New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-28


mttce Judge Greene accepted this amendment
and then the Sheehan amendment was adoP'eu U! ''0
Assembly. The Assembly also generously "''
report Of the Committee on Appropriations 81 mo
It should state that Assembyman Gallup Vi .n' De
ing Committee, voted against the awarding vi INC 0o"
tract 10 Snaith the ground that suihoic"' a
ing had not been cone. Mr.. Coon then opposco lhc
adopton OF Judge Creenes suggestion that Coh'roer
Wempe be cleared Of the charge OF negligence ia ''
performance of his duties Mr. com Po'n''u o"'
that Controller wemple had had the contract ID his
noesees,on for inspection, and therefore was aware
that 90 per cent of the money due the contractors
should be retained Mr.. Crosby suggested that the
e,a,ement should be made that $4,000 had
bean paid TO snaith Illegally, but mat
Controller wempc's feelings should not DO
narrowed by saying specifically that he was 'ne
man responsible for the bundeG This idea was
opposed by Mr. Mnsworth, who arsueu .ha' u"o'o
was demand all ovor the state that the guilty parhts
connected with the Assembly Coing scandal shou"
be pointed out The Committee on APPROPRIATIONS
therefore In consideration OF tho evidence pcioro
them. had pointed out Controller Wempo'
FIX Speaker Iusied stated that the Committee on
Appropriations had said what they hah sau coAoeIh-
ing Controller wemple owing TO the evidence Lie
did TO, believe In modifying their report IN us
rspect A vote was then taken on Judge Greenes
motion 70 strike out the censure of Controller "cmpie
Tho motion was beaten by vore of 81 TO "a Con-
trolIer womple, therefore, Is not acquitted
Mr.
yer his failure to whltewash Controller Wemple,
apparently thought this good oppoi tuhity 70 SEQ
IL he could not apply whitowash to himscn as
a member Of the Ceiling Committee. lilo lid TINS
under cover of att ack upon speaker Cole 1or oe
summoning the members of the Ceiling Committee
here last summer and faii.
speaker Cole made the following manly reply to
Mr.. Sheehan:
SPEAKER COLE ANSWERING Mr. SIBERIAN.
debate have observed fact since this investigation
that whatever part take in IT, whether that part Is
dictated by the judgment or whether u Is oelaVed
bv the unfortunate conception OF my real duties In the
case has been equally criticised am penseuy Will
tng-and say IL here all candor and In all honesty
to take whatever share Of responsibility may faii 10 me-
in the matter Of this ceiling controversy have staten
that fact 70 this House before. want 10 state again
what 1 have before stated, that l have MADE no
effort either directly or indirectly. To make scapeeoas
OF any Of my fellowcommteemen or OF any other man
connected with unfortunate affair II has been 'nc
effort tho premeditated combined effort Of the gen.
tleman from Erie Mr. Sheehan, to dodge MS snare
of respon.ibilit in this matter Now, L say, ana
say the will warrant me- in saying H. tha' nc -
equally responsible with every other memDer oil 'hs
committee 1t is fact that neither he nor had ever
spoken word 10 Mr. Snaith before this contract was
signed II TO upon the start by the gentle
man, and by the contractor himself lie states that
at the meeting Of the Ceiling Committee 1t WAS under
stood that this committee should be adjourned subject to
kent OF this meeting but here that 1t was
generally talked the time and understood by tho
committee that meeting necessary unless some
particular meeting should be called for some special
purpose. understood that all were to he here
occasionally in Albany The eentemsn'from Erie himself
s.aiei that each member OF the committee would have
business occasionally in Albany and that we would stop
and look the ceiling and Investigate for ourselves
Mr. shcehan-WlI the gentleman give way for Ques'
ton l. there any such evidence
Mr.. Cole-There is such evidence but it is fact
fact that proved by than person.
Mr.. SheChaa-Did the gentleman testify to any such
thngl
Mr. Coe-Mr Speaker. l did not. was not asked tho
question; but M Sheehan says he is not guilty Of gross
negligence bu. that the other members of the committee
Look at the fact for moment He accepted this
appointment lie his friends solicited III and instead
Of attending that first meeting which he was duly notified
t. attend. he continued his lawsuit in Buffalo. and
allowed pass these bids. He that the speehcs
tons adopted at that meeting 1t is fact sworn
to by Mr.. En- by Mr.. Gallup and by Mr. Weed TO say
nothing about our testimony in connection with It, that
nothing done the adoption Of these specifications
Vt the nrst meeting.
WILLING TO STAND HIS SHARE OF BLAME
Now. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman comes down at The
meeting lie tells that he Is not guilty OF any
negligence. he frankly admits in his testimony that
the architect that he never saw the plans;
he read the specifications. This gentleman
says he is guilty OF any negligence in this but
that the other members OF thu committee are Now l
severely criticised in connection with
this affair than have been before in all the
Of my public e and speak with degree Of feeling
In regard to it when | say that propos, to take my
full share Of responsibility and
am not sneak, Mr.. Speaker do not propose 10
shove the responsibility upon any man. 1 am sorry
that this unfortunate affair occurred 1 willing TO
admit that have been possibly guilty Of negligence;
but Mr.. Speaker. there is not upon this
floor who is intrusied with the duty which
and my colleagues were inrussd with but would have
been guilty OF the negligence. We relied upon
Charles B. Andrews the Superintendent Of Public Build
ings who wac ntrusted, by the statute under which We
are acting with the supervision Of this work We re-
lied upon the architect whom had selected from his
recommendations and from the fact that he had
from, and recommended having been the ia.
sructor in Of the greatest universities Of the world
We relied upon that architect and that superintendent
and say thai justified in so relying. I con
TESS Mr.. Speaker that l here but or twice
and one Of those times the time when the
tiaornary session Of the Assembly met in the Court Of
Appeals room; that not here during any Of the
portion Of the building Of this ceiling. was not
suited IL is neither my colleagues upon the
committee
Nh Speaker, you will rocollect the other gentle
this oor will remember that last fall witnessed
Of the stirring political struggles OF history,
bore part OF that struggle did colleagues
upon this floor, l. perhaps, Mr. Speaker paid more al
tenton TO the election Of the gentlemen who 10 be
nsuguratcd March than l did to this ceiling mat
Perhaps excusable for it, l do not say
that
i am not here. though TO claim that any member of
this committee is corrupt dishonest. than
admit perhaps, as l have stated before, that
might have been guilty Of negligence but
guilty of anything that is dishonest / ain not guilty
Of anything that not perfectly willing the world
should know and see.
ANXIOUS ONLY TO SEE BUSINESS RESUMED
1t has been asserted upon the am too anxious
10 squelch this investigation. / deny the imputatlon
and defy any person here that have done
anything 10 sQuelch this investigation. the Speaker
Of this House anxious this session shall pro.
coed In order and that time before July this Legls
loure shall do Its work and go home. / have told
several gentlemen this floor that / thought further
Investigation possibly necessary and wise have
told them that IT might be wiser Attorney
General, to the Grand Jury Of Albany County to the
DISTRICT Attorney OF Albany. willing that IT. should