The New York herald., 1921-07-16
Kleist, Alleged lobbyist, Is
Inaccessible, but Is Known
to Have Returned Certi-
fled $1,000 Check.
DENOTED MEN TOO EASY
President of Their Organiza-
tion Denies Knowing About
Expenditures, Except the
$1,000 That 1t Voted.

The slush fund raised by detectives
in the Police Department last spring
to put through their bill in the Legis-
lature making their positions per-
nlanent aa,d raising their salaries was
close to 100000. according to informa-
ton obtained yesterday by David
Hirshfeld, Commissioner of Accounts.
So far $4,000 has been traced. 1t is
known that $4,000 in cash was passed
in Albany just before the bill was
presented a second time and after 1t
was supposed to be dead The nvesti-
cation will be continued in an effort to
find where the other $4,000 came from
and who received the money.
Thomas H. Conkling and Bernard ].
Devaney, formerly detective sergeants,
who were denoted as a result of the
inquiry, testified regarding their part
the $4,000 in cash to Albany and in
the State capital turned 1t over to
Conkling, the latter said. The same
day the money was given to John B.
Kleist. advertising man, who repre-
sented himself as able to kiss any
bill through the Legislature for that
sum-
Asks for Cash on Short Notice.
The with ,sses insisted that Kleist de-
manded the cash on short notice because
conditions had changed" and told the
detective .hey would have to take his
word that he was playing square The
detectives we're asked. on examination
whether they thought men who fell as
easy AS they did" ought to be detectives.
They admitted they had been rather
easy"
The evidence disclosed that the Doodle
fund arrived In the capital the day be-
fore the Llll was introduced for the
second time by Sena tor Clayton r. Lusk
majority eader.
Detectives James ]. Gegan and Cor
nelius Brown. representing the De-
tectives Endowment Association. asked
Lusk to handle the bill for them wit
nesses said, and the Senator agreed to
help the boys because Of the fine work
the detectives did for tho legislative
committee which Investigated sedition
anu AsusfN was Ol
that committee. The associations agents
denied they had any knowledge OF
the slush fund and testified they had
threatened TO arres. the boodlers' If
they did not get out of Albany.
Kleist is out Of the city. At his Office
q big street billboard concern, 1t was ex-
planned he had been away for some time
and might be IN Washington or on the
Pacific coast Senator Lusk Is in WASH
ington. II was stated at his Office. He
is a law partner of Samuel Berger, AS
sis.ant Corporation Counsel and as
sociate counsel of The Meyer committee
now investigating the city government.
Edwin j. Burns. president of the En-
dowment Association, testified that his
organization authorized an expenditure
OF $1,000 for expenses. but insisted that
meant nothing, as not much "legisla-
tion could be bought in Albany for
$1,000" 1t was reported from Albany
that Kleist had made application to be
registered as a lobbyist a few days after
the Lusk bill was passed.
Meyer Watching Inquiry.
Senator Lusk may be asked to testify
at the Commissioner of Accounts hear
ing. The Meyer Committee. now sup
posed to be investigating the Hylan ad-
ministration. has gathered no informa-
tion regarding the slush fund but Sena-
tor Meyer said his committee was
watching the city's Investigation of the
Legislature.
Thomas II. Conkling. who was denoted
from detective sergeant 10 patrolman on
Thursday, testified that he received the
$4,000 to be used In promoting the bill
or this sum 5000 was In cash and $4,000
in n certified check which was not used
II got the 5000 on April and arrived
In Albany the next morning" Conkling
testified.
You gave the money to Kleist on
April 81" was asked
Yes. In our room in the Hampton
Hotel annex"
What did Kleist sty?"
He said we would have TO trust him
with the money; that we would have to
take his word, and II the bill was not
passed he would return the money"
Kleist did not explain what he was
going to do with the money.
Did you understand that IL you had
to trust him with the money ne would
have to use it7''
NO. ! did not. I am ashamed to say
/ was not suspicious"
did Kleist lobby for the Lusk bill 2"
Yes"
And he got 5000 for his work in
connection with the Lusk bill?
Yes
After Mayor Hylan vetoed the bill.
Conkllng testified he called on Kleist
AZ his office and got back the 1900
check. He has been unable to get in
touch with KIeist since. he said
Describing his meeting with Senator
Lusk. Conkllng said
Detectives Brown and Gegan came
over to Devaney and me and said they
wanted us TO meet Lusk and introduced
us Lusk said Senator Smith got a
Continued on Fourth Page.