New-York tribune., 1921-06-08
Joint Committee to Issue
Summonses for CityEm-
ployees With Whom Adj
ministration Interferes
Costiggan to Direct
The Police Inquiry
Goldberg Explains$3, 600
Entry in Books Was
Loan to a Relative

The joint Legislative graft invest-
eating committee at conference OF
counsel and committeeman yesterday
pi esided over by Senator Schuyler M
Meyer, chairman, decided on a plan
which will prevent the Hearst-H Hylan-
Tammany administration from ham
pering its work by refusing to assign
the few city employees needed by the
inquisitors.
The plan is simplicity in itself 1t
merely calls for the issuance of a
subpoena by the committee against the
city employee needed whom the admin
istration refuses to lend to the COM
mittec.
The committee to date has asked for
two employees, Honest Dan" Costi-
gan, whom it wants to run down graft
ia the Police Department. and Porter
f. Atlee, an employee in the Office of
the Mayors chum and mouthpiece,
Commissioner Of Accounts HirshfieId.
Formal refusal to assign on Monday
caused the committee late last night
to issue subpoena calling for the
appearance Of Atlee.
Atlee will be kept under subpoena
until the committee ceases to need his
services.
If Police Commissioner Enright
should refuse to assign Honest Dan"
to aid the committee a subpoena will
be issued calling for the appearance of
Costigan before the legislators, and
he, too, will be kept under subpoena
until the committee has completed it's
investigation Of graft conditions in the
Police Department.
Need Costigan Immediately
There is immediate work for Costi-
gan-the investigation of charges that
have been lodged with the committee
concerning the administration Of the
Police Department.
In an effort to establish the truth or
falsity. Of the charges the committee
yesterday subpunaed the Municipal
Civil Service Commission to produce
papers in connection with the last pro-
motion Of patrolman to sergeant.
Many complaints regarding the man
ner IN which these promotions were
made are in the possession of Chair
man Meyer and his colleagues.
- 1t is expected that the Hearst Hylan-
Iammany administration will make a
night IN the courts to prevent the COM
mittee from having the assistance Of
city employees who have q reputation
for honesty and ability. Costigan's
efforts to fix grating upon men higher
up In the Police Department have in
CURED for him the open enmity Of
powerful influences in Tammany Hall
and among the immediate followers Of
Mayor. Hylan, regardless of political
affiliation.
Enright Back To-day
Enright, who denoted Costigan from
an inspectorship to captaincy shortly
after he was picked by Hylan to run
back in town to-day. His action then
with respect to the request of the COM
mittee for the use of Costigan will
determine whether it will be necessary
for the committee to subpoena Honest
Dan" as it has done in the case Of
Atlee.
1t is the intention Of the Iegisla-
tive committee to place Costigan in
charge Of the Investigators who will
be turned loose on the Police Depart
ment.
DeVeral pronCaDle formS OF graft are
said to exist in the Police Department,
besides Irregularities regarding pro-
motions. A Brooklyn saloon keeper,
who incidentally has not been ar
rested as bootlegger during the re-
cent police crusade and who is still
said to be selling liquor, is reported
to be concerned in one Of these.
Yesterday, Supreme Court Justice
Thomas F. Donnelly ordered the re-
turn of the books of accounting Of
Isaac Goldberg, which were seized by
the committee at his place of business
"a felt slipper manufacturing estab-
lishment-at 43 East Tenth Street. on
May "a. Numerous other books and
papers were also seized by the com
mittee, including cancelled checks,
vouchers, and other papers.
Claims Money Was Loaned
Benjamin Rich, counsel for the felt
slipper manufacturer, said that his
client had loaned $4,000 to a brother
in-law who has wholesale fruit and
vegetable stand at Washington Market.
This sum had not been accounted for
in the books, according to the LAWYER.
and the committee, he said, suspected
it represented payment Of graft to