The New York herald., 1921-06-23
inquiry ON HYLAN
BEGINS NEXT WEEK
Senator Meyer Announces
Preliminary Survey Is
Completed.
ALL SUMMER SESSION
Secret Investigation Has
Gathered Data OH City
Activities.
NEW CHARTER Is SOUGHT
Exposure of Wasteful Prac-
tices Of Present Administra-
tiOn Is Forecast.

Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer, chair
man of the legislative committee in
vestigathng the city administration,
announced yesterday that the prelim-
mary survey of subjects to be taken
up In the formal hearings had beer
practically completed with the ex-
animation of several witnesses.
Hearings In City Hall will begin
next week, according to the schedule,
and the committee plans to sit three
days each week throughout the sum-
mer. 1t is expected that the inquiry
exposing whatever there is Of waste
or graft in the Hylan administration
will be completed by early autumn.
The results will be turned over to a
Charter Revision Commission author
lied by the last Legislature and to be
named November 1 by Gov. Miller to
take up the task of remodelling the
city charter.
Phases Investigated.
Thus far in its examination of wit
nesses and records the committees ex-
| aminers have gone into nearly all of
the city departments and have touched
many phases of municipal activity. All
the evidence gathered in this prelim-
mary and secret inquiry are to be made
known to the public through hearings.
Summary of the activities of the COM
mittee up to date shows that it must
! have available a great amount of In
| formation dealing with the work OF
Mayor Hylan and his appointees. The
most important Of these activities, con-
cerning which scores OF witnesses have
been examined before subcommittee are
as follows:
Management of the city's finances
through the Comptroller's Office.
showing to what extent the municipal
credit has been damaged, what
bonuses the city has been compelled
to pay to get loans as result Of poor
credit and what superfuous and ex-
pensive bureaus are maintained In
the Department OF Finance.
Overhauling of the Department OF
Markets to show whether city IL
censes have been sold whether Tam
many leaders have a hand In fixing"
important market franchises, who
has collected revenue from push cart
peddlers and how the enormous funds
which passed in the army food trans
actions were handled.
The conduct of the Police Depart
ment In nearly a score of its
branches. including the special funds.
amounting to millions the system OF
issuing pistol permits. the method of
making promotions and demotions.
what the police have done in connec-
tion with suppressing gambling and
what Tammany influences are at
work in this department.
system of Purchasing.
Operations of the Department of
Plant and Structures and the Board
of Purchase. which buys most of the
city's supplies, and of which Grover
A. Whalen is the head.
Review of pay vouchers and per-
sonal bank accounts of officials, in
Guiding Mayor Hylan. showing
whether prominent officials have ac-
cumulated much money during their
terms in office.
Dock leasing to determine whether
favoritism has been show in giving
out piers and whether prominent
Tammany man has been go
between In this business.
Queens county contracts, espe-
cially a large number OF sewer con-
tracts.
Snow removal contracts amount
ing to many millions. in which 1t Is
charged there was tremendous
waste II not graft.
The Department of Licenses sys-
tenn of issuing licenses for concert
halls, dance halls. theatres. common
shows. junk shops and a dozen other
things. to find whether there has
been gross favoritsm. as is charged.
The Board of Education and con-
ditlons In the schools.
Present Charter AntIquated.
Every city department and bureau will
be asked 10 explain It's expenditures and
management. the purpose being to show
where these offices overlap and duplicate
and where cutting can be done.
New York's charter Is a rusty.
antiquated mechanism built around
ambiguous phrases" according to the
Legislative Investigating Committee.
which issued yesterday n summary and
history of the charter covering It's 270
years The statement was prepared as
an aid toward charter revision.
From its original 400 words the charter
has been amended and extended by ad-
ditions and interpretations into sn un-
wiedy document which means any
thing any one wishes, TO make II mean.
the committee finds. The purpose of the
committee which Is investigating the city
administration Is to lay the groundwork
for the Charter Revision Commission
named by the Legislature to meet in the
early autumn. The committee reviews
the charter through many stages OF de-
velopment.