New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-19

RICHMOND AND RENSSELAER, CASES
sCoI.Ds THE COMMITTEE OF
SEVENTY. AND SAYS
GOOD WORD FOR
HIMSELF.
Albany. Nov. 1S-Governor Flower was asked to-
d,v II he had anything further To saw in regard
T., his refusal except upon certain coniitipns' 10
comuly with the request OF the Committee OF SeV-
entv of New-York city. to require the Attorney
General to superscde Districi-Attorney fel''"S !"
the management Of certain classes OF crim'ha' "o-
tons in that city. CO.,,
STATE reasons so long as tie press of Newton
,vf,lv nissta;e or nisrepresent them or attribute
s,nc had motive to The expression oi 'he'h' II -
an unfortunate thing that II puhhc ""n'''' ''
sir,,Is of dscharglng his duty consc.eh'iouS'Y nap
rens 10 differ from portion oi tNe newspaper
nrass rs 70 the method of accomplishing par
,,cnlsr reform. his motive should thorcupon be Wig
,r,,.rv oss,il,d and be should be- cldsscd VITA
,o,ler,c,ors and thieves in symnatny. u no' III
doo1s Now. am roundly denounced by se1-"P-
pointed cls;olians Of public welfare because nav
hositateI to assume an unusual ana so"' ny '
cor,us function OF my office to accomplish ''
,,in object when the natural ana Simple 'e"''''
lies close at hand ,,,c,
"Ir were to use the same methods oil Alta"
ht,, MY critics employ | might question the'r
natives. but this have disposition to 40 '"r
am sure that there is only one object "i''n ''''
good citizens ana the good newspapers ~ ~
York have At hear namely. 10 ehec' Il S""S''''''
rcf,rrn IN every department Of city g'V''"'''"
,.,or. +, - needed Good men and good newspapers
'' ,'cc.r a.. 70 the method Of bringing about TINS
,, I'm, hsc,use they differ it Is hardly far -
-ta ono 81, as angels ana 10 dcnoIrce the o'AoI
as devils.
,.,,v TIL, GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL
"voy AZ 70 this question OF requiring the Attor-
,ov-Gencral 10 do what is the clear constitutional
amy Of the Dlstrict-Attorney to do. The power
which have i'm the premises was conf'rteh "S
CHAPTER GS Of the laws Of this year In "l'"'"S r'
bill TO become Il law Affixed to nay appr'N'' '"'
following statement " r'ason''
"s,a,a Of Ncw-vork. Executive Chamber Albany
fe SGVcmSyr.nlum Mel with Assembly BIZ =, iai.
.r,itie1 An at t. amend the Executive" Jaw TO-
.' a.. 5cs If The Attorney Genera. ~ man
aclue al Z conducting 0r.minal dc' 'hS anu P'-
I'M b c@nf-r such ."feGo 1; aai !, 'H@' yG
Signature 10 IT, and nave ony coh'in'.' ~ "'
ii,ou m. reelection that the H .'sllr - A. i,nI'
mont ira certain respect, upon snr an ON
.t,n In fh. law winch / pointed ont wn-u h~Nri -
r.Gn.re ne IN, na. ,oun,y cic,oa cas rcr~n.y
- wa. the auth .riN "' 'n' 90 .., t,r, f.,
Tn. cise ~, VII be- rcucmo~rs The
ucy Of Kings County ooNAiri ihe '.'''',s .,
whlrh l,y uo doubt o. tnat officer "'l - 1P
whit. fnl. II the Niiorncy-GcncraL when reg l-.
Id, I'M. l;,.eri'r b.. author 20 Aii'ni in' ''lil
ius AMI .0a ..r,nr " '.''.i. . ~. n, h!1
thcr,...' Ir. t...,i b. it. 'Ai-'t- -" - e.
