Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-26
TA|MMANY BEGINS
WAR ON ROOSEVELT
Governors Message to Leg
isIature Closes Door to
Probe of G. O.. p. Control.
CONTINUED From First Page

which, by its conduct and lack of re-
suits" had failed to justify its existence
Submitted to Senate.
The report Of the Judiciary Commit
tee was submitted to the Senate as
soon as the session opened. The state
ment which Senator Schackno had
made before the committee was pre-
sented as q minority report.
In opposing advancement OF the bill,
Senator Dunnigan, Democratic floor
leader, read from prepared speech,
IN which he aSSailed the methods OF
the Hofstadter committee, which, he
said, has made of itself a most undig-
nified and un-American spectacle"
Its purpose has been, not to see how
it might improve the methods Of gov
eminent, but to try to injure some
body's reputation" he said. "It has
done this by subtle insinuations, by
innuendo, by insidiouS publicity meth
DDS calculated to make the people draw
the conclusion that things are bad
without ever offering q word of proof.
Instead of conducting itself as a
with a helpful constructive purpose,
the Hofstadter Committee has degener-
ated into q glorifled publicity bureau
Of scandal mOngers. Shocking dis
closures are always lust around the
corner Somehow the newspapers find
out that somebody's bank account Is
going to be subpoenaed: the reporters
are somehow allowed to make sly al
lusions to gin parties, gambling orgies,
or insinuations of bribery. And do the
facts--as later brought out-justify
these sensational predictions? They
do notl'
Lands State Comptroller.
BY way OF contrast to the methods
which he attributed to the HofStadter
Committee, Senator Dunnigan referred
to the calm, dignified, judicial, help
fu1 and non-partiSan attitude with
which municipal investigations are
conducted through the Office Of the
State comptroller.
He referred to the fact that the Re-
publican treasurer Of Columbia County
had been convicted Of using $4,000
Of public funds for personal purposes
and to the fact that an examination
by the comptroller Of the town of
Irondequoit showed total Of $500, 900
for which no account could be given.
When Senator Dunnigan had con-
Guided his speech, the Senate voted,
26 to %, to adopt the judiciary COM
mittee report, which placed the bills on
the 0IQCE OF 1lI1dA pdSodECs LIE dAfAc4DI1
was on party lines.
The Assembly proceedings were brief.
The two bills were formally presented
and referred to committee. Assembly,
man Louis A. Cuvillier, New York DEM
ocrat, interposed the only objection,
holding that the second OF the bills
seeking TO amend the penal law to
allow immunity privileges to all legis-
latiye committees was not in keeping
with the Governors message, which he
declared applied only to the Hofstadser
Committee. Cuyilliers objection was
overruled by the chair.
Senator Dunnigan, Tammany's Sem
ate whip, issued q statement denounc-
ing the proposed legislation. He said:
'UnJuss, Inhuman, Despotie."
at Is one Of the most unfair. I'M
just, inhuman. despotic, high-handed
and unnecessary bills ever sponsored by
a major political party for purely
political reasons II Is u1sound in
principle and encouraging to criminals.
"If this high binding Republican bill
becomes law It viii place the Republican
party in a position to hold star cham
Der proceedings in any manner It sees
At, not only to their greedy, personal
benefit, but to the detriment Of the
State as a governmental body and its
citizens as wen.
This bill is an invitation to criminals
TO secure immunity in return for spread
ing SANDER against those opposed
politically to the Republican party.
The measure Is something no other
legislative committee had or even
asked for. This bill grants to q politi-
cal boss from . corrupt county. die
tatorial authority that will unquestion-
xR 90 Sxef4s a. hn of
of New York
Despite this strenuous denunciation,
1t was forecast that the two bills which
would invest the Hofstadter Committee
with the intended authority would be
passed promptly and out Of the way
by tomorrow, expedited by special rules.
This is the CELEBRITY the Governor de-
sires, as he wishes then to take up
his unemployment relief legislation in
another special message.
The Governor did not read hts i'm
munfty message, nor would he COM
ment upon the Tammany leaders
statement.
''I have no expectation at present of
sending an upstate investigation nles-
sage" he said.
as the door open for an upstate in
vestigation7" he was asked.
81 don't see It, do your" he countered.
THAT doesn't mean you might not
open the door?" it was suggested.
Now you are getting into the if
questions" he responded.
Democrats Block Bills.
The opening session was short, but
1t carried indications of obstructionist
tactics by the Democratic members.
They turned to parliamentary rules to
block immediate consideration Of the
bills.
In the Assembly Mr.. steingut made
formal objection to the introduction Of
the bills and thereby succeeded In de-
laying their consideration for at least
one day.
Gov Roosevelt inspected the bills
drafted by Samuel Seabury. counsel to
the Hofstadter Committee, before their
introduction and appeared to have
found them to his liking.
Gov Roosevelt's unemployment relief
measure, IN which 1t was predicted
would be included some form of luxury
tax, possibly on cosmetics, smokes and
automobiles. is to come UP after the
immunity bills have been disposed. of.
No opposition to these along purely
political lines Is anticipated by Athe
executive, but interests concerned in the
manufacture and sale of the products
included probably win be given COM
mittee hearings.
Prohibition Appears.
Prohibition, which has demanded its
share Of legislative attention at each
regular session, almost made It's ap-
peararaee Yesterday. Assemblynan
CuviIlier, veteran champion Of the wet
cause In the Legislature, has framed O
resolution proposing the Legislature
memorabilia President Hover TO call an
extra session of Congress TO consider
legalizing the sale Of light wines and
beer. He win urge its passage at this
session.
me special session opened under