The New York herald., 1921-06-14
STATE PROBE SEEKS
LIGHT ON CAMPAIGN
AND POLICE FUNDS
O'Brien Is Again in Clash
With Meyer Committee
Over Demand for
Representation.
HIS PLEA is DENIED
Corporation Counsel Adj
vises City Officials Not to
Reply to Questions
Put to Them.
TAMMANY MEN ACTIVE
Call Investigation q Fishing
Expedition'-Tax Reduc-
tions Inquired
Into.

Special police funds and campaign
contributions made by city officials
were under investigation yesterday
by the joint legislative committee
which is conducting the inquiry into
affairs OF the municipal administra-
tion. The examiners began searching
TO find out just how big sums that
went into the Police Pension Fund,
the Police Relief Fund, the Police Re-
serve Fund and other similar accounts
were spent.
The days proceedings were enliv-
ened by another encounter between
members of the committee and the
Corporation Counsel's office. The lat
ter, acting for the city administra-
tion, demanded that an assistant from
the Corporation Counsels Office be
allowed to attend the secret hearings
before subcommittee to protect the
rights Of city officials. Denied that
right. the Corporation Counsel ad-
vised officials not to answer questions.
Commissioner Enright refused the
request made by the legislative COM
mittee for the services of Capt. Dam
lei z. (Honest DAM Costigan to as
sist the States investigation Of the
Police Department.
Keep CostiEan on Subpoena.
The Commissioner quoted the opinion
given by the Corporation Counsel to the
effect that there Is nothing In the resolu-
tion creating the committee authorizing
It to insist upon the transfer Of city
employees to aid the investigation. and
added
you are advised that complying with
the opinion Of tho Corporation Counsel
and the law as construed by him, am
unable to accede to your request for the
assignment of this officer to the work
OF the committee, and for the further
reason that In my opinion such an as
eignment woulc not be conducive to the
best discipline of the Police Depart
ment."
J This raises clean cut issue between
the States committee and the city ad-
kaiinistration The Committee maintains
st is within ITS rights in asking for
Costigan. The committee probably will
not waste time fighting out the question
On court but will take a short cut and
keep Costigan before a subcommittee on
Subpoena. The city administration has
Refused every request for cooperating
with the Investigators. Costigan for
,merly was an inspector in charge Of the
i6ice squad and was denoted by Enright.
Tammny members of the committee
Needed to take the initiative In blocking
fshe secret committee proceedings. Insist
slng upon their rights to attend these hear
smgs, at which officials are questioned
CLOSELY In the hunt for information. the
A Tammsny Senators and Assemblymen
\ sat in the supcommittees and sided with
city officials. They will continue doing
so and make every effort to end this
tkind of fishing expedition" as they term
sthe proceedings.
Inquire Into Police Funds.
Stephen A. Rudd. police captain and
secretary to the Second Deputy Police
Commissioner. and capt Charles A.
Zanes, chief OF the headquarters division
OF supplies, were before the subcommit-
tees as witnesses in the examination
into the accounts of the special police
funds II Is understood that several
other witnesses have been,auestioned.
The police relief fund was created In
1904, according TO the records submitted,
and is for the relief OF the widows .and
orphans OF policemen who have served
less than ten years and therefore are
not entitled to pensions. The fund was
supported by small contributions from
various sources In 1918 the fund be-
came defunct and was reorganized.
Dplfca 4laafa nrdoraA TINT
from all rewards to police officers 40
per cert. be deducted and paid to this
fund. Large revenue was obtained from
the police field games. In the reorgan-
fzation all restrictions were removed.
and IL is now stipulated that the fund
may be used for every form OF relief OF
members OF the department and their
families.
On November "a. 1919. this fund
loaned $4,000 TO the home service
division for the purpose of organizing
the police stores and furnishing supplies
TO members of the department. Returns
for 1920 show that S6S5.204 went into
the fund. of which s41s.71S was from
the police games. The balance left for
the year was s4s6.945 Receipts from
the stores. which have been self-sustain-
1ng, amount to seo2.451.
Many Angles to Inquiry.
The police reserve fund was organ
he'd In 1918 to assist the reserve force
IN the purchase of uniforms supplies
and equipment. The receipts for 1920
amounted TO s3s4,e15. OF which s374,0 OH
came from the sale OF tickets for the
police games. The amount spent for
uniforms and equipment was s2Ts.6s3.
The Police War Relief Fund amounted
20 only few thousand dollars and was
discontinued. The Canteen and Camp
Eire Fund amounted TO s35.521 and was
Conttpwsd on Fourth -Pa0s,