The New York herald., 1921-06-09
CITY REVOKES LEASE
in MARKET, SCENTING
$1,75OGRAFTN
O'Malley Withdraws Priv
ilege Granted to Kahn Al
ter Another Butcher Had
Agreed to Rent Stands.
BOOKS SHOW EVIDENCE
Ink Reviver Points to Pay.
ment for Right to Sell
Goods on Municipal
Property.
LIKE OLD TIGER SYSTEM
"rhe' McManus, Needed by
Wallstcin and Meyer Com
mittec to Clear Some
Points, Still Missing.
LIKE OLD TIGER SYSTEM

Edwin ]. O'Malley. Commissioners OF
Markets, revoked yesterday, without
Offering any public explanation, the
permit issued on April IL to Adolf
Kahn. a wholesale butcher. for loca-
tion covering six stands in West
washington Market. This action was
taken as the direct result OF an IN
vestigation conducted by Leonard M.
Wallstein, counsel for the Joint Legs
lativc Committee, into the circumstance
under which the permit was issued
by Commissioner O'Malley to Kahn.
1t was said last night that the facts
developed by Mr.. Wallstein's investi-
CATION will form one of the most start
ling features of the Meyer commit
tees inquiry into the methods OF the
present city administration in the con-
duct of the Department of Markets. 1t
will reveal. it is said, System" IN
existence typical of old-time ram
many graft methods. 4
Adolf Kahn conducts a large whole
sale meat business at 723 Tenth ave-
nue. between Forty-ninth and Fiftieth
streets. For a long time he has been
anxious to move down to West wash
ington Market, where he could handle
better his business, which consists N
large part of supplying hotels and
restaurants with their meat supplies.
But stands in the West Washington
Market are closely held and rarely
parted with. especially such stands as
Kahn desired to occupy.
Gets y Chance to Buy.
His opportunity came when Albert
Kloeblein, who inherited from his father
a six stand location in the market. de-
cided, early this year. to retire from
business on account OF family arrange
ments. Kfoeblein has several brothers
and sisters, all of whom shared In the
income from the market business. and
1t was thought better for all concerned
to sell out the business. Such. at least,
is an explanation given to some OF his
friends by Kloebleln for deciding to
give up his market stand, which HIS
father had held since 1888. or virtually
since the market was built.
Kloebrein's location was at 1s Thonp
son avenue and adjoining 1t Is the seven
stand location of Steers g. Menke. an
equally old established concern, at 20
Lawton avenue, in the little checker
board of market streets. The relations
between Steers & Menke and the Kloeb-
leins have long been very friendly and
when Kloeblein decided to give up the
bushes he discussed the matter with
J. Frederick Menke and Frederick r..
Menke, father and son. who now con-
duct the Steers & Menke business. which
Is an extensive one in poultry and
calves.
Tho Menkes had been anxious for
some time to increase the size of their
plant and Immediately opened negotia-
tIons with Kloeblein to acquire his
stands. These stands are held under
permits issued by the Department of
Markets on an annual rental paid to
tho city. They are not transferable
and under the law cannot be sold. But
as every standholder installs ref1ger-
ators and other necessary equipment for
the conduct OF the business and as there
is a very material good will attaching to
the stands because of their location, a
practice of buying out the equipment has
grown up by which locations command
extremely good prices. But no suct
transaction. Of course, can be carried
out or completed until and unless the
permit for the stands involved has been
transferred by the Commi missioner OF
Markets to the new tenant
rg-A~ 80. aS.-A-
The Menke Arm made Kloeblein ar
offer for his stands and equipment which
was acceptable, and then a formal ap.
plication was made to Commissioner
O'Maiiey by Steers & Menke for the H.
suance of q new permit to them foI
the stands held by Kloeblein. This ap-
plication was never granted by the Com.
missioner, though Mr.. Menkc. sr. drew
his attention to It and inquired what
was the delay. Menke. as he told .
reporter for THE NEW YoaK HERALr
yesterday. could get no satisfaction oI
explanation from the department for the
failure to act upon his application
Meanwhile Albert Kloeblein was ap'
preached by Adolf Kahn. whom he knew
In a business way. Kahn said HI
wanted the stands and could get tht
permits- Kloeblein replied that he had
agreed to sell his plant to Steers
Msnke. Kahn laughed at him.
They can't get any permit" ne Il
declared TO have told Kloeblein. Tn
going to get that permit when you gfv'
Il up and nobody else is."
Some inquiries he made convinced
Kloeblsfn that Kahn was speaking b,
the book and he at first almost decided
not to give up the business but to sta.
on rather than see the stands go to othei
butchers than his old friends and neigh
bors. the Menkes.
But. as he explained to THE New YoRS
HERALD reporter at his home In Hoboker
yesterday. Kloeblein felt that In justic
TO himself and his family he ought I,
close UP the business. SO. efter Tn,
Menkes found they could get no favor