New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-02
ALDRIDGE WILL RETIRE.
HE ASKS GOVERNOR BLACK TO SUS'
PEND HIM FROM OFFICE.
HIS ACTION TAKEN AFTER 1T WAS MADE
CLEAR TO HIM THAT THE GON-
ERNOR EXPECTED 1T.
fpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1

Albany Dec 1-George W. Adridge. Superin-
tendent ~ Public Works has asked Governor
Black to suspend him from his office uh'h sue"
time as his responsibility for alleged Mro"e
doing may be judcially determined lniS 70
the first result Of ex-Iudge Countryman's report
yesterday after critically examining '"e e
dence taken by the Canal Commission IN re-
gard to the contracts made uhuet '"e ~
Million Dollar Improvement act
Mr. Adridge's request for his own suspe"'''''
It is suspected. was not altogether voluh'a's
Over n week ago the Governor made IL pia'"
| to Mr. Aldridge that he had been pantuhy III
pressed bv ex-Judge Countryman's statements
about the manner of the execution or the canai
contracts and that If his acts were 10 ne SUI
jected to an inquiry by :he Grand jury 1t "
be better. on the whole. TO surrenner' a' 'e"'
temporarily the office which he held 70 'he care
OF some one else. Mr.. Adridge took the SUE
gestion under consideration and consulted MS
friends.
His friends said Mr.. Aldridge WOULD ei'he'
have to ask for his own suspension iro" on'e
submit TO II at the hands OF the roNei"o'
Mr. Black had mad, that plain Most of them'
however. advised him not TO ask Tor MS o""
suspension. but to force Mr.. Black to take this
oc,ior Th.ir argument was that he should not
even Indirectly seem to admit that he ought 10
be suspended from Office temporarily or other-
I
wise.
Mr. Aldridge himself seems to have cherished
the hope UP to a late hour this afternoon '"a'
the Governor might change his decision III IL
gard to the necessity Of his giving up MS oi
fee He had another long talk with MT. b'aoN
to-day. but he appears to have found the "o'
ernors decision Interchangeable. and to nave come
to the opinion that it was best for him to ask
for his own suspension.
ALDRIDGES LETTER.
A few minutes liter o'clock this afternoon
he sent the following letter to the Governor:
Albany December !. 1898.
The Hon. Frank S. Black. Executive Chamber
My Dear Sir As a result Of allegations OF
mismanagement and dishonesty in connection
with the improvement of the canals under the
so-called Nine Million Dollar Improvement act
last January | asked that a full ana compete
invests cation should be had In compliance WIN
this suggestion the Commission was appointed
by you which rendered its report August ! last
The conclusions and statements contained III
said report. so ia. as they relate TO TINS De
partmen and TO my own Official acts are "o'
warranted by the facts
In a statement which prepared Immediately
after the report was given 10 the pupHc' nur
which was not given out until the neat OF the
recent political campaign was at It's neigh,' 'huS
rendering ii impossible that 1t should De re-
ceived by the public in an unbiased manner, /
sought to meet the structures placed upon my
acts I did not appear by counsel before the
Commission, and was not heard there except
upon such matter as the Commission saw III 10
ask me about. The inquiry up to the present
time has been purely ex parte in It's character
| have from the beginning courted the freest
and fullest investigation. and TO this end placed
at the disposal Of The Commission every lachiy
within my power.
Being conscious CT neither dereliction OF duty
nor dishonesty in connection WIKI the manage
ment Of the canal improvement work. still court
the freest inquiry at the hands OF such BODY as
will accept all evidence. whether for or against,
and weigh II fairly and judically. believe that
the public will suspend its final judgment as 10
my acts In connection with this most important
matter until such time as an open aid Judlclal
determination may be had. and that is all ask;
However in view Of the fact that the special
counsel appointed by you TO examine the testi-
mony and the report Of the Commission Tor the
purpose Of ascertaining II they contained basis
for judicial proceedings without going be ond
the testimony taken by the Commission, mas re-
ported that the conclusions of that body are
warranted by the testimony. and that | am
technically guilty Of violations Of the law. In
Justice TO myself and TO the public. which
have endeavored to serve honestly, | ask that
be relieved from the performance OF the duties
Of my office until such time as my responsi-
bty for alleged wrongdoing may be judicially
determined. Very truly yours,
GEORGE w ALDRIDGE.
Superintendent Of Public Works.
Governor Black read this letter, but did not
act upon It to-day. Soon after he had put IT
into his safe he departed for his home az Troy.
y "a e,nected that the Governor will suspend
Mr. Aldridge from office tomorrow. and vii!
announce whom he has selected as the head Of
the Department Of Public Works place Of the
suspended officer.
NO HOPE OF GETTING BACK.
NJ. ,,dridgo.s term OF office will expire on
December 81 and no one be'' es that the
Grand Jurv of Albany County will be able to
hear the evidence about the canal contracts and
act on II before that day. Mr. Aldridges re-
tirement is therefore. likely to be permanent.
The Grand Jury OF Albany County vii, assem-
bic next Monday. and it is the duty OF Attorney
General Hancock at that time. under Governor
Blacks direction OF yesterday. to appear before
I, and suhmi. 10 II the evidence regarding State
Engineer Adams and Superintendent Aldridge
in their relations to the canal contracts.
The Grand Jury is composed OF the following
men: Leslie Allen Altamont; s. Armstrong.
Albany: John Babcock. Becker's Corners; Rich
ard Brewster. Albany: Patrick Clinton. Coey-
mans: Frank Davis, Cohoes; f.. w. Derouvilie
Albany: Patrick J. Eagan. Albany; Hugh p
Guyer Albany John f. Hallcnbeck. Coeymans;
John Hannah. Watervliet; Henry B. Hutcnins
Cohoes. Terrence Meehan. Albany: Fletcher j.
Onderdorl Colonie. John O'Neill. Albany; Will
lam ] Reineck. Albany: Frank f.. Shepard.
Westerlo; Emmett f. Sade. CohOes George f.
stevens Albany; William Fl. Storrs. Albany;
Moses WeatherwaX ColOnie; John Weber AL
bany: Joseph We'll. Albany. and Peter Wide
man, ne
COLONEL ROOSEVELT TO NAME LAWYER
Oyster Bay y. Y. Dec. f.-Colonel Roosevelt may
have picked out the man whom he will name TO
take part In the prosecution Of Messrs. Aldridge
and Adams but. II so he will not make his selec-
ton public until he has consulted with Ellhu Root
on Saturday. II may be that the Colonel has his
personal counsel In mind. but he will not admit 1t.
Colonel Roosevelt considers the action Of Governor
Black In asking H. n 10 suggest a lawyer TO take
part in the most -ou-teous act. and Will
meet II in the spirit In which the offer was made.
William J Youngs got back from Albany
night and drove once TO Colonel Roosevelt's
haLlsn Uhere he rad long conference with the