The New York herald., 1921-07-29
MEYER ADDS TO HINTS
Challenges Hirshfield, Who
Keeps Up Agitation OH
Lusk's Silver Service.
SUGAR IN KLEIST'S TRAIL
Senator Smith Dropped Detec-
I, tives' Bill Because of Slush
| Fund Rum0r.

Mayor Hylan denied yesterday hav-
Ing accepted an automobile as gift
from John A. Harriss, Special Deputy
Pol1ce Commissioner, which, he said
was intimated by Senator Schuyler NJ
Meyer, chairman Of the legislative
comndttee investigating the city ad-
ministration.
Disragarding the denial, the Meyer
committee began an inquiry into re-
ports concerning numerous Expensive
gifts" said to have been made to city
officials. According to the reports
these gifts included other and more
valuable presents than automobiles.
There was no denial forthcoming
that DR.. Harriss had given an auto
mobile to Commissioner Enright. That
was known generally soon after Mr..
Enright took Office, but instead of
using the car personally he utilized
It for official business OF the Police
Department, thus saving money for
the city.
At the Office Of the Commissioner Of
Accounts information was given that
the Mayor purchased used automobile
soon after taking Office and that is the
only conveyance he has had. The car
he used during his campaign and for a
short time after taking Office was lent
to him. it was stated.
Senator Meyer intimates that was
the recipient of a gift of an automobile
from DR.. Harriss and I desire to say
that statement is absolutely untrue" the
Mayor said.
Meyer Renevs Challenge
Senator Meyer said in answer he had
not intimated that an automobile or
any other specific gift was made to the
Mayor or other official. but had asked
the Commissioner of Accounts why he
did not call the Mayor and Police Com
missioner to ascertain what expensive
presents" had been received by officials.
That statement still stands. the Senator
said.
Senator Clayton II. Lusk. majority
leader of the State Senate and recipient
of chest of silver from New York de-
tectives. and his associates in the In
vestigation Committee appeared to re-
gard the silver service episode as a
closed incident. The Senator will not
resign and the committee will do moth
ing about 1t. 1t was stated. David
Hirshf1ed. Commissioner of Accounts.
who started the trouble by stumbling
across the $4,000 slush fund raised to
support the detectives bill put through
by Senator Lusk. keeps UP his attack on
the Committee.
Senator C. Ernest Smith, who first in
troduced and then dropped the detec-
tive bill. testifying before the Commits
sioner Of Accounts. stated that he had
been informed last spring that sugar"
was being used to get the bill passed.
Sugar" he explained, us common
term describing slush funds
He introduced the bill, Senator Smith
said, at the request OF Assemblyman
Franklin Judson of Rochester. chair
man of the Assembly Taxation Commit
tee. 1t was this committee which killed
the billboard poster measures which
John Kleist opposed as agent of the big
eignboard advertising concerns. Kleist
has been named by detectives as the
one who handled their $4,000 fund which
was sent to Albany to put through their
bill.
Senator Smith said he had no interest
in the detective bill and handled It as a
favor to Judson.
The Commissioner Of Accounts said
he would continue the investigation to
find out why Judson Of Rochester was
so much interested in the New York de-
tective bill backed by Kieist.
Smith Disowns Police Bill.
IT told Senator Mullen, chairman OF
the Cities Committee, not to report out
the bill with my name on IL, and when
Senator Lusk was informed OF that he
got a copy of the bill and put his name
on It." Senator Smith testified. IT told
Lusk had dropped the bill because
Of the opposition of the uniformed po-
lice force"
while the bill was pending did you
hear some talk about sugar sticking
to the bill?" Hirshfield asked.
IT heard there was sugar in the bill
and spoke to Assembiyman Judson
about 1t. but upon his assurance there
was nothing to It dismissed It from
my mind because money is mentioned
in connection with most important
bills. first heard about It coming
down on train. i was told about the
bill having been dropped In 1870 and
that made me anxious to stand from
under.
Even after Senator LuslS introduced
the. bill there was talk Of money attached
to It. Detectives Brown and Gcgan told
n1e they had informed Lusk there was
no truth in the talk and they said Lusk
was too good friend Of theirs 10 get
mixed In anything like that"
What is your opinion of Senator
Lusk's statement that IL Is common prac-
tice for legislators TO receive valuable
presents?"
Senator Lusk has more experience IN
the Legislature that have this Is my
first year He knows the custons better
than I. never have received any pres
ent."
Have you ever heard that the man
who introduced the teachers bill for
higher salaries got a dinner from the
people who benefited by the bill and
that he received n small gift7"
IT heard something about that"
Hirshneld said he was going 20 look
into peculiar legislation" which he said
members or the committee had put
through. He issued statements fro
duently during the day asking why Sena-
Tor LuslS did not resign and telling what
he was going TO do before he got through
with the Meyer committee.
a n