New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-22
Lobbyist Kleist
Earned His Paw.
Patron Swears
Bill Posting Co. Executive
Says Man Who Got $IO,-
600 of Police Slush Fund
Killed Measures i'm ALBANY
'SNot a Bunco Steerer"
Detectives Story of. Plan to
Pay Sen. Walters SIS, 900
- TO Push Bill Is Denied


.slShbyist who received $4,000 of the
sidetectives' slush fund, which was raised
70 promote the Lusk bill giving detec.
tives boplb-proof jobs and higher sal.
slsFies, successfully killed legislation a,
si$lbany was told under oath yesterday
slSy business men. These testified be-
slSore the inquiry being made by Com.
m issioner Hershfield into the slush
SI5und scandal.
III One of them, Ernest V. lie May, su.
I nerintendent of the Van Beuren Bill
Posting Company, not only told OF
Kleists ability as lobbyist. but de
1scribed him SIS g man who would carry
,sdut any agreement he had made.
Ri Hirshfeld explained that he had in.
Introduced this sort of testimony to off.
liset the picture painted by Detectives
NGegan and Brown, the friends of Sena
f.Ecr Lusk, who tried to make Kleist ap-
lt,near as ounce steereT."
II Detectives Bernard }. Devsney and
Thomas Il Conkling, who helped to
iIpaise the siush fund, have been sus-
Intended from membership in the De
iiERctives Endowment Association, Il
twas announced last night, following a
Iigaeeting of the association. Charges
sIksill be preferred against them and
they will be brought before the asso-
lsciation's board Of directors. Detective
;IIHhornas Finn, who is also said to have
,II9een active in the raising of the slush
llfhnd. was dropped week ago from
1.-THE associations membership for non
payment of dues, it was announced.
IL Detective Conkling testified that De-
Effective Edwin J. Burns had told him
iithst J. Henry Walters, who preceded
IIIsusk as majority leader OF the Senate
twas to be retained and paid $4,000 for
i9obbying fer the bill
ID Charge at Once Denied
II This was denied by officers of the
Slletectives' Endowment Association. who
insisted that Walters agreed to assist
lin promoting the legislation without
fny fee. Walters, who testified the
sprevious day, said that he had not re-
sfeived any money from the detectives
land did not expect any.
II When LIE May was first called to
1.-The stand he said that he had not
nseen Kleist since last SATURDAY.. He
Ikaid he saw him then at the Office of
1.-THE Q. j.. GUIDE Bill Posting Company,
(which also employs him, and the
llobbyist, he added, told him that he
was leaving that night for Washing
aton: He said that Kleist not only
handling legislation affecting the bill
posting industry, but also filed plans
with the. New York City Bureau of
sBuildings for sign boards of various
INSCRIPTIONS.
II In explaining some of Kleist's AL
Hhany activities, the witness said:
III "kleist represented the Van Beuren
nEompany on two occasions in connec-
lition with the bill placing tax on
tIoliiboards. In fact, he Represented
Iifhe bill poster advertising business of
1.-The state in connection with number
ilof other gentlemen who were inter
.egted"
II "When was that?" asked Hirshfeld.
III In 1890 and 1921"
u Docs he devote his entire time to
gfworking for your frm?"
II Simply One of His Clients
q "No, sir; only part of his time. We
Hare simply clients of Kleist in his
llprofessional capacity"
= Has he other concerns for which he
does work.
e. Yes, he has a number of other eli
,'lGnts besides US"
llix "Was he successful in Albany in
lale20 in killing the legislation which
Il syss directed at your business 2"
Hid Well, so far as what you meant
llIh "Was the bill killed."
IlI@ "The bill eventually was killed"
HE "The bill was reintroduced last win.
Her 2"
, nn,@ eyes"
HiS "Do you know by whom"
lii "By Senator Robinson"
E& at was again killed, was it not"
~ Eyes, sir"
"And Kleist was up there for thai
Il purpose %
illA EYES"
Ni@ Meyer Can't Find Him
aa The process servers sent out By
tSenator Schuyler M. Meyer, Chairman
IT the Legislative graft investigating
!, Committee, to find Kleist so that Hirsh.
lllNseld could examine him, returned las,
aJight-the third day of their hunt
empty handed. In making this an.
8 Iaouncement, Senator Meyer denied s
Unpublished report, which was said tc
lIIisls1e ,emanated from the committee
'@hat his PROCESS servers would find
Il lvSleist in twenty-four hours.
III, liz what was said" explained one of
iHhe publicity agents OF the committee
l,.kwas that if Hirshfeld was actually
iFWrying to get Kleist he could get him
within ewsnty-four hours"
,sa When Mr. lie May was questioned as
,tao Kleist's personality by Commits
lIIwioner Hirshfeld, he said:
ll|R 81 would describe MIR. Kleist as a
Isi8ood fellow"
liigg agreement he made with anyone?"
ss,s "Ye s."
TIA "Do you consider him a man who
I, llspss----.. -