The New York herald., 1922-08-27
HYLAN WON'T SEIZE
BOOKS OF MARKETS
Tells Ruston His Request Is
Unnecessary and Months
Too Late
ASSAILS HIS MOTIVES
Tells Him to Confine His Polit-
ical Activities TO Kings
County.
AssAILs HIS MOTIVES

District Attorney John r. Ruston of
Kings. who sent special messenger
to Mayor Hylan in Saratoga with a
letter asking the Mayor to impound
the books OF the Department Of Pub
lie Markets pending possible criminal
indictments against the officials or
employees of that department. was
sent reply yesterday.
1t came from City Hall and was
signed by the Mayors secretary, John
F. Sinnott, for the Mayor. with post
script explaining the contents were
dictated by Mr.. Hylan over the long
distance telephone.
The letter is four pages long and tells
Mr.. Ruston his request 'is unnecessary
and months too late 1t declares the
Meyer committee ''after twelve. months
sioughing around" could not find viola
tians of law In the pushcart markets
which Mr.. Ruston complains of. thero-
fore no such violation can be estab-
lished that could possibly stand analysis
by an impartial Judge"
The letter advises the Brooklyn prose-
cutor to "confine your political activi-
ties on this subject TO the county of
Kings and leave II TO the officials out
side your jurisdiction to do their duty
without suggestion from YOU"
Tells Him to Use His Faculties.
ITO be sure" the Mayor continues,
they are not engaged in a canvass for
election like you and hence are not
properly chargeable with prostituting the
process OF the Grand Jury for political
purposes and are not chargeable with
permitting Grand Jury evidence or the
substance thereof to be leaked from the
Grand Jury room to certain newspapers
In violation of Sections 1882 and 1888 OF
the Penal law. The evidence of this is
at your hand and 1t may be the person
or persons guilty are within your inn
mediate reach. You need no outside
aid on this other than the use of your
own faculties
II am Arm in the belief that the
Grand Jury of Kings county will not
permit you to use them as an instru-
ment for political propaganda In your
interest or in the interest OF food prof.
teers who are adversely affected by the
existence or these pushcart open air
markets selling foodstuffs at low prices
In the poorer sections OF our city or In
the interest OF their traction sympa-
thizers, newspapers and otherwise
system II Temporary.
"You we'll know that the system in
vogue Is a malSeshirt system temporarily
in existence for the purpose of accom-
plishing their object In advance of their
being put on n permanent basis. The
delay In putting them on n permanent
basis arises. rs YOU well know. from the
fact that The tax limit lad TO be OBJ
served last year in making up the
budget and for that reason new ac-
tlvities were excluded therefrom.
The fact that the Meyer committee.
after twelve months sloughing around
in the same material on which you
have been busying yourself for the last
two months. were unable TO establish
any violation Of law In the pushcart
markets is OF itself sufficient evidence
that no such violation can be estab-
iished that could possibly withstand
analysis by an. impartial Judge Even
the malevolent ingenuity OF the Meyer
committee could not devise even tech
nical or far fetched violation OF law
IN the premises upon which TO hang
criminal charge long enough 20 last
over an election.
tion will be tolerated by me In this or
any other department. You well know
that alteration OF records would furnish
an easier basis for a prosecution than
would any act or omission the records
themselves In an unaltercd state might
tend TO prove the commission Of No
ono In any of the departments will dare
to do other than maintain the records
required to be kept by law In their
proper condition reachabie by subpoena
under proper auspices, especially since
the Commissioner OF Accounts under a
direction given him months ago has been
since III contact with and rad control
over these records IN counties other than
Kings. Your request II consequently un-
necessary and months too late.
CHARGES Delay by Ruston.
you have had tho utmost access to
mcandcring IN the markets department
kets. You have utilized your two months
meandering iu the Market Department
as means OF delaying investigation by
the Commissioner OF Accounts Now.
after wasting all this time for political
purposes. you implore me. 60 use your
Continued on Page SIX.
GREENBnTER. white sulphur Springs. In
high Aileghanies. Beauty Of nature. Golf.