New-York tribune., 1922-02-05
Hirshheld Turns
From Eugenics Quiz
To Slur Untermyer
Issues Statement Declaring
That if Attorney Did Give
Much to Building Probe,
He Got Abundant Publicity

David Hirshfed, Commissioner of
Accounts, found time hanging heavy
on his hands yesterday. After con-
sultng his calendar and noting that
mis- Investigations into American his
tory and birth control would not re-
uuirc attention until hearings were re-
sumed later in the month, Mr. Hirshfield
decided to busy himself in another
direction.
Taking pen in hand he dashed of a
screcd concerning the Lockwood COM
mlttee and it's special counsel, Sam
uel Untcrmyer, which he issued for
Publication.
There is 10 doubt that MI Inter
myer has devoted great deal of his
tine to this Lockwood invest tigation.
wrote the versatile public official. "aud
has done some good work in spite of
himself but as to tho expenditure of
$500 GOO, WELL ! am the Commissioner
or Accounts and am used to auditing
and verifying accounts.
"On the other hand, if Mr.. Inter
1nyer did expend 100000 in time and
money. undoubtedly mostly in time, he
has had advertising that he could not
have purchased for many times the
amount he actually did eNpend. and.
besides. any ono who knows Sammy
Untermyer knows that he thrives on
publicity. and. for all we know. his
health might not have been as good as
II is had it not been stimulated by
newspaper headlines in large black
type.
IL cannot prevent 1t occurring to me
that this statement was given out by
Mr.. Untermyer on the eve of his de
parture from The city. If my memory
serves me right, a year ago, when Mr..
Jntermyer imagined the New York
mayoralty beckoning to him, before
leaving New York or vacation he
urged the organization OF the Tenants
League Unfortunately for Mr.. Inter
myer, the people did not take to his
elected by nearly $50 900 plurality.
when week ago Mr.. Untermyer
nas becokoning TO the United States
Ssnatorshlp and had himself nominated
for that office in one of the afternoon
papers he advocated the erection Of
$4,000 tenement houses for half mil
lion persons, and now he is being
threatened by Republican leaders with
total eclipse. 1t is terrible to contem-
plate such a blow
Having got this out OF his system.
the Commissioner thouEnt OF another
one. Speaking of the recent story to
tho effect that the Business Mems
League, the original sponsor of Hylan
Tor Mayor, had repudiated the Mayor :
transit plans he said:
cit is we'll known in the New York
newspaper Offices that the Business
Mems League is loyal to the Mayor
and that this so-caled transit report
was prepared and made public by three
or four disappointed. selfish. interest
seeking persons while Preston Lynn,
president Of the league. is in Florida,
and without having submitted their re-
port either to the league or its exec
utive committee for action and authori-
zetion."
Commissioner Hirshticld also SAID
that he had not been Exceeding his
authority in Mayor Hylan's absence
when he made some personal remarks
about former Governor Alfred t..
Smith because of his stand on the
Port Authority plan.
NO one can stop me- he said, from
expressing my opinion of the deal
which proposes to rob New York Of its
priceless waterfront. its magnificent
docks and of its worlds trade, for the
benefit OF certain railroads and mead
ow land owners in New Jerscy.'