Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-29
WALKER DEFENDS
TAMMANY IN PROBE
State Senator Hofstadter ls
One Of Two Speakers.
Champions City COP.

~ tire ARsocsnte6 Press
NEW YORK. oetober as.-In two
political rallies last night. Mayor wal
ker. defshdlng Tammany Hal. and
state senator Samuel H0fseadtar,
championing the cltys Republicans.
gave thar versions OF the Legislative
Investigation ard ita relations 70 Tam
Mayor WaIkwr, addressing 5000
Dew0craAs la Il district rally, said the
inquiry, coaduc4ed BY Samuel Eeabnry.
the chief counsel clearly indicated that
TamrnanY f9aii was being cleared OF
charges Of corruption.
Senator H0fstadter, chairman Of the
legislative cunnmittes, speaking TO the
Republicans only dozen blocks away,
charged that Tammany Hall Is trying
20 block and destroy the investigation.
But u WIN go on" he said We're
going tn do tha work without fear or
favor, without regard TO party distsnc-
tAnna Of political considerations
Mayor Walker cleared Tammany
Hall OF any. wTougdolng IN the recent
Judicial partlsmnsfiip barter BY charg-
Ing that b Rapubiican-contrulled Iegis-
lature first made such bill possible.
yuaauahIp Pact Described.
John II McCooey, Democratic boss Of
Brooklyn. Yesterday told the Legislative
City Investigating Commute how friend
" enemies from rival political camps
agreed on . bipartisan slate OF csndi-
dates for IL newly created judgeships,
On the witness stand. before court
room crowded with spectators, the
Democratic leader testified that he and
Meier EteinbFink, powerful Republican
leader Of BROOKLYN, met more than q
YEAR ago and discussed the need for
more judgeahips."
Steinbrink. who has himself been
named for cEie Of the judgeships, was 70
follow McCooey on the stand. Me-
Coosy's 3isyeaf-oid son, John H., r.,
has also been named on the bench
slate, Altogether, according to the
agreement described by McCooev, there
are 20 be seven Democratic and five
Republican candidates for the IL avail
able posts.
First Negotiations Failed.
Questioned by EeabuTy, McCooey
said that the original negotiations be-
gun between him and Eteinbrink, in
1880. failed when Steinbrink reported
there was no hope Of getting the deal
through the Legislature.
At first. he said. the discussions con-
cernad only six judgeships, Later.
however, the number was increased,
first TO and later TO ~.
The BROOKLYN leader testified that
there had been agitation for some time
70 provide the second judicial district
with more Supreme Court Judges. He
testified, however, the dificulty In
reaching an agreement was occasioned
hy the fact the Legislature. which had
70 create the judgeships by law, was
predominantly Republican, while the
second judicial district Is predominantly
Democratic.
so the Legislature couldn't Just pro-
vide more Jobs for the Democrats to I'LL,
Is that right9n asked eeabury.
McCooey nodded In the Affirmative.
He went on to testify that with the
Tconvening Of the Legislature this
aar the negotiations were resumed and
fe number of tudgeshipS was increased
3 ~ after a committee went to Al
'eny 70 secure the necessary legislation.
ts.s4e@aas- Can GeutrOI County.
Asked shout the political situation
vlth regard 70 his own county McCooey
said:
Our political organization is SUI
fciently large To control any nominal
ton in our county"
Asked by Seabury how he happened
to find place on the slate for his
own son. McCooey said.
He B generally regarded as capable
and efiicient. WIS very glad to recon-
mend him. And nearly every leader In
party urged me strongly 10 nominate
jack
McCooey testified further that the
number 81 judgeships 10 be created was
increased from 20 IL because other
wise there wouldn't be enough judges
TO 90 around and give the Republicans
recognition
At the beginning OF his testimony he
stated that he had been a Democratic
leader In Brooklyn for % years and for
10 years of that time he was a chief
clerk OF the Surrogate Court.