Minutes of proceedings concerning Councilman Hugh Quinn
Description
Accession consists of a 5 volume set of the official minutes of the hearings and testimony in connection with the proceedings before the City Council concerning Council Member Hugh Quinn. According to the letter of deposit from S. Stanley Kreutzer included with the accession record: "To avoid the obligation of 'recognizing' Councilman Quinn or permitting him to speak indefinitely on such matters as a 'point of high personal privilege,' Majority Leader Joseph Sharkey and I discussed the best means for holding orderly hearings. We determined the best method was for the City Council to establish a "Committee of the Whole," which would be authorized to hold the hearings, decide its rules, etc. The Committee would be presided over by the Majority Leader and would comprise all members of the City Council, except Hugh Quinn. The results of this procedure fully justified the hopes that we had - because we succeeded in holding orderly hearings over a period of three months. The five-volume set relate to the public proceedings and are the only record of this kind that has ever taken place before the entire City Council. Councilman Quinn was probably the Council's most important member, in terms of his influence over City agencies and officials. He was close to many political leaders and never hesitated to use his influence to suit his purpose. This was the first such case in New York's municipal history. When it was over, Councilman Quinn resigned just as his colleagues were casting their votes to remove him. The newspaper headlines of that day read that 'Quinn resigned to avoid ouster.' Ten other Councilmen were also 'under suspicion' for conflict of interest. Because of the Quinn trial many private relationships were severed by some Councilmen. There was one exception. This involved Edward Cunningham, Chairman of the Council's powerful Finance Committee. I arranged private meetings with Mr. Cunningham, his attorney (now Supreme Court Justice) Jacob Grumet and Majority Leader Sharkey. We showed our evidence to Mr. Cunningham and his counsel before starting public hearings. They looked at the evidence; Councilman Cunningham resigned. Thus, two powerful men, holding two of the most powerful offices in the City Council resigned. This lead to my recommendation for a Code of Ethics and establishment of the Board of Ethics - the first such action in the United States."
Extent
2.5 cubic feet (5 volumes)
Dates
1957
Record Groups
Source
- New York (N.Y.). Board of Ethics (Organization)
Creator
- New York (N.Y.). City Council (Organization)
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