Evening star., 1932-04-18
Dramatizes Graft in Move to
Rouse Voters to Revolt
Against Corruption.
Every Other Large City in
U. S. Has Eyes on Outcome
of Inquiry.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


bury continues to produce almost daily
the current hit-show or Gotham, Man
haitian Scandals"
Well on in its second year. the So
called Hofstadter legislative investiga-
ton has been working slowly, surely
through every department of the New
York municipal government, moving
gradually upward toward the man at
the top of the pyramid - dapper
Jimmy Walker himself
The best dressed mayor" whose
conduct over the last decade has been
subject to the closest scrutiny Of expert
Investigators laboring behind the scenes
Is scheduled to appear before the COM
mittee next month.
The Investigation into charges OF
official graft and misconduct in New
York is by no means purely local al.
fair. In a number of ways it affects all
sections Of the Nation.
Other Cities Watch Outcome.
The breakdown of democratic govern
ment in municipalities is major COM
plant agains that form of government,
and the final outcome of the Seabury
investigation will be watched closely by
every other large city.
New York graft and racketeering. as
Seabury pointed out in a speech, exaets
its toll not only from New Workers, but
from citizens in sections hundreds OF
miles from Manhattan Island. He
named, as a specific instance, the live
fish industry.
"One-ffth of the United States" he
stated in reference to this industry,
was affected by the tariff taken by the
racketeer at the port Of New York"
There is little doubt that to greater
or lesser degree, the same is true OF all
commerce operating on large scale IN
New York City.
Politically, also, the current inquiry
is of prime importance. Franklin u.
Roosevelt, leading candidate for the
Democratic presidential nomination,
finds it embarrassing to possess, on one
hand. the Governors executive power
to remove officials discredited by EVIL
dence brought out in the investigation:
and. on the other hand. to have need
of the Tammany- controlled block OF 80
votes New York State will cast IN
Chicago.
He naturally hesitates before declar-
ing open war on an organization so I'M
portant to his political future.
Because publicity is an important
feature of any investigation OF TINS
sort, considerable space m the hearing
chamber is reserved for the press.
Three tables run along outside the rail
of the bar inclosure. while inside, along
the left wall of the chamber, reporters
are allowed to sit in the IL seats nor
mally reserved for the Jury.
In the center of the. bar Enclosure Is
a long table heaped high with material
for the investigators. To the right, be-
hind a rail, sit the witnesses, and close
by, on the floor, is William j. Flynn,
Bronx commissioner of public works,
who is to 60 on the stand for question
ing in a few minutes.
AS he whispers to his counsel, Flynn
appears completely unworried over the
Seabury revelation that the public
works commissioner has banked $647,-
600 In 10, years on salary of $4,000 a
year.
There is a good deal of conversation
in different parts of the room, a hungry
buzz of excitement. The principals
have yet to appear. The members OF
the Legislative Committee file in. There
is burst Of applause as Seabury makes
his appearance.
Hofstadter Sits in Center.
Seabury an his aides-six Of them
step down of the platform and take
their places at the long center table.
The Legislative Committee is seated be-
hind railing on the raised platform.
There is murmur Of comment as it is
noticed that only eight Of the nine
members of the Legislative Committee
are In attendance.
Senator Hofstadter, Republican, chair
man of the committee, sits in the CEN
ter. To his right, because they repre-
sent the majority Of the committee, sit
three fellow Republican members. A
fourth, Senator Leon Wheatley, has
been called upstate.
On the left are the four minority
Democrats, who throughout the investi-
CATION have taken upon themselves the
role of auxiliary defense counsel for
whatever Tammanyites are under fire.
To the extreme left sits Senator John
J. McNaboe, most loyal of Democrats,
whose obstructionist tactics have
stirred the Republican members into
threats of ousting him rom the COM
mittee entirely.
The hearing is opened with court
ceremony. but its procedure Is much
more informal than that of a regular
court. Any member of the committee
can interrupt to interrogaJe witness,
can protest the legality OF a question,
can make suggestion to Seabury.
The whole aspect is informal and
flexible
Time after time Seabury's investi-
has 26 OF them, mostly
skeptical young men-have unearthed
records Of financial transactions en-
complete to the public
officials involved More often than not
he has lacked actual proof that any
Of the money involved has illegally ac-
but frequently, on the other
hand, the officials have round a CORE
spending difficulty in producing a salts
factory explanation to snow that they
had earned their fortunes by the sweat
Of their brows.
Questioning Is Patient.
1t was the same story the other day
Patiently Seabury-and, not always SO
patiently, Chairman Hofsts dter-would
bring back the wandering Flynn to the
actual subject under discussion. It was
not thrilling testimony to listen to.
During nine-tenths Of the proceedings
Seabury's questioning is patient and
patiently fair. Although lie has been
both Judge of long service in New
YORK State and an unsuccessful candi-
date for the governorship, it is the
judge, not the politician. that predomi-
mates in the hearing.
Near the close Of long session Sena-
tor Hofstadter looks at his watch. 1t Is
4:30. Rather than start on new busi-
ness, it is decided to adjourn to the
following Wednesday.
Seabury straightens his shoulders and
then rslaxes. He is going to Long
Island for two days rest from the labors
Of exposing graft on a scale, which is
to the Boss Tweed pickings of last CEN
tury, as modern corporation Is to the
old general store.
tcopyrighti 1882. by the North American