The New York herald., 1921-01-06
WHITMAN TO MAKE
SWEEPING INQUIRY
HYLAN'S REGIME
Accepts Swann's Offer With
Free Rein to Investigate
and Prosecute.
POLICE TO COME FIRST
Probe by Legislature Will
Now Be Laid Aside, Is Be-
lief of Officials.
SWAMI is UNDISTURBED
Belief Expressed That DiscOv-
cry of Corruption Would
Not Annoy Him.
SWAMI is UNDISTURBED

right into the heart of the Hylan ad-
ministration will be conducted by for
mer Gov. Charles S. Whitman. who
notified District Attorney Edward
Swami yesterday that he had decided
to accept an invitation to act as spe-
cial counsel to the Additional Grand
Jury in it's efforts to sift the charges
of corruption made by Senator Theo-
dore Douglas Robinson and Assembly
man Joseph Steinberg.
The appearance of Senator Robinson
and Assemblyman Steinberg before the
Grand Jury tomorrow will mark only
the beginning of the investigation.
From the leads which they are ex-
pected to give will follow an inquiry
into the police and other city depart
ments which have been under fire.
IF Mr.. Whitman sees fit the investi-
CATION, 1t was said, will lead even to
the office of the District Attorney him
self.
Enright's ONCE Comes First.
Ine IlrSt move Ho"cNSi, win oc
toward the Police Department, Mr..
Swami, IL was learned. intimated in his
first conference with Mr.. Whitman on
Tuesday. when the former Governor was
approached with the proposition OF lead
Ing the investigation, that everything
was not right under the rule of Police
Commissioner Enright.
Mr.. Whitman's inquiry, provided 1t
goes far enough, according to the belief
expressed in some quarters, will side
track any legislative inquiry Into the
manner In which Mayor Hylan has run
the government OF the city. One argu-
ment In favor of having the Grand Jury
rather than n Legislative committee con-
duct such an investigation, II was point
ed out. Is that the Grand Jury will have
much less difficulty in making witnesses
answer. Unless the resolution from
which n legislative committee derived
it's powers was broad enough there
would be trouble. as was shown by the
experience of the Lockwood committee.
in Furnishing witnesses declared In con-
tempt. With the Grand Jury the process
will be swift and sure.
District Attorney Swami announced
he had placed all the facilities or his
office at the disposal Of Mr.. Whitman.
Moreover. he offered to Mr.. Whitman
free hand. without stipulations OF any
nature as to what he should take up
first or how the Investigation should be
conducted.
The underlying motives back of Mr..
Swann's move to place such an investi-
CATION entirely In Mr.. Whitman's hands
were somewhat hazy to politicians. lie
said that he would not be candidate Tor
reelection rs District Attorney, and 1t is
regarded as unlikely that there is any
other public Office waiting for him any
where in the ofing. There was some
speculation to the effect that the recent
| turn of affairs has made him indepen-
dent that he would not be particularly
perturbed If something" was turned up
in the Police Department, and that nc
would not care If the Hylan administra-
ton should be found even more corrupt
than Senator Robinson and Assembly
man Steinberg have said II Is Both
Mr.. Swami and Mr.. whitman have the
feeling that In the Police Department
will be found fertile field.
In announcing Mr.. whitmans accept
ance Mr.. Swami said that. though only
two witnesses-Robinson and Steinbers
have been subpnnaed. others will be
examined before the end of the week.
Ready to start Friday.
.Whatever leads Robinson and Stein
berg are able to give u.s." said Mr.
Swami. will be followed up at once
Doubtless one thing viii lead to another.
Mr.. Whitman has just telephoned that
he would be ready to begin the exam
instIon of witnesses when the Grand
Jury begins Its investigation Friday.
Following the announcement yesterday
morning that he had been asked TO un-
dertake the investigation, Mr.. Whitman
received many telephone calls urging
him to accept and ego the limit" Some
of them told him that he would have
better machinery In his hands for an
effective. searching inquiry than n legis-
lative committee possibly could have.
"Tf there Is any service / can render
TO the city think l ought to do it,
said Mr.. Whitman. And Mr.. Swami
by placing all the facilities OF his office
at my disposal and assuring me that
will have n free hand in the Grand Jury
lnVeSlRalfOn mas olitTtu ine
powers. He wants me to help him and
am willing II there is any help l can
give.
However. I have had so little to dc
with the Police Department Grand
Juries and the administration OF criminal
law for two years that am out of touch
with the conditions 1 am asked to In
vestigate.
Mr. Swann's invitation was entirely
open and above board. There were no
strings tied to II. He offered an entirely
free scope OF action so far as concerns
the persons and influences to be dealt
with"
In the event an indictment Is procured
on any of the charges made against the
Hylan administration Mr.. Whitman also
will act as special prosecutor In the trial
of such case. He will have the power
to name his assistants.
NASSAU = TAKE "FtORiDA SPECIAL
10 Miami. Seini-weei,ly snlngs Atlantic
Coast Line II. X. office. i2s6 Bway.-Adv.