New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-18
Senator Returns Wednes.
day and Will Detail Part
He Played i'm Pushing
Police Soft Berth Bill
Meyer Would Call
Enright and O'Hara
Tells Hirshfield to Run
Inquiry as He Pleases.
but Beware sWhitewash,

Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer yester
aay announced that the joint legisla
tive committee of which he is chair
man. Will not, as David Hirshfield
Commissioner of Accounts believes. in
terfere with Mr.. Hirshfield's inyesti
cation of the $4,000 slush fund raise,
by the detectives to assist the progress,
OF the bill introduced by Senate,
Clayton X. Lusk, rivetting the detec
tlves to their jobs and increasing thei,
salaries
Senator Meyer also assured the Com
missioner of Accounts, who lad invited
Senator Lusk through him to apnea,
before the committee to "explain hi,
activities in connection with the bill'
that the invitation would be accepted
Senator-iusk will return to town Wed
nesday and will then present himself
before Commissioner Hirshfield.
Also the chairman of the legislative
committee suggested that Hirshfiele
call Police Commissioner Enright anc
Mayor Hylan's brother-in-law. Detec
tive Irving O'Hara, who, according te
report, was to have headed the reor.
ganized Detective Bureau which the
Lusk bill would have created.
Wants Enright's Explanation
81 suggest that Commissioner Hirsh-
field call Commissioner Enright to the
stand" said Senator Meyer, "and fino
out whether these detectives went to
Albany and remained there manv davs vs.
to lobby for the bill with his knowl-
edge and consent
~ suggest that he also call Mayor
Hylan's brother-in-law, Detective
O'Hara, and ask him if he attempted
to bring any pressure to bear in favor
of the bill with the Mayors knowledge
and consent.
"Let him ask Commissioner Enright
why the two detectives, who, according
to Mr.. Hirshfield, were guilty of q
crime, were not dismissed, and why
they were merely dem oted, thus re-
ceiving punishment no greater than
that inflicted by commissioner Enrig,t
on Honest Dam Costigan for being an
efficient police officer.
"Let him also ask Commissioner En-
right how long he knew of the So
called slush fund before he requested
an investigation"
1t is said that the legislative in
vestigating committee has information
tending to show that the Mayors
brother -in-law worked as zealously as
any other member of the departm ent
to put the bill through. 1t also has
information that the Police Depart
ment knew of the slush fund for weeks
before it asked Commissioner Hirsh-
field to make the investigation. That
there was a slush fund was common
report last April in Albany, and the
newspapers published the charge,
which was made by members of the
Police Department who opposed the
legislation.
Meyer Pledges Hands Of
Senator Meyer prefaced his sugges-
tions to Commissioner Hirshfeld that
O'Hara and Enright be called to the
stand by the following:
According to the newspapers, Com
missioner Hirshfeld has addressed a
to me concerning his in
vestigation of the Detectives Endow-
ment Association and it's connection
with the so-called detectives bill in
troduced in the last Legislature by
Senator Lusk
commissioner Hirshfield need have
no fear that the committee of which
am chairman and Senator Lusk men,
Der will interfere with his investiga-
ton.
81 advise Commissioner Hirshfeld to
make his investigation honest and thor
ough. In at least one matter which
our committee has investigated Mr.
Hjrshfield has attempted to apply his
we'll worn whitewash brush. We shall
not follow his example"
Those who are familiar with the his
tory of the efforts of the detectives
under Commissioner Enright to get
through the last two legislatures bills
making their jobs permanent and their
salaries larger and giving free rein to
the Police Commissioner to add as
many detectives to the force as he de-
sired, predict that if the investigation
by Commissioner Hirshfield is thor
ough it will result in the development
Of sensational situation, involving
many men prominent in politics and
numerous cronies of Mayor Hylan.
Records Are Missing
Records of the Detective Endow-
ment Association, which would show
CONTINUED on page thrse)