The New York herald., 1921-06-05
DOCK LEASING, CITY
LICENSES, JOB
SET NEXT in inquiry
Meyer Committee to Seek
Graft in Awarding
Privileges.
WILL SCAN TRUCKS COST
List Price of Snow Remover
Put at $4,000, While City
Paid S5, 5,453.
WILL SCAN TRUCKS COST

Murray Hubert, Docl. Commits
sioner, and John P. O'B,ren, Corpora
ton Counsel, had long conference
yesterday afternoon with Mayor Hylan
in the City Hall after tho Mayor and
tie Commissioner had returned from
all inspection of the citv's new docks
under construction on Staten Island.
While this conference was going on it
be came known that the Joint legisla-
tive committee, of which Senator
Schuyler M. Meyer is chairman, plans
comprehensive inquiry into the Dock
Department, with especial attention TO
the leasing Of certain docks to certain
corporations and individuals.
The Department Of Licenses. which
has been presided over by Commits
sioner John F. Gilchrist since Mayor
Hylan took Office is also 20 be investi-
gated. some interesting leads having
been turned over to the committees
Investigators, dealing with the issuing
" some of the many classes of licenses
which fell under Commissioner Gil
christ's supervision.
These include the $500 licenses for
concert halls, the $50 licenses for
dence halls, the $50 junk shop licenses,
the taxicab licensing system. both as
to cabs and operators; the theatrical
Licenses, $500 each; the sightseeing car
licenses. SO each; the "ccnmon show
licenses. s25 each. and Ihe "amuse-
nients' licenses, which run up to $3.50
each; the. s25. bathing establishment
permits. the massage parlor licenses.
SO for parlor and SO for each opera
tor. and the motion picture theatre
and exhibition licenses. which vary as
20 fees according to certain conditions.
Say Favorites Get Permits.
In connection with the granting and
the refusal to grant licenses in most "
not all Of the foregoing list. information
has reached the committee OF numerous
instances OF wire pulling and political
influence being exerted. with allegations
of money being paid TO the wielders Of
such Influence. The records of the De-
partment OF Licenses will probably be
subpnnaed ny the committee early next
week and turned over 10 the constantly
growing corps OF investigators for exam
ination and tabulation. :.
With work progressing in the exam
ination OF these departments. together
with the departments of Police. Markets.
Accounts. Plant and Structures and the
Borough Presidents office In Queens and
some other branches OF the city govern
ment. what a city official termed "a
TINT bomb" exploded when news reached
tended to deive into the expenditures for
snow removal and particularly the pur-
chase OF 20s auto trucks at an average
cost of $5.453 each.
These trucks. II Is said. were originally
listed by the maker az $1,000 each, but
were sold TO the city at the increased
price, after public letting and bidding
on the contract. on tho ground that they
were furnished with additional special
equipment that made them highly useful
for snow removal purposes II Ia now
dhtbtU tldt inc truCko db utliFft"N W
the city were deficient in certain very
necessary equipment, such as headlights.
which had TO be bought after delivery
and for which bill for $4,000. Il Is
said. is now going through the Comp
trollers office The purchase OF these
trucks came under the jurisdiction OF
Arnold b. MacStay, former Street Cleait-
ing Commissioner. but " was first APP
proved by the Board OF Purchase, OF
which the cha irman is Grover "A. Whalen,
Commissioner OF Plant and Structures
spent for snow Equipment.
The purchase OF snow removal equip
rnent TO prevent the recurrence OF the
disastrous scenes in the winter OF 1919
1870. when the city was snowbound for
weeks and over $500. 900 was spent 10
remove the litter and dirt from the
ctreets that accumulated on the frozen
snow. amounted TO almost 10000 last
year. and the Meyer committee will
delve deeply into how the money wae
spent.
None OF the members OF the commit
tee was nj It's headquarters Yesterday.
but all the counsel. assistants and IN
vestiga tors made the third floor OF ss
Park row hum Ike busy beehive, No
word was received from Acting Police
Commissioner Leach In reply 10 the
committees request for the desisnation
Of capt. Dan Costigan as a special aid
---------- -------
Corttnned on Etcnteerth Pc0e