New-York tribune., 1910-08-23
GOT MORE THAN CHIEF
Special Counsers Pay Larger
than WhippIe's and Wards.
LAND INQUIRY CONTINUES
Cstrander Tells of Indorsing
Notes for Commissioner and
of Campaign Gifts.


by the state, turned their spotlight this
afternoon on the commissions legal de-
partmeut. II was revealed, among other
things. that Fred l.. Bell, Of CiIAns Falls.
who is employed as one OF the special
counsel TO the commission, receives an an
nual salary Of $500 while John X. Ward.
the general counsel gets s4.500. The
salary Of Commissioner James s Whipple-
head Of the department, is $500.
Mr.. Bell. prior TO his employment by the
state. was attorney for the International
Paper Company. and it was brought out
that he IS still attorney Of record in actions
against the state, although Mr. Ward who
was on the witness stand throughout the
afternoon, said that Il such was the case
Bell had ceased TO have an interest in
them.
commissioner Austin produced sum
mons and complaint. verified by Mr. Ward.
N an action brought by the state against
rlEch, Pruyn & Co. which referred TO
an agreement Bell had with George T. IN
derwood. vice president of the International
Paper Company. According TO this, Bell
was bound to protect any interests which
he found Underwood 10 have IN any wild
lands In the State of New York"
Named on Wards Recommendation.
Bells specially while in the states en-
ptoy is taking care Of title actions in the
northern section He was appointed on
ard recommendation. and Ward said TO-
day that he did not know whether Bell vas
stlii in the employ Of the International
Paper Company or not, nor had he made
any effort TO ascertain whether Bells
agreement with Underwood still continues.
II yrs,, III
him proper man TO be employed by the
state! asked Commissioner Austin.
III II was anything where the states in
terest coniicted l would expect him tc
sever his relations with the department
without further delay" was Wards reply
Mr. Underwood IS q stockhoIder IN the
Racquette Falls Lumber Company. whicI
has sold thouSa Ids OF acres of land 10 III.
state
Ward said Underwood was opposed tc
Bells employment by the state, and hac
advised against his going with the depart
ment, as he could do better outside
ward was questioned at length as q
| why certain cases pending in his depart
ment had not been pressed for trial, espe
! cially as to actions involving title to land:
| decided TO the state by the Indian Rive,
Company, a holding company IN which Il
was said the International Paper Company
the United Traction Company of Albany
| the Union Bag and Paper Company and
| others are interested. Mr.. Ward said he
| could not get a court TO try these cases
The witness also testified that he hsd
never heard that Charles Earl, OF HerkI-
ner, who Is under general retainer BY the
| department, was the personal attorney foI
! Daniel Z. Strobel. of Herkimer. a member
of the Republican State Committee.
Ostrsnder Aided WhippIe.
That Commissioner WhippIe has beer
| aided financially by George N Ostrande7
developed to-day, when Mr.. Ostrander tes
| tilted that he had Endorsed notes for The
| Commissioner, all OF which had since beer
paid Ostrander was the promoter OF tht
Racquette Falls Land Company.
Ostrander was interested with others Il
the Fair Haven Iron Company. of which
Commissioner Whippie vas president, Al
| unsuccessful business venture organized
during Whipple's first year as Forest. Fish
and Game Commissioner. The property was
sold last year at a mortgage foreclosure
sale Bonds to the amount of $50. 80 were
issued to pay the company's debts. and OF
this amount Commissioner WhippIe contrib
uted s492S. OStrander testified to-day that
he tndOrsed Whipple's note for half that
sum. WhippIe securing the remainder from
Walter c Witherbee, OF Port Henry, who
was also interested in the Fair Haven Com
psny- The note which Ostrander indorsed
was negotiated at the Worthwhile Bank, IN
Fulton County. OF which William Harris
was a director At that time, Ostrander
said Harris had a large tract OF land
which he had offered TO the state. Ostrander
indorsed another note for Whiple for $4,000.
which was discounted at the Albany Trust
Company about year ago, and another
for $500 which was discounted az the
Manufacturers National Bank OF Troy
when the oil business was bad three or
four years ago
Ostrander also told Of the organization
by Commissioner WhippIe OF the Cascade
Lakes Club. fifty OF the Commissioners 3
friends, including Governor Higgins. con-
tributing 500 each TO purchase tract OF
land ten miles from Lake Placid. The club
eventually became business enterprise,
conducting a summer resort hotel. but. ac-
cording TO Ostrander, dividends were paid
only one year.
mot in the Fish Business"
We're the lakes on the property stocked
with trout from the Saranac Lake Inn
hatchery" asked Commissioner Austin
II don't know" replied Ostrander. I'm
not in the fish business"