New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-14
Meyer Inquiry
Orders Enri.gIat
Records Barred
Subpmnas Served ON Po-
lice Department to Give
Data for Probe of City
Affairs ON a New Line
Commissioners Says Seizure
of His Papers Is Work
of Traction Interests

Subpunas were served yesterday on
the Police Department by the Meyer
legislative committee calling for mass
Of records, documents and papers
covering the entire regime of the En-
right administration. The suppenas
were of the duces tecum variety. but no
papers were taken away by the process
servers. 1t is understood that the de-
partment will have FIVE days in which.
to produce the required records.
Officials of the Police Department
would not discuss the nature of the
documents demanded by the Legislative
Investigating committee, and neither
Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer. chairman
of the committee, nor Leonard M. Wall
stein, its counsel, would make any
statement in connection with the move.
A Tribune reporter was informed that
the suhpmnaed papers have TO do with
matter entirely apart from anything
that has been under investigation by
former Governor Charles S. Whitman.
Senator Meyer said yesterday that
SO Park Row on Monday, and that its
activities would be directed from there.
He stated that various departments of
the Hylan administration already are
being investigated, but that no public
hearings would be held for some time.
Senator Meyer refused to comment
on long and sarcastic statement given
out yesterday by Commissioner Of Ac-
counts David Hirshfeid, whose office
was relieved on Thursday afternoon of
many records and documents pertain
ing to investigations which the Com
missioner has conducted at the request
of Mayor Hylan.
Illegal, Says HirshfeId
Commissioner Hirshdeld's statement
alleged that Senator Meyer and Mr..
Wallstein. in descending on his Office
suddenly and without warning. acted
Illegally and without authority, and
that the move was the opening gun in
q campaign by the traction interests to
discredit the Hylan administration.
MIR Hirshfield complained further
that Senator Meyer and Mr.. Wallstein
appropriated personal letters, tickets
10 receptions and dinners and other in
innate papers which could have no
bearing on legislative investigation
of the Hylan administration. The
statement was concluded in tone Of
resignation. 1t announced philosophi-
caIly that raids on the office of the
Commissioner of Accounts were moth
ing new and that the last one had been
launched by the "unlamented Almirall
Grand jury" which failed to return the
records it took away.
Mr., Hirshfeld's statement follows, in
part:
"The sudden descent of Senator
Meyer, representing the interest he
does, and Mr.. Wallstein, who is associ-
ated with Mr.. Untermyer, and has thus
far received $4,000 for his services
with the Lockwood committee, and is
also the counsel for the Citizens
Union, which advocated increased car
fare, and who fer the last three years
has devoted all his time and energy to
criticizing Mayor Hylan and his admin
istration, is ample proof that this in
vestigation is conceived and will be
conducted for political purposes.
at is very plain that this raid upor
my Office is really the beginning of the
active traction, gas, electricity anc
telephone coalition campaign with the
peoples, money against Mayor Hylar
In their endeavor TO elect Republican
or fusion Mayor who would not oppose
Increased carfares, increased gas, cleo
tric and telephone rates, and who will
be subservient TO these interests ane
not the interests Of the people Of th'
city.
Declares Nothing Hidden
There is nothing in this Office tina
any investigating body cannot see ant
examine. ] have conducted this offic,
Tor the best interests of the city with
out regard to persons or politics, ant
while l knew that Senator Meyer ant
Mr.. Wallstein had no right to come il
and act in high-handed manner, a
they did, refrainmed from placing OBJ
atacles in their sway, and thus did no
give chem an opportunity to go out an,
say that / refused to be investigate,