Evening star., 1932-09-02

of all city officials. He is 43 years old,
a lawyer and graduate of Fordham
University with the degrees Of A. B.,
A. M, LII. B. and LII. u. He has been
an instructor in Greek, Latin and lit
| erature, a reporter, an Assemblyman
and city court justice A resident CT
the Bronx, he is friend of Secretary
of State Edward j. Flynn, one of Gov.
Roosevelts strongest supporters.
+, Walker, since his legislative days, has
ridden the crest OF a tide of popularity
which rose until, in 1929. it swept him
| into cffice for his second term by 50J,-
900 vote majority over Representative
Fiorello II. La Guardia, his Republican
! opponent, He proudly proclaimed dur
ing that campaign that he would be a
"Tammany Hall mayor"
! Proclaiming his championship of the
nickel fare. ever ready with snappy
| quips, a whimsical terror to foes who
cared oppose in Board of Estimate meet
ings, Walker rode out storms like the
Staying OF Arnold Rothstein, master
| gambler. whose unsolved death brought
heavy criticism on the police and his
administration. He was as ready to act
| as brilliant master of ceremonies at a
banquet ss to laugh down Communists
who invaded City Hall to denounce him.
"Fishing Expedition"
His gay travels to Europe and else
where. his tradiness at many functions
aroused criticism, but it rolled off him
without apparent effect.
| More than IA months ago move to
investigate the city government was
begun and Chairman w. Kingsland
Macy of the Republican State Commit
tee piloted it through the State Legis-
lature. walker charged 1t was Re
| publican fishing expedition" The
charge was denied
For many months the investigators
| prodded and searched In the multitude
nous departments of the eountry's larg-
| est city. During that time Mayor
walkers name twice fiared in extra
large headline print. once was when
he made his spectacular but unsuccess-
full journey 10 California to plead for
Tom MONEYS freedom. Afterward lie
| appeared ON the witness stand, at the
| top or his debating form, and fought
Seabnry's attempts to pin him down
on financial Cesls. Crowds cheered him.
Then seabury filed with the Governor
| his conclusions" about the mayor, al
| leging unfitness. They included al
| legations that the mayor accepted $685.
900 in securities from a broker inter-
ested In taxicab legislation; that he
violated the city charter by holding
| bonds of a concern which received a
| city contract; that he sponsored the
! Equitable Bus franchise to the detri-
ment Of the city; that he received q
| $4,000 letter OF credit from one OF
| the Equitable promoters; that he ac-
cepted substantial gratuities from Paul
Block. publisher, and others; that he
| failed to help the Hofstadter Commit
tee locate the missing Sherwood; that
| he failed to prevent his brother, DR..
| william H. Walker. from splitting fees
| with doctors who received city cases.
Proud Of His Record.
"I have met my accusers and dis
proved their charges the mayor said
| in his statement last night. Il have
net Mr., Seabury and answered MS
every question. have met the Gov
ernor and answered his every question.
Both exhausted themselves In examining
| me and told me they had no more
| questions to ask.
Il have not been given an oppoi unity
| To prove my record OF service - the
| city as its mayor for two terms, rec
ord OF which / am proud. a record
which was acclaimed by the whole city,
nor will I be granted such an op-
| portunity from the Governor. That Is
| apparent. IT,,
WHY then, continue before him
when there Is another forum open TO
me? To that forum, the people OF the
! City of New York, leave my case In
| tre spirit of true democracy. conscious
of the rectitude of my official acts and
with a faith in the fair judgment OF
my fellow citizens"
Declaring that Roosevelt did not call
on Seabury to produce any supporting
| proof Walker said Of the Governor
! that despite declarations OF fairness
he has been studiously unfair. He has
acted as a prosecutor, although the law
REQUIRES that he be coldly neutral to
both accuser and accused and that he
be an impartial judge"
Litigation Is Expected.
Advisers Of Mayor Mckee predicted
! the next mayoralty election would be
the subject of court litigation.
The comment OF the ADVISERS. who
were conferring with the new mayor at
| City Hall TO-DAY, followed announce
ment by City Clerk Cruise that ne
would certify TO the Board Of Elections
that a vacancy for the ONCE OF mayor
exists.
| No person appeared ready to say
when the next mayor should be elected,
| whether in the coming general elec-
! ton on November or in the election
OF the year following, when former
Mayor Walkers regular term would
have expired.
In announcing that he would certify
| the vacancy, City Clerk Cruise added
| that it was to be filled at the general
| election on November S. Later, when
told that Mayor Mckees advisers had
said that it was not within the city
! clerks province to say when the cleo
| ton should be held Cruise said he had
intended to consult some one in the
! office of the corporation counsel before
making the assertion.
Confusion at City Hall.
There was considerable confusion
around the city hall as to the provisions
Of the constitution
The constitution states in paragraph
8 OF Article II that "all elections of city
officers, except to fill vacancies
shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding
the first Monday In November In an
odd-numbered year, and the term ol
such officer shall expire at the end o.
an edd-numbered year
!, Paragraph of Article 10 states tina
'the Legislature shall provide for flilin;
! vacancies In Office, and In case o
! elective officers, no person appointed t,
fill a vacancy shall hold his Office d,
/ virtue of such appointment longer thar
the commencement of the political Yea