New-York tribune., 1907-07-18
HUGHES INQUIRY PLANS
Departments WIN Be Taken Up in
Order of Importance.
IRy Telegraph 70 The Tribune ]

IBy Telegraph 20 The Tribune.l
Albany, July 17-As soon as he gets the Legis
lature off his hands and had few'days rest in
the mountains Governor Hughes intends to take
Up investigation of the states institutions
and departments. The departments will be
taken up in the order of their Importance and
the urgency which the Governor thinks attaches
TO conditions in them. 1t is the general belief
that he will begin with the states charitable
and penal institutions.
According to plans laid out when the More
land department investigation bill was under
discussion, the Governor will take trip around
the state, examining for himself the CONDITION
of the states wards. He has had no oppor-
tunity to do this since he became Governor. Va
rious stories of mistreatment or prisoners anu
patients in state prisons and hospital. and the
ever recurring reports of acknowledgement and
corruption, have come to him from time to time.
those who have talked with him on these SUP
jects know re considers it Of prime lIhpor'ahoe
that the truth should be ascertained ABOUT lheSe
things. 49,
After this trip and the work developed by le tne
things the Governor may find then people mere
expect him to take up the examination OF nl" @
fairs m the various state Departments LIa
the terms of the Moreland bill ne VIII I've C. 80
appoint a staff of examiners, DuI 'lie -,
ernor's trend of mind, his previous work aloilS
that line and his desire to know at hrst manu- m
the actual condition III the states bureaus III
all pfODaDlltN Will ledd IlluI ~ I''nNN -
active part in this task himself.
Since the revival of the gossip about renoNaI
of Superintendent Kelsey of the insurance De
partment considerable interest has attached
TO any indication of the Governors activities
in this direction. Few who have watched the
Governor closely have believed that he would
ask the Legislature at this extraordinary ses-
sion to take up the Kelsey again. Those
who think the Governor in his own time Will
take up the Kelsey issue again expect to see
1t as result of his investigation of the In
surance Department in the regular course Of
MS department examinations rather than as
a revival of his previous request to the Senate
10 remove that insurance official.
There is little likelihood of a special investiga-
tlon OF sing Sing prison. has been reported
Inc Governor has had from one or two sources
complaints of conditions there but they were
from sources which did not commend them
selves, especially to disnterested hearers They
were filed to take their place with other com
plants, and the probability is that Sing Sing
will be visited and examined on the Governors
trip around the state in turn with the other
state institutions. Superintendent Collins OF the
State Prison Department has received numerous
complaints OF various sorts, and a short time
ago made an investigation Of Sing Sing which
satisfied him 10 its condition
The fSt step of what Nigh: be a sweeping
change at Sing Sing prison taken Tuesday.
when c V Collins. superintendent of prisons an
nounced the appointment OF Jesse D. Frost OF
Brooklyn. TO succeed Addison Johnson warden.
Superintendent Collins. It was learned. has been
making tour of inspection of the state penal in
stitutions. He visited Dannemora yesterday.
Mr.. Johnson, It is said. resigned rather than an
swer certain inquiries made by Superintendent
Collins. although officially is said that he got
TO give ali OF his time to his real
ests
Gherardi Davis. Of the state parole board, who
was at Sing Sing Tuesday. said yesterday: y
have heard unofficiay Of some sort of trouble but
it is matter that does not concern me, so I took
no trouble 10 ascertain any details"
Jesse D. Frost, who will assume his duties
warden Of Sing Sing prison next Monday. has
been active in Republican politics in Brooklyn
twenty years. His home Is at No. 52l 18th street.
He was the leader OF the old 22d Ward. He was
at the head OF the Republican County Conlmitte
when Timothy L. Woodruff deposed Jacob Worth
from the county leadership. Mr.. Frost for six
years a member of the state board OF appraisers.
he later appointed Deputy Commissioner OF
Records.