New-York tribune., 1908-04-03
JACkSON'S REPORT IN
attorney General Tells Legislature
of Has Hork

.f,s,- Anril 2-A,torney General jackson sub
r1aitfed 70 the Legislature his annual report tou
sfonE with other matters. tie ATTORNEY e'ene'a
discusses his actions regarding antitrust hiNes'
cations the forest preserve movement ana l-.o
prosecution OF election crimes in the HefToPoi'A"
district Abstracts Of his report follow;
You undoubtedly are aware Of the work done l IN
The INVESTIGATION OF the American Ice company,
The proposed Telephone monopoly; the 5eiesTs!pn 1!
combine and the affairs oi the Se .iie rerrort
Railway COMPANY. concerning whiea 1ils - tbese
treats IN detail esewhere In aadnoh 20 ;,-esfJo r
gzr5ors og aTac.-o violations of anu-nonopol,
laws in many cities of the stale. ana ss .,tli
combinations in restraint OF trade and Tor the
purpose OF fixing and controlling The rsoeS ,os S
hsve been completed ana am reaoy 10 proceea ~
viii respect 10 them in the courts just as soon
- the necessa-v funds are made available Tor
Ihs; purpose Other Investigations are stu IN an an
Incomplete state and cannot pe pIoeeeaeq q, . rs
satisfactorily until the departments hIane'ai re-
The Investigation of the telegraph companies
operating il this state produced ineontfoN .lDIe
and agreement TO raise rates and divide prohLaso
I believe this 10 be in violation OF Chapler oso
hut rhe lower courts thus far have held that the
1eiesrspll companies do not come within the pro
tlis judgment n the apPelate courts, F
1899 should be amended 50 as 70 apply speclh-
csllv 30 telegraph and telephone companies.
30 77lsny complaints ciled soon after
took Office OF alleged depTeds tons by individuals and
81 preseT1e hat deemed it my duty % take ON
cial cosnizanc" of them 10 The extent Of coaa9c1ins
Tlorore . serisf, No as n whether there was any
sists1tisl foundation Tor such complaints At the
time I undertook this investigation was aware OF
Tho legislature had assumed 10 Cloihe
power Of A+torney- General. 50 far the legal
work connected with the forest preserve IS con
ceraed. @no that my TIgnt a attorney Ge-era! !"
represent the state in such matters was disputed
:, fec2 2%m fa I sa3e e Tals be forest lands
about Amperssnd Pond which in direct Violation
80 - FoI193e ieaI reresetstive Of The Forest
referred IN detail elsewhere IN this report
rhe trial court held that could maintain the
s~fion as ATTORNEY General my titlItionsi pow
ers hsvfnE been restrc-eo 70 tat extent i 6y ne
sion and The acts aneHdatoTv thereof -SotTrith-
estiEario so FAR as The financial resources Of my
department would warrant. and the results nave
found early N The INQUIRY that did not have
Frx disposal the facilities and the means essen
tai 70 M k this investigation as thorough and
coTHprehe as the important Interests OF 'hT
therefore 7.ported 10 The Legislature the SITUATION
have found IL in order that you may Iake
visahle In -his connection 7 respectfully suggest
fhat thorough nor-psItsa inTe$flear r-on oS
fhoritv and resources and determined upon ascer-
soubted1v would have t1e desired results Should
such a. inquiry be undertaken WouId slaaa a
TsRsT night 6s5T s5T legal assistance "f''n me commute
4 special effort was made by this department
- enforce the election laws at the last general
elec1ion n New York City and 70 prosecute I1c- f
guilty might he punished regardless Of party af-
citation ! appointed both Democratic and Inde-
rsendznce League lawyers as election deputies 70
ATTEND -be various police courts on registration
and election DAYS and named three special depJ-
ties tc manage and conduct Investigations INTO
election frauds before The several grand 1ur1es
81 The counties composing the metropolitan dis
7rict and 70 prosecute indictments resulting
fNe-ofrorT-
Between November ; Ie5-. and December 81.
1eT7 I secured the indictment OF - persons
~or violations Of the election laws OF that num-
her 20 tried And e convicted Upon the
trial Of one the Jury disagreed and he viii be
tied again Eight OF the convicted men were
sentenCed 70 state prison for terms varying from
and half four and half years. -Four
sentenced for terms Of from six months TO
wear IN the peaiTentisry. Three were granted
suspension Of sentence and three were waiting
sentence the first Of The year. The trials OF
twenty-five were pending December 81. 1907.
While the number OF indictments and couviC-
1ions 3-as unusually large there Is abundant ground
1"f the belief that -he great majority OF the cleo
7fo- criminals escaped because OF the inadeqUacv
- +1e system for the enforcement OF the election
conducted b. many special deputies and complaints
sivev that proper efforts not made eitier 70
prevent illegal --oti-g 70 the app-el
n Illegal E-oteTs Election Day. an0 I salts
57d that 70 material progress VIII be made n
pressing a9 furnishing election crimes in greater
New York until the system is reformed and more
lnleliEs8 provision bv the state In that d-
secton- TIE Is OF sufficient importance in
judgment 20 cOrSidera ton
hE The Legisla tlre. especially fOr the that
11i5 class Of cine IS II than Z ordinary
degree menace 70 lne state ana 10 good govern