New-York tribune., 1921-01-04
Swami Issues
Subpoenas for
His Accusers
Calls Upon Robinson and
Steinbers to Explain
Their Charges Against
Hylan and His Office
Move Amuses Legislators
Whisper Squad Continues
Effort to Offset Inquiry
Into City Administration

District Attorney Swami sent ONT
grand jury subp9pas for State Senator
Theodore Douglar Robinson and As.
semblyman JoseCh Steinberg yesterda,
as soon as he had read the statement
giving their reason for demanding .
legislative investigation of the Hylan
administration and the District Attor-
ney's Office. The subpmnas, which were
left at their homes, call for their ap-
pearance Friday.
The District Attorney said that he
thought the legislators didn't know
what they were talking about, that they
charged corruption against the CITY adj
mlnlstratlon, and he intended to get
them both before a grand jury, where
be would demand that thcy produce
evidence to substantiate specific
charges.
Senator Robinson, when informed in
Albany of the threat of the District
Attorney, said that he would be in
New York Friday and would call on
Mr.. Swami with his attorney. Assem-
blyman Stelnberg said that if Mr.
Swami thought he could sidetrack the
legislative inquiry by such tactics he
was vastly mistaken.
"Whispering' Campaign Opens
In addition to the open move by the
District Attorney Whispering" cam
paign was instituted at Albany bv
agents of the Hylan- iiearst- -Tammany
combination in an effort to dissuade
legislators from undertaking such an
nvestigation, the "whispcr squad"
using the argument that more votes
would be gained by the Republican
party if Hy!an and his subordinates
were permitted to work their Will on
New York until election time.
81 want them to 60 before a grand
jury,' said District Attorney Swami in
announcing that subpnnas had been
issued for Senator Robinson and As
scmblyman Steinberg, "and give the
acts on which they base their allega-
ions. don't anticipate that either OF
them know anything OF what they've
said. They have picked up the unveri-
ed rumors and have made direct allie
,ations of corruption in the public
service. am going to bring them be-
ore the grand jury.
We will call anybody who makes
such charges so that we can learn
whether the charges have any basis
Of fact. Ii there is crime anywhere in
the public service we want to find
it. If there is anything brought out
before the Grand Jury from these gen
tlemen or any one else affecting this
Office | viii Immediately ask the Attor-
ney General to take charge so it can
not be said that | am investigating my
own office In issuing these subpoenas
am asking for information regarding
corruption of any official high or low
la !, .tt !, .trfN
ment made by the two legislators, Dis
trict Attorney Swami rested his eyes
on the name Of John 7. Hettrick. At
this point he looked up and continued: ::
Il never saw or heard of Hettrick
before his name was brought out by
the Lockwood committee. 1t did not
appear in the evidence submitted to
me, neither did the name of Brindell:
neither was there any reference to
them directly or indirectly. These men
(the egislators) have made these state
ments without having taken the trouble
20 find OUT if they are true or not"
Discussed Inquiry With Untermyer
At this point OF the interview Mr.
Swami said that the Federal authori-
ties had started to investigate the ce-
ment combine when the evidence in
the housing matter was first placed
before him by Nathan Hirsch Mr..
Swami said that he had taken the mat
ter up with Mr.. Untermyer and at that
time Untcrmyer said that it would be
better to have the Federal authorities
investigate, because the matter seemed
to cover nationwide field.
Here M. Swami quoted several ncws-
papers Of August ii, 1919, to the effect
that the Federal authorities were at
that time Investigating the housing
matter. He drew from his desk a copy
of an Endorsement placed on the Off
clal papers in tn" housing matter in
August, 1919. This indorsement was
headed building Material Combina-
tion." and read:
"Thc very recent action of the At
torney General cf the United States
against the building material manufac.
turcrs and dealers has superseded this.
lie can reach all of them, in every
state, while the local state District At
torney could reach only any local Of
fender. (sisned) Edward Swami, Dis
trict Attorney"
speciol pispatch to The rri6inle
ALBANY, Jan. 3.-When Assembly,
man Steinberg was informed tonight
that District Attorney Swami had is
,1,,1x~