The New York herald., 1921-07-26
DEMAND LUSK QUIT
MEYER COMMITTEE
Democrats Insist Accept
ance of Detectives Gift
Disqualifies Him.
SILVER SERVICE ECHO
Movement Is Begun to Get
Him to Resign Leadership
of State Senate.
G. @. P. MEMBERS TO ACT
Suggestion Also Made That
Law Partner Berger Re-
tire From Inquiry.
G. 0. P. MEMBERS TO ACT

The revelation that the silver service
presented to Senator Clayton r. Lusks
majority leader of the Senate. and mem.
ber of the Meyer Legislative investtr
eating committee. by New York detec-
tives. cost s1.131, brought forth yester-
! day a formal demand upon the Meyer
committee that 1t ask for senator Lusk' s
resignation. The same cemand applied
also to Samuel A. Berger. Senator
Lusk's law partner who is associate
counsel of the committee.
A movement also got under way seek
ing to bring about the resignation Of
| Senator Lusk as Republican leader of
the Senate Just what steps will be
taken in that direction was not clear
though one Republican Senator said he
favored either a round robin demand
upon Senator Lusk or official action
when the Legislature reconvenes.
The suggestion to the Meyer commit
tee that 1t ask Senator Lusk to resign
was a letter from Assemblyman Maurice
Bloch of the Sixteenth District. one Of
the Democratic members Of the Meyer
committee, addressed to Senator Schuy
! Ter M. Meyer chairman. and copies were
sent to Senator Lusk and Mr.. Berger.
Mr.. Bloch stated that he voted for
the Lusk bill. but explained:
Had I been cognizant Of the fact
that Mr.. Lusk's activities coincided with
recent disclosures of an active lobby.
well supplied with funds and operating
in Albany together with the majority
leader. I should certainly have opposed
this legislation at the time it was under
debate.
However. the opportunity to so reg
lister myself is past, and ! now bring
to your attention another phase of the
situation affecting your committee. 1t
seems to me disclosures involving the
gift of silver service to Senator Lusk
| amounting to over two-thirds of his
| annual salary as a State legislator, to-
gether with his close admitted friend
ship for members of the New York Po-
| lice Department. raises a question Of
personal bias and disregard for public
| opinion. which will discredit tine whole
! committee and its prospective investi-
cation If Mr.. Lusk continues as a mem
Der of your body.
I'm order to disabuse the public mind
on this score and start with a clean
slate. I suggest that full meeting of
the committee be called and the advis-
ability Of suggesting to Mr.. Lusk the
diplomacy of Withdrawing from all ac-
tivity in your probe of Mayor Hylan be
canvassed."
Senator Meyer was asked whether he
thought that Senator Lusk ought to re-
sign or whether he would be asked to
resign. II cannot discuss that" was
his reply. That. however. was before
his receipt of the Bloch letter. He made
no comment afterwards.
Commissioner Hirshfield's information
that the slush fund figures may run as
high as 100000. he said. was strength
ened circumstantially yesterday by re-
ports OF hilarious celebration alleged
to have been staged by police and MEM
bers of the Legislature in an Albany
hotel on the night of the adjournment of
| the Legislature Immediately after the
passage of the Lusk bill. That story
came in communication from a proni-
nent business man of Rochester, who
told of meeting an Assemblyman the
next morning in a dissipated condition
and wearing a queer looking cap. The
/ citizen OF Rochester said he asked the
| ASSeDDiNfndn Wnert ne got the zap anu
he replied that he had been on big
| party with the cops" In an Albany
hotel and that one OF the detectives be-
came so jovial that he tossed the As
semblyman's hat out of the window and
then presented him with the cap.
David Hirshf1eld. Commissioner OF
Accounts had Detective James J. Gcgan
on the witnses stand yesterday and
made him tell the story OF the purchase
and presentation or the silver to Sena-
tor Lusk. though not until the Commits
sioner had threatened to submit him to
the Supreme Court for contempt for per-
sistence in evading questions The de-
tective was present with his counsel,
Alexander Rorke, formerly Assistant
I District Attorney and prominently
mentioned now as a possible Tam
many choice for District Attorney
| Gegan insisted that he would not answer
questions until Commissioner Hirsh-
field told him what the inquiry was all
| about.
stop that" the Commissioner finally
shouted. Don't try TO kid me. II you
and your lawyer think you can start a
kidding match here. you are greatly
mistaken"
Gegan's testimony regarding the silver
did not throw great deal more light
upon its bulk and value than was shown
/ hv fha praufofia claimant nf Eezan'u