New-York tribune., 1921-03-17
Hir'sch Charges
Political Plot to
Steal Loan Plan
Ex-Chairman of Mayors
Rent Body Says Scheme
for State Housing Aid Is
To Be Made Election Issue
Rumors Involve Hylan
Accuser Asserts Copeland
Will Withdraw Support;
Doctor DisavOws Threat

Nathan Hirsch. former chairman of
the Mayors Committee on Rent
Profiteering, charged yesterday that
a plot was under way to divert state
building loan plan which he, Health
Commissioner Copeland. Samuel Com
pers and local labor representatives
had devised. into an issue to catch
votes at the next mayoralty election.
Mr.. Hirsch did not mention names,
but it has been common rumor around
City Hall for several days tat Tam
many and the other elements backing
Mayor Hylan for reelection had their
eyes on the housing question.
At the same time Mr.. Hirsch made
plan. 1t would set up a building and
loan association, controlled by the
state, financed by q state appropria
tion of $1,000 600. lending money on
per cent mortgage to builders of
homes and apartment houses and is
suing IL per cent housing bonds, the
proceeds from the sale of which would
be reinvested in additional housing
loans.
Informs Gompers of Stand
In asserting the existing Of plot
to make q campaign issue OF the
question. Mr.. Hirsch served motto.
that he would have nothing further to
do with the state aid project until
he was satisfied the politicians would
keep their hands off. He informed
Mr.. Gompers of his feelings in the
following telegram to the head of the
American Federation of Labor at
Washington:
"l am reliably informed that my
state building loan plan, which you
favor, is about to be used for ques
tionable political purposes. have
Informed the newspapers that you.
Copeland, labor and myself will not
stand for being used in this plot; that
we will back the plan only if it is
used wholly and sincerely in the pub
lie interest"
Commissioner Copeland said last
evening that Mr. Hirsch's use of his
name in this regard was "unauthor-
ized.'
81 think Mr.. Hrsch is unduly con
cerned." DR.. Copeland added. II
don't know that there is any copy
right on the housing plan or any
other plan for the public good. The
people of New York need houses and
| am going to do all I can to get
them. If private capital won't sur-
nish the money the state will have to
do so. will work with anybody,
be he angel or devil, to achieve that
end"
Several Withdraw Support
Last Saturday night at the Hotel
Marseilles, Mr.. Hirsch, DR.. Copeland,
Mr.. Gompers and q number of repre-
sentatives of the Central Trades and
Labor Council met to formulate plans
i i
to the Legislature. Mr.. Hirsch said his
building loan plan. as a general propo-
sition, met with favor. Appointment
of committee of 100 citizens to work
out the details was authorized Since
the discovery of the reputed plot to
turn the proposal into a Hyan cam
paign issue several prominent citizens,
it was said, had withdrawn their con-
sent to serve on suci. committee.
Gossip in political circles has it that
Peter j. Brady, admittedly :; power in
the Central Trades and Labor Council,
has been busying himself in an en-
deavor to divert the housing plan from
constructive, non partisan channels
into a Tammany- Hylan catch-vote slo-
gan. Mr. Brady is one of the Mayors
principal advisers, is counted on large
" to keep the union labor vote in
line and holds the S6,000-a-year job
of Supervisor of The City Record. Mr.
Brady was not present at the Hotel
Marseilles meeting.
A bill containing many of the chief
features of the Hirsch plan has been
introduced in the Legislature by Se.la-
tor James j. Walker, Tammany spokes-
man in the upper house at Albany.
Mr.. Eirsch's explanation Of his plan
follows:
Briefly my plan, considered consti-
tutional by competent legal authorities
is this:
"The only practical solution of the
New York City housing problem is q
state building and mortgage loan pro
tected by satisfactory safeguards anc
properly administered without politica
interference. Private capital has failed
in the present housing crisis, and it is
my sincere belief that in state loar
to builders lies the only hope of avert
ing chaos and rain in the city.
81 advocate the passage of a law au
thorizing an appropriation by the State