The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-24
GOTHAM PROBE
IS VOTED BY
LEGISLATURE
Republicans in Senate Win
Bitter Struggle for New
York Inquiry.
AN OUT FOR ROOSEVELT
Governor Can Win Tam
many Hall by Not Acting
Against Walker.
United Press


ALBANY. N. z, March 24-The
New York state legislature today
decreed top-to-bottom investiga-
ton of all angles of the New York
city government.
Without waiting for further ac-
ton on the negligence and misfeas-
ance charges brought to attempt
the removal of Mayor James j.
Walker, Republicans in the state
capital Monday night started a
drive for city-Wide inquiry that
was crowned with success a few
hours before dawn.
Three hours after the senate
voted for the resolution, 26 to "a,
the assembly ratified the upper
houses action, the vote being rs to
10. Both votes we're along strictly
party lines, Democrats soiidly OPP
posing the resolution.
Victory After Long Fight
The Republican victory came
after long, accumulated demands
from civic and church organiza-
tons Of the nations largest city.
Authorization for the legislative
investigation, which had been hung
up by the opposition of the two
Westchester county Republican SEN
ators. Seabury G. Mastick and
Walter M. Westau, was accom-
plished within a few hours after
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt had
sent Mayor Walker copies of the
charges against him with an in
yitation that he reply to them.
The Hofstadter-S Story resolution,
which Westchester Republican OPP
position had stalled the senate for
weeks, was scrapped and new pro-
posal which bears the name Of Sem
ator John Knight, Republican presi-
dent pro tenn of the senate, was
substituted.
AIilder in Form
The Knight resolution, milder in
many respects than the original pro-
posal, contains no specific direction
recurring the investigators 10 delve
into Tamny hall activities in New
York. thourn it is brood enough to
permit an inquiry into all depart
ments of government in the metro
polls
The language of the new resolu-
ton is such as to stress construc-
tive aspects of the inquiry rather
than prosecutions for wrongdoing.
Friends of Governor Roosevelt saw
in the Republican action an oppor-
tunity for the Governor to do one OF
two things. He either could gain
Tanmany Halls friendship by rul-
ing eventually that, since the legis-
lature had ordered the investigation
there is no longer need for him to
carry out an investigation OF the
charges against Mayor Walker, or
step in and beat the Republican
investigation by ordering one by a
commissioner Of his own choice.
Not to Be Swaye6
From sources close to the Gov
ernor, word came today that he does
not intend to- be swayed one way or
another by the action of the Re-
publican majority in the legislature
This may mean that the Governor
will 60 into the charges against
Mayor Walker through a commits
sioner of his own appointment.
However, Ire more generally sup
ported belief in administration
circles is that the Governor, who
long has insisted that any general
investigation of the New York City
government should be made by the
legislature, will content himself with
permitting that branch of the gov
eminent to go into the whole
question of corruption in New York
City
In this connection, it was pointed
out the Governor had a conference
Sunday night with Judge Samuel
Seabury. who has consented to be
counsel to the legislative in
vestigating committee. ANY credit
that may arise from the legislative
investigation partly can be claimed
by Roosevelt on the ground that he
approved an appropriation of $780,
600 for the investigation before the
legislature authorized it.