The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-23
0'MALLEY OFFERS
ALIBI IN ADVANCE
Market Commissioner Says
Committee May Get Some
thing on Employee.

In anticipation of being called be-
fore the Meyer Investigating Com
mittee to-day to answer charges of
mismanagement in his department,
Edwin ]. O'Malley, Commissioner of
Public Markets. said yesterday 1t
might be possible to dig up some
thing against one OF his employees
but that no Irregularities or graft
could be shown. He made long
statement defending his office.
Mayor Hylan will have a brief
session on the stand this forenoon and
then the committee will turn it's in
quiry into the city departments.
This second phase of the investigation
will last many weeks. Every bureau
and office will be searched through.
The financial inquiry is practically at
an end and 1t Is left with the COM
mittee insisting the city overran its
debt limit by violating constitutional
restrictions and Comptroller Craig
maintaining the committee is entirely
wrong and does mot know what 1t is
talking about"
The Mayor will be asked a few ques-
lions about finances and then aues-
toned regarding his activities In direct
Ing the administration of several bu-
reaua He said when testifylng that he
ID the executive officer OF the city and
not It's financial officer. The committee
will seek information on his executive
work.
Senator Schuyler M. Meyer, chairman
of the committee has no intention of
sidetracking the investigation. No po-
litical leader even has suggested that
the inquiry be stopped, he said
Reports that Republican leaders have
requested me to stop and call off the
investigation are pure bunk" the Sem
ator said. mo leader has asked me
directly or indirectly to let up. The
committees programme will be carried
through as laid down and that Is final"
Many things which look strange to
the investigators will have to be ex-
planned by Commissioner OMalley and
his associates. The committees investi-
gators have gone through that DEPART
ment In much detail.
II H. is charged that he has dis
tributed patronage to Tammany poll
ticians. the Commissioner said, he stood
convicted. That Is quite true. he said.
Wherever possible, ne said. he had IA
vored the organization. Answering
charge which evidently he thought
would be made, Mr.. O'Malley said his
department had not been extravagant
and wasteful and gave out copies OF his
reports year by year showing that the
income had more than met expenses.
The estimated revenue this year 10
S325,000 In excess Of expenditures.
During the last year of the Mitchell
administration, the Commissioner point
ed out the total revenue for the depart
nnents was only sea. 900 and this year 1t
will be $4,000. There has been only
little increase In expenditures In the
last two years. even in the face OF ad-
vancing costs Of materials and wages.
When the committee begins to ques-
ton David Hirshfield. Commissioner OF
Accounts, II is expected he will be asked
what has become of his investigation
into the activities Of Jack k1eist. lobby
list who handled the fund raised by the
New York detectives to accelerate their
bill creating the permanent detective
bureau Kleist has not been heard from
since his name was brought into the
case two months ago. Senator Clayton
r. Lusk. majority leader. handled the
detectives bill and in gratitude for his
work the detectives presented Mrs. Lusk
with a valuable silver service.
II was stated yesterday that Senator
Lusk had recovered from the attack OF
hay fever which had prevented his at
tending the first sessions OF the COM
mittee and might appear at meeting
at an early date.