turn
Mr.. Connolly, commenting on O'Leary's
uoys. said that he was as anxious for
the exposures as was O'Leary and that
he had written Senator Meyer to that
eject. Senator Meyer replied that
.he Queens scandal had not been taken
m by the committee because it was too
busv with other important disclosures.
Ne promised, however, to have the sub
iect thoroughly aired in public before
election, adding that "the committee
cannot permit the wishes of particular
candidates, either in the primaries or
general election, to determine the order
in which facts developed in the pre-
Iiminary hearings shall be presented to
the public in open session.
The Senator said that it was true
hat some witnesses from Queens
Borough have been kept under sub
nnna from week to week because "sev-
ersl Of them have evinced desire to
spend the summer beyond the jurisdic-
ton of the committee"
OIeary's letter to the Senator set
forth that numerous witnesses from
Queens had been called to City Hall.
where the hearings are being held, to
be ready to testify on alleged graft
in the borough. They appeared again
on August so, said Mr.. O'Leary, when
they were informed that the investi-
CATION of affairs in the Borough of
Queens was all off until September
20, week after the primaries"
tQnIlnulNg, MT, ~ LcdIy says
81 have been informed of the nature
Of some Of this testimony by witnesses
under oath.
Evidence of Graft Alleged
~ think that you cannot but admit
that this testimony indicates rotten
condition in the Borough of Queens.
The testimony shows that favoritism
has been shown to certain contractors
or interests, that money has been paid
for contracts for public works, that the
contractors affected admit paying large
sums for such contracts, amounting in
one instance to $14 900 and in another
to $1,000 The contractors themselves
hssa admitted this before your COM
mi.tee And you cannot help but ad-
nit that your committee has document
ary evidence of the truth of these
admissions. even including checks that
have passed
Senator Meyer, will you make pub
lie the testimony given before your
sub.committees by any one of the fol-
lowing men:
John j. Green, contractor, of
Brooklyn Relating to the payment of
$4,000 for contract for sewers IN
the Borough of Queens.
Joseph Sigretto, contractor, of
Queens Relating to the delivery of
the $4,000 check.
John NJ. Phillips, agent for Lock
Joint Pipe-Relating to the disposition
Of the $4,000 check.
John O'Rourke, Relating
TO the payment of $4,000 in connection
with sewer contract in Queens.
"Rotti & Co, contractors -
al
bottom"
Upon which Mr.. Connolly COM
rented:
Il have written Senator Meyer con-
curing in the suggestion of Mr..
evidence he has collected and hope he
will do so. And Notwithstanding | am
extremely busy with public affairs |
have suggested to Mr.. Meyer that l am
now available upon moments notice
to appear before his committee as
witness if he prefers in this manner
to make his information public
Commissioner of Accounts Hirshfield
continued his counter Investigations Of
the city departments, examining hun
oreds of policemen and firemen yester-
Gay in his effort to find out if any graft
mad been paid by employees of these de-
partments to obtain their jobs. He is
preparing to quizz all the employees in
the Street Cleaning Department for a
similar purpose.
Educational Probe To-day
1t was said that upon resumption of
open sessions in City Hall tomorrow
morning the committee would go into
lae affairs of the Board of Education.
II had been planned to have this subject
.aken up last week, when Aiming S..
rrall, president of the board, and nu-
merous other education officials were
sunpenaed to appear before the COM
i,hittee A postponement was required
because of the illness of Elon r. Brown,
'ae committees chief counsel.
just what the committee has I'M
safthed in connection with the affairs Of
s me board could not be learned yester-
way put 1T is understood that disclos
aies OF an unusual nature are to be
"'S a., IN the course of the investigation.
"hen this branch of the inquiry is
IIohcluded the Dock Department will be
seised into This subject already has
seen touched upon by the committee
S;utihg the course of the Mayors exam
rrna;a.ton, but it is understood the COM
a a;.s.ee has since uncovered wealth Of
;nmn!lerestlng" facts, said to give real
t"slght INTO the cause of the small re-
MI rJ'hs 10 the city from a department
h %n,ch Mr.. Brown says should prove
"gnly profitable.
~