Evening star., 1924-06-07
VANDERBILT TO CLOSE
INQUIRY BUREAU HERE
Epidemic of Itchy Palms Disil-
lusions Banker in Proposed Re-
form Movement.
PATRIOTS PREY ON PAY ROLL
Plans to Write Book Telling OF
Experiences.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.

His dream OF great civic and govern
mental reform ended. for the time be-
ing at least, Frank A. vanderlip, for
Bank of New York, is preparing to
shut down the activities of his per-
sonally conducted Citizens Federal
Research Bureau, which he started
here a few months ago as q sort of
permanent" adjunct or residuary lega-
tee Of the numerous Senate investiga-
tions.
Mr.. Vanderlip has had a rather dis
illusioning experience. He thought
his bureau would be aided by other
high-minded citizens and patriots. But
he soon discovered that every 100
per cent American" who wanted to
see things going better and better at
Washington was unpatriotic enough to
want a little filthy lucre in his jeans
before proceeding further with the
great reform movement.
Reformers of many and diverse
types poured in upon the Vanderlip
bureau. They had grand schemes for
purging and purifying the government.
They knew exactly what was needed
and just where to begin. But first of
all they wanted to connect with the
ceeded in that important phase of their
ambitions
Proved Costly Experiment.
Just what the experiment at govern
ment reform cast Mr.. Vanderlip prob
ably no one but himself will ever
know. He wore out great quantities
of checkbooks. and there are those who
say that his cash balance in the Ma
tional City Bank must have been
nicked to the tune of at least quarter
Of million dollars.
Mr.. Vanderlip. however. has come
out of the experiment with a great
thing like twenty years in Wall street
but he got some entirely new ideas in
Washington. He was pursued from
beginning to end by persons with
ideas. Ideas were, what they didn't
have nothing else but. And most of
the ideas reveloved about a central
or centrifugal scheme of separating
the one-time banker from large
slice or section of the fortune he had
builded amongst the bulls and the
bears.
So out Of his experience Mr.. Van
derlip is writing a book. 1t ought to
be q best seller. 1t certainly would
be if Mr.. Vanderlip would recite all
brought to him. Some Of these were
tested out.
Turning to Authorship.
But it is understood that Mr.. Van
derlip in his book will treat seriously
of the problem he undertook to solve
and will offer some good advice as to
what may be accomplished in the fu-
ture. He believes his narrative will be
enlightening to a large section of the
American people. He will tell where
he found the weaknesses in the scheme
of things at Washington, and if he per-
sonally was able to set things right
he feels he may chart the way for
endeavors along that line in the years
to come.
The headquarters Of the bureau has
not been closed as yet. 1t is functioning
in deSultory sort of way with a skele-
ton staf. Some of Mr.. Vanderlip's
friends have suggested that he main
tain this skeleton orga nization with the
idea of expanding il into renewed ac-
uyfty at any time of great national
emergency. such as during the recent
epidemic of Investigations. Other friends
of the retired banker are urging him
to close out altogether. Mr. Vanderlip's
health is not of the best, and his closer
associates want him to quit worrying.
Sonally was unable to set things right
was the outgrowth of speech Mr.. Van
derlip made at a rather obscure Rotary
dinner in suburban New York In that
speech he repeated numerous rumors he
had heard. He said the situation at
Washington ought to be cleared up, and
he was willing to help with the task.
Supplied Money for Sleuthing.
The greatest activity of the bureau
naturally fell in with the Daugherty in
vestigation by the Wheeler Senate COM
nittee. Senator Wheeler didn't have
much money to hire sleuths and run
down clues and scents and leads and
trails. So Mr.. vanderlp supplied the
lack.
1t seemed to him for a while that all
Of the Sleuths in the world were out OF
a Job. 1t was difficult, of course, to tell
Just which ones really wanted to sleuth
on the square and which ones might be
in the pay of the other side and anxious
to get on the inside. OF course, some of
these men had no aversion to taking pay
from both sides Many "old sleuths"
came out of oblivion. There were some
who had had their heydey in the Bal
linger-Pinchot controversy of twelve
long years ago. They leaped upon Mr..
Vanderiip Like trout jumps for q sue
culent fly. But that is all over now.
The easy money is no more. The COM
mittee's work is just about done
Copyright, 1921