New-York tribune., 1910-02-17
ORDERS NEW PROBE
COZ. HUGHES TAKES
Il HAND.
Forest, Fish and Game Board
and Land Purchases To Be
Investigated.
TBv telegraph to The Tribune


of graft in the purchase of forest lands
by the state and to disclose the truth
whatever it may be. regarding transac-
tions which have been questioned recent
". Governor Hughes tonight took the
first steps toward general Investisa-
ton of the management and the AFFAIRS
of the State Forest, Fish and Game Com
mission and Ia nd purchases In the 1orest
preserve Under the Moreland law, Civ
ing him authority to investigate state
departments or bureaus under him. the
Governor appointed Roger p Clark ms
counsel, and II. Leroy Austin comm's-
sioners for this probe
This investigation probably VIII go
back to the time of Governor Black un-
der whom in 1897, the state first began
to purchase forest lands 1t VIII be car
ried on until there is not one proper
question left unanswered and any books
papers or witnesses necessary Will De
examined. 1t is altogether probable that
the sessions of the commissioners atter
some preliminary work will be pubic.
The announcement of this 1nvestigd-
ton. which was precipitated by the fe-
vivaI of stories that Senator Jotham r.
Aids as counsel for the old Forest Land
Purcha sing Board. had received ices Vi
more than $4,000 in five years. IN the
course of which he gave his approval 10
the purchase of land with alleged Ques-
tionable titles. has created Terl'aole
sensation. Predictions are made freely
that the work of the investigators VIII
To- interest.
even sensa tional. Timothy l. Woodruff
was chairman of the Forest Land FUR
chasing Board from 1897 until 1t was
abolished in 1902. Many eminent poll
ticians served as counsel at one time or
another. among them Senator Aids ana
ex-Senators Elon r. Brown. William W.
Armstrong, chairman of the committee
which investigated the insurance scan
dals. and Merton E. Lewis. of Rochester.
NO CHARGES PRESENTED
II is understood that Speaker Wads-
worth expressed to the Governor MS
desire that there he such an lnvesti-
cation The Speaker now is chairman
Of the land board. No formal charges
of any nature have been presented
None are NECESSARY oo sAAS
has full power to make such an 1nves-
tisation personally or through deputies
at anv time. No secret is MADE OF INC
fact that the present state OF Puoiic
feeling determined the Governor I'D
have everything subject to the least
question opened to the light
The state has spent, roughly. about
sc 500. 600 70 acquire forest lands in the
Adirondacks and Catskills. and holds now
ahout fifteen hundred thousand acres.
Governor Black first developed the pol
icy of acquiring forest lands Inns mas
been one of Governor Hughess pet
ideas in connection with the conser'a-
,ion of the states natural resources.
State Chairman Woodruff was hrst
chairman of the forest board. WIN
him served Charles n. Bapcock' vi
Rochester. who was a memper OF INC
Forest Fish and Game Commlsslon'
and state Engineer Adams. With the
Roosevelt administration Edward A
Fond. of Watertown. state engineer
and De. Witt C. Middleton, OF Water
town Forest, Fish and Game Cotnr1is-
sioner. succeeded Messrs. Adams anu
Babcork. When the forest board was
wined out the acquisition OF foresl
lands fell 10 the lot of the land poaru'
lanes G.. Whipple. the present Forest
Fish and Game Commissioner. had an
interview with Governor Hughes thiS
f,ernoop before announcement was
,,,ado of this investigation. He said TO-
nipht that the investigation was very
Ho xa-aC
r. te made. He said he would aid it in
every way possible. The commissioner
said that since his appointment by Gov
.rnor Higgins. in 1905. he thought there
had been purchased about two hundred
thousand acres of forest lands. at an
.,eraee price of about So an acre and
q maximum price of 81 % an acre
WOODRUFF AT ALBANY.
state Chairman Woodruff was here
tonight to attend woman suffrage
meeting When told about the land pur-
chase investigation he said he was very
,,ad the Governor was going into this
i,oui,v. as it would set at rest indefinite
suggestions.
MIR. Woodruff said that under him the
state had spent some 9-,oVV'voo ioi ioiOSI
lands. purchasing about four hundred
thousand acres The highest price he
could remember was 81 an acre for vir-
,r,n forest lands, while denuded lands
had been acquired for 81 so an acre. He
Thought the lands purchased during his
service as head of the board, II placed
or the market now, would bring about
$40 600 900 The state chairman said
that Senator Aids was merely one of
half a. dozen title searchers and legal ex-
merits. He received fees which were not
large in consideration of his work, Mr..
Woodruff thought.
Reports of graft In the sale of forest
lands to the state. of private use of state
lands and of timber thievinS have been
afoat here for several years. They never
could be run down. The payment OF
large counsel fees to legislators and
others i'm connection with land purchases
and other similar matters has been well
known. The ethics of this might have
been questionable, but there never was
any particular question of its legality.
At present the Forest. Fish and Came
Commission has it's own counsel to
handle necessary legal business, and, like
other state departments. calls on the
Attorney General for legal services.
Both Mr.. Clark and Mr. Austin took
the oath OF Office tonight. and were at