New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-01
UNFAITHFUL OFFICIALS.
ALDRIDGE AND ADAMS TO BE
PROSECUTED CRIMTNALLY.
EXJUDGE COUNTRYMAN'S REPORT RE-
CElVED AND PROMPTLY ACTED
on BY GOVERNOR BLACK
SCATIIING ARRANGEMENT OF
CANAL MISMANAGEMENT
CANAL MISMANAGEMENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

SCATIIING ARRANGEMENT OF
CANAL MISMANAGEMENT
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TRrBUNE.l
Albany. Nov. 30-Attorney- General Hancock
received this morning from ex-Judge Edwin A.
Coun.ryman the latters report upon the result Of
his analysis Of the evidence taken by the Canal
Commission concerning the execution of the
canal contracts under the S9.0OoOOO Improve
ment act. Actually. it is addressed to both the
Attorney General and Governor Black: the lat
ter employed Judge Countryman early in Au-
gust last to perform the work he has done
Mr. Hancock was aware that the Governor was
fully acquainted with the contents Of the report.
and therefore as a mere formality he at once
forwarded 1t TO him
INSTRUCTIONS TO PROSECUTE.
IT was not a formal act. however. that Cow
ernor Black some five hours later perfo. med
He addressed the following important letter to
Mr. Hancock:
Executive Chamber. Albany Nov 80 1895.
Hon. Theodore r. Hancock. Attorney General
Albany. y. Y
Dear Sir have received your communca-
tion Of this date. transmitting 10 me the report
made by the Hon. Edwin Countryman. desig-
mated as special counsel for the purpose Of eX-
amininS the report of the Canal Investigating
Commission and the ACCOMPANYING testimony
In that report Il is recommended that criminal
proceedings hv Indictment. be commenced
against the S.a Engineer and Surveyor, and
the Super!ntend. n II Public Works.
You are hereby requested 10 Immediately take
charge Of such proceedings on behalf of the
state. and to institute and prosecute 10 their
conclusion such criminal actions or proceedings
may be warranted by such reports and testi-
mony; and you are hereby required to attend in
person or by one of your deputies the supreme
4 Tttrt
thereof for the purpose II managing and con-
Quoting such criminal actions or proceedings.
Special counsel will be designated TO aid you.
and the Executive Department VIII render ~
you in this matter any assistance within Its
power. Respectfully yours
FRANK $ BLACK. Governor.
COLONEL ROOSEVELT ASKED TO ASSIST
Then Governor Black SEN the following letter
to Governor elect Roosevelt:
Executive Chamber.
Albany. y, Y. November 30. 1893
Hor. Theodore Roosevelt oyster Bay, Long
Island y. Y
My Dear Sir: Judge Countryman recommends
in his report on the canal question that criminal
proceedings be- Instituted. have requested the
Attorney General To begin such proceedings. ana
shall designate counsel 10 assist him. These
proceedings Will necessarily be continued under
your administration. Il seemed 10 me that YOU
would desire to have some lawyer Of your own
selection connected with the proceedings from
th. beginning / shall continu" Judge Country
man. and If you viii suggest - me- the name or
any lawyer acceptable to you, shall be glad TO
designate him also. Respectfully yours
! FPANK s. BLACK.
! JUDGE COt-NTRYMANS CONDEMNATION.
Ex-Iudce Countryman in his report may he
said to repeat with greater force what has AL
ready been said by the members OF the canai
Commission in their report in condemnation OF
the execution Of the canal contracts under the
50 100000 Canal Improvement act by STATE
Engineer Adams and George ". Aldrdge. the
Superntendent Of Public Works. He mad three
months in which 10 do his work. while the
members OF the Canal Commission had only one
month in which to do theirs. and therefore his
convictions uDon the errors Of Mr. Adams ana
Mr.. Aldridge may have been more intense than
theirs He shows that the State Engineers
estimates as to the cost of completing contracts
were Inaccurate declares that his subordinates
were careless and finally s. = he has mo hesi-
tation in reaching the conc, ,usion that the case
as nroven against the State Engineer is sufii-
cient "a warrant proceedings by impeachment
for his removal from office.
But since Mr.. Adamss term has nearly ex-
pired and the Legislature could not act in time
Judge Countrymsn says: THE only remaining
course is a criminal prosecution by Indictment
He adds that there may be no precedent II
this State for the indictment and prosecution CT
a state officer. but that "our condition would BE-
indeed deplorable II in the second century OF
our state and National history we nave pro-
vided no efficient remedy for the punishment OK
nuhlic officials guilty of official malversati"n
and breach Of trust.
VIOLATIONS OF THE STATUTE.
Judge Countryman then considers the acts OF
George ". Adridge. the Superintendent OF Puo-
lie Works and declares that ne Knew or
ought TO have known. that the insertion IN 'he
bidding sheets Of mere nominal quantities OF
,,oter,,l m be excavated from considerable
stretches In many cases including severa! miles
Of the canal were not correct statements or
estimates and therefore were not IN compliance
with the statute. 1t follows that IN adopting
sIch estimates in connection with indefinite
specincations without question, ana inserting
them in the contracts he was equally guilty
with the State Engineer q a violation OF the
statute"
In concluding this report Judge Countryman
saws THE natural and necessary conclusion
Is that by far the greater number of original
contracts were awarded ana afterward recoS-
nized and continued in force by the Superin-
tondent Of Public Works in plain and direct
violation not only OF the Nine Million Dollars
act but OF the Constitution" Then finally he
saws. "Other Instances might be given Of plain
violations of the statute in the proceedings
taken by the Department OF Public Works. but
II is unnecessary pursue these details further.
as have reached the conclusion that this a,so
IS a proper case 10 be presented to the Grand
Jury"
Attorney General Hancock said this evening
that he had received Governor Blacks letter
and added Il have not yet had time to read
carefully ex-Judge Countryman's report. ana
Z .haEaenro do MT uuish sneak about II or