T-.,- ,.,.rnr, ia nls r,i1tons at ih- Grand
!ii-, ia sum Proceedings a. .s fHe intention "' go"
' IKE iau b. It, prcs,n; shape I. a.rncl pr ~
iraor iiui-} emcrs .nr''- hnl sh'1.. .t, -
Do.
',,.. i5.. r.'....t ~ ,h1 p'..f.ct-N,orn,, '
a. So. 'he .g ~ ,y RIFE 'l.' ,oa',,
officer lie - charged ~ln the prose- nil'' ,'..
t.."' ,,i,'-y n. may b.. removed by M GOV
crnor. after being given an opportunity ~ "m'~,i
ca4rre. made AGAINST h.m In's ~"r ei T, ,-
is We one - easai N u, .i,. .y Il Pc ~ nn,arai
aafevuari AMI the "n" mos IN hIi"''"' WIN ''
splr.t ~ our institution. AMI our laN ,.
,h- A. mo- evasion or noslec' o. duty on no part
a. the District Attorney. 10 maladminisiraiion o,
cc"rnnnraflona the Interests %, thorough ara I'm
partial prosecution demand that n" Ni'tn,y'
such cases the hn under COMMUNICATION ""HH no
Vide Tor. Hut they are ihi. ana u,Syi TO- '"''
District Attorney everywhere should un1ei si"ul
thai their duties ard Responsibilities in-st DE- MN
ayod or prciudlccd by their Official n"sio'i OF mis-,
conduct they should he f,m3'el rom ",,' ,hcir
places l,ut only unusual clrcun4tAi''r OF con
diuons would Justify departure rom this si'y
nroyi.io,s Of nm. amended statute
"ROSW ELL T. FLOWER"
THE RICHMOND AID RENSSELAER, CASES
since that law enacted three applications
have been made TO me Tor The exercise OF tn"
authority which 1t confcrs. on the ground - an
unusual emergency The first came from Richmond
County The committee OF citizens from that
county asked mo to require the Auorncy-fcn'raI
10 take charge OF the prosecution Of certain cleo
tion offenders there. on the ground that the local
pisirici-Attorncy unfit, and that, with him as
prosecutor justice would not be mctcd out told
them II the nls,rlct-Attorney Was unfit or neg
lcctful II was their duty prefer charges against
him This they did not at first desire 10 do. but
finally showed disposition 10 prefer charges u !
would agree TO give them the appointment OF a
District Attorney In case OF removal II * need
less 10 say that this proposal ended further as
shond add nat he Disirict-Aitorncy himself
aided hy able counsel assocaied win nm IL tny
trial secured ~" indi'tm"ni ana touEl' ron o. "i
the accused offenders against whom there VAS
County refused to require the Attorney -Gencral
ana The other election officers unless the Assistant
District Attorney, Mr. Pagan. into whose hands
lions. and against whose character and ability rot
a word was said. should have concurrent action
should name This suggestion vas no, sats'ac'2ry
sistant District Attorney Fasan assumed charge
Of the prosecution and with the aid Of the Hon.
George Rancs. whom he had the rlsht to employ
under the statute. secured "A prompt conNcuon !
was >aftcrward assured by Justice Williams. who
presided at the trial. that had the unnatural
process Of calling the Attorney General Into the
case been followed. there would have been no con-
viction. In his opinion. During my discussions with
the Committee OF one Hundred OF Troy, | slis-
gcsted that II the District AttOrncy was an unnt
man he ought TO be removed. and they ought u"
prefer charges against him. Subsequently this was
done. but before the testimony In the case was
begun the complainant asked my PERMISSION to
Withdraw the charges. | refused permission.
Thcrcupon he asked for "A postponement I'LL fall.
so that he might 80 20 Europe This was granted.
Recently the testimony has been taken and the
| care closed. and shall give my decision In "A few
days.
! THE CHARGES AGAINST COLONEL FELLOWS.
1.-THE third application comes now from New
York city II is unaccompanied by any reason ex-
ccpt a verbal statement by n committee OF a lack
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