The New York herald., 1922-02-03
SPEAKER WOULDEND
LOCKWOOD inquiry
Wants All Investigating to
Stop Unless 1t Is
Justified.
TALKS OF ECONOMY
Friends of Committee Say
Work Has Not Cost
State a Cent.
SEE PLOT TO STOP PROBE
Democrats Declare for Fight
to Keep 1t Alive-Machold
Calls for New Bill.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
lhau Eoh

New York Herald Bureau.
Albany. Feb. S.3
Forces which have been working
secretly for months to sidetrack the
Lockwood committee found great en-
couragement to-day when Speaker
Machoia of tie Assembly said he be-
lieved the committee, like all other
investigating bodies, should go out OF
existence unless able to justify its
continuance.
II am not singing any special COM
mittee. but l think all these investi-
eating committees should go out OF
business. The people are tired OF
them" the Speaker said
Does that include the Lockwood
committee@'
Yes, l mean all the committees. II
the Lockwood committee can show
reasons why it should be continued
then why does it not present bill to
provide for its further activities. 1t
should be done through bill rather
than by resolution. Such a bill would
have to pass both houses and go to
the Governor for his signature"
The Lockwood committee was created
BY resolution and its life was extended
last year by adoption OF Joint resolu-
tion. This sudden demand by Mr.. Mac
hold that new bill must be passed.
amazed Senator Lockwood and his as
fociates. Friends of the committee, who
have fought for it in the Legislature.
regard this as an obstructive move.
The Democrats announced to-day they
would fight to keep alive the Lockwood
committee.
No Cost tn the state.
The Speaker and others opposed to
the committee apparently are not in
clined to take full responsibility for end
Ing its life with an ak. Their excuse
Tor passing the responsibility on to the
Governor Is that they are cooperating
with the Executive in every way possi-
BILE In carrying out his economy pro-
gram The committees answer to the
economy argument Is that it is not cost
ing the State a penny. Entirely aside
from It's constructive and regulative
achievements. members Of the committee
say they have collected more than half
a million dollars.
Some of the upstate politicians ap-
pear to be just as anxious to get rid
or the Davenport tax committee as the
corporations In New York are to get
rid of Untermyer and Lockwood and
they are using this omnibus prohibition
against all investigations to get rid Of
both.
Up in Jefferson county, where both
Machold and George a. Glynn, chair
n ha 49,
tee, both live. and in many other thriv-
ing rural districts. real concern is felt
over the Davenport committees activi-
tics. Gov. Miller has pointed out that
while he was doing everything in his
power to bring down State expenses the
expenses of counties and localities are
going ZIP. and be. has called on the
Davenport committee to find out the
reasons.
Tie upstate lawmakers do not want
any legislators prowling around the
county ledgers and expense books. Sem
ator Davenport has made a scientific and
impartial investigation of the whole tax
situation. regardless of what political
heads were hit. That may be the real
reason back OF the upstate ultimatum
against all Investigations and which now
is endangcring the Lockwood committee.
Cnn Smother the Bill.
II Speaker Machold's suggestion is car
ried out the Lockwood committee will
have hard fight to get through a bill
providing for its continued existence.
1t might be possible to beat that bill in
the Assembly. The result will be entirely
determined by Machold's activities. II
he cared to take the responsibility on his
own shoulders, he might In the last days
of the session smother the bill in the
Rules Committee.
That Is exactly what the Lockwood
committee members fear. They say it Is
the joker concealed in the suggestion
that a bill be substituted for resolution.
The investigators are alarmed. The op-
position Is becoming bolder. Corporation
interests which have been working under
cover for more than a year in their eff
forts to sidetrack Mr.. Untermyer are be-
ing felt In the Legislature. All sorts
OF complications which have been exposed
at the Untermyer inquiry are lobbying
against the committee. There are the
labor, half dozen building material
lobbies contractors. insurance Hobbies
and others.
Vie In the fact that the political leaders
themselves are afraid TO throttle the
Lockwood committee investigation. SEN
ator Lockwood has told the Legislature
that the committees work is far from
completed and that IL the leaders were
10 block him now II would be a big po-
l.tical misunderstanding entirely out of
tie question the good the committee is