New-York tribune., 1907-09-20
J4CKSON'S NEW NAME.
Called "PossiUity" Through Work IN
Collecting Back TaTeS.

'rPassivity'' Jackson is what they are beginning
TO call Attorney General William s. Jackson around
the Controllers Office
Mr. Jackson. who delighted the trust busters
with predictions Of what he going 70 do TO the
tax lodging corporations after he became Attorney
General has not made much of impression on
the strong boxes Of the lighting companies IN ar
rears for special franchise taxes. Controller MeZ
said yesterday he had decided to write the Altore9
General asking why he did not &C ahead and col
Iect the arrears. He inspired TO his decision
by representations made TO him yesterday by Sen
ator Martin SAKE who was designated by Attorney
General Mayer collect the tax arrears asaitis'
the lighting companies Senator Sake asked MI
Jackson for the papers on file so TO get 10 Wo'A
on the task The Attorney General after consulting
with Charles +. Murphy and William j. Conneis'
appointed Daniel F Cohalan, chairman or Ihe A0iii
many law committee, special counsel IN ciiai
OF the cases against the companies in arreais IL -
special franchise taxes. Senator Sake repeateui9
called on the Attorney General, and requested that
# he was to be kept on the case the papers ne
turned over TO him. so that he could go TO Woih'
Mr.. Jackson referred him TO Mr.. Cohalan' anu MI
Cohalan told him that he not ready
After waiting eight months for the Attorney zen
eral 10 turn over the papers TO him and nearing
nothing about IT, Senator SAKE was surprised one one
day this week 80 get letter from the A''oiIe'
General asking: -,
If you can do so without inconvenience wish
you would advise briefly as to the pfosie esS
made If any in the special franchise tax cases re-
ferred TO you
In replv 70 this somewhat remarkable inquiry the
Senator wrote:
hardly believe that you read & the fore ToTeg@mg To
entering the Office Of Attorney General PI9Jtpoy f
called to see ycu IN reference TO the sIecla! az III
chise cases in which I had been designated ny
your predecessor in oflce (malnly az Sne IE9I,l
and stated that I ready 70 proceed as I soon 4P
as was put in possession OF me 9r fiTst and at
subsequent interviews that you had nor 4 GTS1aT Taa
% " 5oSS S9uSe 1atss SGG Fn9y and Should say about
middle of February of this year you yi tGa me
New York City, take charge Of the speGi spec no nF r
Cg (T1 me TO- 70 odnicate m with him Acting upon
Your suggestion, I Mr. CohaIan, ana ne - -
firmed Your statement TO me- and asked me 10 10
write him a letter advising him OF the cases III
which I had been designated ~, ,-.,,,o, giving
him the information he desired. and quote IN
part from that letter as follows: ~, tho nroceed-
ines in which l have been designated oet because
6ftentfon Pfgff 5 to these matters desire to advise og
quite ready and PREPARED so sPioD PIoDet Of
the papers and have knowledge of the status
Of each Of the cases above referred to"
Mr., Cohaian never replied TO my letter of Feb
rary 16 in writing but whSnsvfr e. S SpoEe s - vrajt
M further ias5rqstGgS from f x9T S9e eGa9t can't coSr
felt that had been treate9 VIII tI w. made no
further demands for the papers in these cases. ana
an still waiting o4sd to the Feeees from Attor
uey General Mayer. Teaiizlng tlsH s oiLe I a.
ranged my private practice accordingly aha Ile @
neglect of your Office in this matter put me 10 10
little inconvenience
The 1fe7-ng companies are IN arrears for special
franchise taxes in the aggregate sum OF ABOUT
$ 900 for the years 1906, inclusive At
tornev General Mayer was led TO designate senator
SAKE because Of his remarkable record for collect
ing back taxes IN the office of Corporation Oounse-
Rfves IN the Low administration
It IS the understanding in Tammany Han that
Mr. Jackson paid his political debt to that or
sanization when he turned over to pameI r %
halan the franchise tax arrears 1t also WAS 'he
understanding that Mr.. Cohalan was TO parcel the
cases around among the friends OF Charles r.
Murphy whose bills for services would be audited
by the Attorney General and paid by a DeTnocFauc
State Treasurer.
Controller Metz says that the only thing he Is
interested in is in getting the money collected mat
is why he decided night TO write the Attorney
General sharp letter, and that Is why tile 0ieIA
in the Controllers Office refer 10 the attorney
General as ''Passfytv' Jackson