New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-28
Meyer Replies to Protests
Over Lusk's Silver by
Asking What Presents
Mayor andAidHave Had
Legislators Angry
AT Senator's Charge
Hirshfeld Calls Graft
Committee Investigator
ca Pacifist Socialist"

Whlle Republican and Democratic
legislators we're waxing warm over
Senator Clayton r. Lusk's efforts to
condone acceptance Of the 81 ,131 silver
service from detectives by pleading
that sit was common custom for legis-
lators to receive presents" Senator
Schuyler M. Meyer suggested yesterday
that David Hirshtield, Commissioner of
Accounts, call Mayor Hylan and Police
Commissioner Enright and "examine
them as to gifts of great value received
by them"
The suggestion came in the form of
a reply to letter sent to Senator
Meyer last night by Assemblyman
Maurice Bloch, a member of the Meyer
committee, asking Meyer to call Lusk
to the. stand and have him make good
his charge and to invite other leg
lslators to testify regarding any pres
ents they may have received as charged
by the majority leader of the Senate
In his letter Bloch said that if the
Meyer committee did not act he would
request Commissioner Hirshfied to IN
vite Legislators to testify before him.
Questions Bloch's Motives
Chairman Meyer in his letter to AS
semblyman Bloch questioned the sim
cerity of the Tammany legislators mo-
tlves as we'll as those of the Mavor's
Commissioner Of Accounts. The Never
letter follows:
"You are perfectly aware the Joint
legislative committee, appointed to in
vestigate the affairs of the City of New
York, has no jurisdiction to investi-
gate the general conduct of members
OF the Legislature, nor has the City
commissioner of Accounts such juris-
diction.
much as I appreciate the sincere
and honest efforts of Commissioner
Hirshfeld and yourself to improve the
ethical standards of public officials,
cannot connive at your joint efforts
to draw the committee from the pur-
pose for which it was appointed.
"As to the jurisdiction of the Com
missioner of Accounts, he has full
power to investigate gifts to members
of the city administration, and per-
haps you and I, my dear Assembly,
man, could give him some valuable
suggestions. To begin with, why not
have Commissioner Hirshfield examine
the Mayor and the Commissioner of
Police as to gifts of great value re-
ceived by them?
ut is possible that such gifts were
given by men dependent upon the
Mayor and the Police Commissioner
for public favors and appointments"
"Quit Stalling," Bloch Replies
Assemblyman Bloch's reply to the
foregoing was:
"Why does not Senator Meyer call
Mayor Hylan and Commissioner En-
right before him in open session? He
has the power and the ability. Why
put it up to Commissioner Hirshfield {?
Why doesn't Senator Meyer quit STALL
ing and fooling around as he has done
for many weeks and get down to
work ?''
Before the exchange of words be-
tween Meyer and Bloch, members Of
tho Legislature, regardless of their
political faith, censured Majority
against them. They characterized the
accusation as untrue, unfair, gratui-
tous slur, and mean attempt to ex-
cuse what one of the Republican col
leagues of Senator Lusk on the Meyer
committee branded as his (Lusk's)
shocking bad taste.
"Not Red Apple" Says One
One Brooklyn legislator, and Re-
publican Senator, William Thorn Simp-
son, who resigned from the Legislature
to 60 overseas with the A. E. F., was
fighting mad when asked to reply to
Senator Lusk's declaration that cit was
a common custom for legislators TO re-
ceive presents"
you may say this for publications 81
said Senator Simpson after he had ex-
pressed himself in more vigorous
speech, chat l have been in the Legis-
lature for six years, both as Assembly,
man and Senator, and that I have done
favcrs for men and groups OF men as a
legislator, and have not been offered,
apple. And | think that the same is
true of all the legislators l have met
with the exception of Senator Lusk,
who evidently was talking for himself q
Senator Bernard Downing, of Mar
haitian. member of the joint legis-
lative graft investigating committee
made this comment on Senator Lusk's
charge:
II never even received a beef stew
during the year I've been a legislator
Nor do / know that legislators receive
presents, as Senator Lusk has been
quoted as saying. l confess belief
IN Santa Claus, puV iuslsC tnat
have no personal proof of his exist
ence, that is, since I've been a legis-
lator. And no one even gave me an
empty wallet"
Bloch's Letter
Assemblyman Bloch. in his letter tc
Chairman Meyer, began by proposing
that the Meyer committee start an in
vestigation of the Lusk charges against
legislators. Then he continued:
"This suggestion is made because of
the remarkable statement of Senator
Lusk condoning acceptance of his
Continued page three)