New-York tribune., 1921-06-06
Hylan Prepares
10 Obstruct
Meyer Inquiry
Conference in Mayors Of
fee Decides to Oppose
Every Demand for Aid
From Legislative Probe
Authority Is Questioned
Hirshfe1d's Attack ON Cos
tigan Seen as Warming
to keep Mouths Shut

The observation-disclosures regime,
IN its efforts to prevent an exposure
Of graft and corruption in the city ad-
ministration by the joint legislative
investigating committee, has deter
mined upon a systematic campaign Of
obstruction.
This campaign was decided upon.
The Tribune was informed yesterday.
at conference in the Office Of Mayor
Hylan which was attended by some Of
the Mayors heads Of departments.
Mayor Hylan. it is said, presided.
This meeting was held Saturday as
result of the letter sent to Police
Commissioner Enright by Senator
Schuyler M. Meyer, chairman Of the
legislative inquiry, requesting that
Honest Dan" Costigan be assigned to
assist the committee in its investiga-
tion of various departments, especially
the Police Department.
Mayor Hylan, through his chum and
m outhpiece, David Hirshfield, Commits
sioner Of Accounts, informed the world
that he was opposed to Costigan be-
cause he had tried to obtain evidence
of corruption against certain high
police official.
Also through his mouthpiecs the
Mayor said that he had no use for
"rats," as the Mayors chum declared
informers are labeled in the under
world.
Employees Silence Demanded
Members Of the committee yesterday
regarded the HirshfieId attack on
Costigan as warning to employees Of
the administration and others who
may have reason to fear its wrath, to
keep their mouths shut.
The administration, however, unless
it changes its mind overnight, will not
voluntarily permit Costigan to work
for the joint legislative graft investi-
eating committee. Nor will it assign
other employees to the committee who
are not avowed friends of the Hearst
Hylan-Tammany regime.
City officials are looking forward tc
being summoned into court on their
refusal to assign Costigan to the COM
mittee. According to one Of Mayor
Hylan's closest advisers, who discussed
with q reporter for, The Tribune the
probability of court proceeding To
compel them to assign Costigan to the
committee, the committee has no
power such as the majority members
Of the investigating body believe.
"The resolution creating the commit
tee," said The Tribune's informant
"did not contemplate that the commit
tee could 60 into any department it
saw fit and take any official in that
department It's fancy dictated. The
mandate which the committee quotes
in asking for Costigan merely says
that the communities shall have the
aid and cooperation Of the officers and
employees Of the City of New YORK
This means but one thing, that the
committee, il it wants to examine Ger.
tain books. say. shall have the assist
ance of the man or woman IN charge
of those books to point them out and
TO direct the committees employees II
such direction is solicited. The man,
date does not mean anything more, and
this administration is prepared to sc
into the courts and fight it out on
these grounds. for there are no other,
Mayor Reverses His Position
This also was the attitude taken by
Mayor Hylan personally when former
Governor Whitman, in conducting the
tconttnued on page three)