New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-06
Meyer Inquiry
Seeks to Raise
|BanonHearings
Committee May Garry Rul-
ing of Appellate Division
Forbidding Secret Ses-
sions to Court of Appeals
Hylan's Secretary Called
Sinnott Subpnnaed to Pro-
duce Certain Street Clean
ing Department Records

JOINT Legislative investigating commit
tee from the findings of Supreme Court
Justice Whitaker, who held that wit
nesses need not be sworn before sub
committees of one, and maintained
that subcommittee should consist of
three or more members, may be taken
to the Court Of Appeals.
At the headquarters OF the commit
tee yesterday, where it was announced
that such an appeal in all likelihood
would be taken, it also was said that
in the event the committee decided to
appeal the case Governor Miller would
be asked to convoke the Court of APP
peals in Special Term, as it now stands
IN adjournment until fall.
The question of appealing Justice
Whitaker's decision to the highest
court will be decided at conference
to-day between Elon R. Brown, coun-
sci to the committee. and Senator
Schuyler M. Meyer, chairman.
Senator Meyer is for appealing the
decision, especially in view of his be-
lief that the dicta in the opinion handed
+ down by the court precludes the hold
/ ing of secret sessions by the committee.
Public Hearings Postponed
! The committee will not hsgin its
public hearings to-day, as scheduled.
Instead, the investigators have post
poned the first open hearing until next
| Tuesday. Another change in the COM
mittee's plans also was made known
at Headquarters. The committee will
not open the public hearings with evil
dence of alleged corruption N the Hy-
Ian administration, but VIII first es-
tablish the financial condition and
methods of the city government.
Yesterday subpoena was served
on Mayor Hylan's secretary and SON
to produce certain books and docu-
ments of the Street Cleaning Depart
ment.
The statement made that the
committee would proha the expendi-
lures of the various publicity enter
prises of the city administration on
behalf of Mayor Hylan provoked re-
ply from Frederick w. Rubien, secre-
tary of the American Olympic Com
mittee. In the accounts published it
was said that among the items of pub
which was used in part for printing
Mayor Hylan's picture on q souvenir
! on the occasion of the city's welcome to
the returning American athletes who
participated in the last Olympic games.
There was no criticism of the $4,000
spent for the dinner to the athletes,
but for the use that the occasion was
put by Hylan's publicity experts in
booming him with the city's money.
Ruben Replies TO Criticism
Mr.. Rubiens reply, which took the
form of letter to Senator Meyer,
read in part:
I'VE feel quite sure that the ex-
penditure of few thousand dollars
was not waste Of money on this par
ticular occasion in honoring the ath-
letes who returned VIGOROUSLY this
| year from the seventh Olympiad The
American government made it's contri-
BUTTON by placing a transport at the
disposal of the committee and many
army and navy athletes were members
OF the team Accomm odations on
| transport, however, We're found to be
| Inadequate and the boys and girls had
hardships in getting to Antwerp and in
the accommodation provided for them
and also in returning home, due to the
shortage Of ships. Many had gone at
great sacrifice and considerable incon-
venience. They did it all very gladly
Tor the glory of the country, and we
regret now to see that your committee
at this late date criticizes the officials
who were kind enough to extend a well
come hand and hospitality to the re-
turning boys and girls who had gone
! through SO much.
Says City Did Its Duty
Our team was welcomed in Paris
and London and many of US, as New
Workers, were proud of the fact that
New York City did it's full duty at
the request of the Metropolitan Asso-
citation of the Amateur Athletic Union,
composed of about one hundred and
seventy-fve athletic clubs in this
metropolis, representing thousands of
American boys and girls at all times
willing to enroll in Americas battles.
The administration could readily have
been criticized had it been remiss in
performing its duty
1T did its duty we'll and I, as secre-
tary of the American Olympic Commit
tee, regret very much that for any
purpose whatever there has been crit.
cisla of the little honor that was ex-
tended to US. The city merely did its
| full duty and the American athletes
appreciated it, and we feel quite sure
that the people of the City of New
York likewise will regret any. criticism
of its public officials who merely did
their duty"