New-York tribune., 1921-03-10
Senate Passes
Bill for Hylan
ToProbeH eHylan
Approves Measure Naming
Mayor and Comptroller
ON Inquiry Committee by
a Vote of % to II
Will Cost City $4,000
Act Is Called ''Burlesque'';
Veto Expected if 1t Goes
Through the Assembly
From a Stnf Corrcsnonde.,


ALBANY, March 0.-The Burlingame
bill, creating commission to investi-
gate the departments Of the City of
New York with view to making
charter changes, was put through the
Senate to-day.
The bill, which has been character
lied as burlesque attempt to nvesti-
gate the Hylan administration with the
aid of Mayor Hylan and Comptroller
Craig-they are both made members
Of the Investigating" committee --
was passed by vote of % to II.
Senator Schuyler M. Meyer, who also
has a resolution providing for an in
vestigation of the Hylan ad,ninistra-
ton, amazed his collegeaues when he
rose and said
II shall vote for this bill because ]
believe that is a good way of calling
attention to the need Of the Legislature
sending a real committee to New York
City to do the job.''
Robinson Opposes Bill
Senator Theodore Douglas Robinson,
nephew of the late Colonel Roosevelt
who, with Assemblyman Joseph Stein
berg, introduced a resolution calling
for thorough investigation of the al
legged draft conditions in the Hylan ad-
ministration, voted against the bill,
saying;
u am going to vote against this bill
for the very reasons which Senator
Meyer says prompt him to vote for it.
My logic does not run in the same
channel as his.'
Senator Fred NJ. Davenport, who is a
professor OF political economy at Ham.
ilton College and who was the Pro-
gressive candidate for Governor in
1914, when Senator Robinson was chair
man of the Progressive State Commit
tee, said that he was against the Bur
lingame bill because it was a viola
tion of the home rule principle in that
1t forced the City of New York to pay
$4,000 out of its treasury for the pro-
posed commission, which has not been
sought by the municipal authorities.
Senator George Il. Fearon, anothe 7
Republican, representing the Onondaga
district, said that he, too, was op-
posed to the bill for the same reason.
"If we are going to have such a
commission let us be consistent and
fair and pay for it out of the states
funds" said Senator Fearon This
bill is unfair and inconsistent"
During the debate on the bill it was
said that the purpose of the Burlin-
game bill is to make political capital
for its introducer, Senator Alyah Bur-
lingame jr., of Brooklyn, who has am
bitions to be Mayor
May Not Pass Mayor
1t is predicted by legislators that the
bill will never get beyond the Mayor.
unless he wants to join the burlesoue.
as he has the power of veto over it.
since it vas made q purely local bill
by its introducer.
Should the bill pass the Assembly it
will be acted on by the Mayor within
ten days thereafter. After he has
passed upon it Senator Robinson and
Assemblyman Steinberg will begin a
real drive to get the Legislature to
pass their resolution.
The passage OF the Burlingame bill
is regarded by many as an attempt to
block a real investigation Of the Hylan
administration such as is provided for
in the -Steinberg resolution.
Whether this is so or not, the fact
is that Jacob A. Livingston, chairman
If the Kings County Republican Com
lnittee, is opposed to an investigation
of the Hylan administration Senator
Burlngame is his chief lieutenant in
the Legislature. Chairman Livingston
is working for Governor Millers trac-
tion bill.