New-York tribune., 1910-04-12
HUGHES DEMANDS
FULLEST INQUIRY
Calls for Legislative Inyestiga-
tion Into Bribery at
Albany.
TRAILS OF CORRUPTION'
Special Message Based on Aids
Case and the Hotchkiss
Insurance Dis
closures.
rBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune ]

lBy telegraph 20 The Trbune1
Albany. April 11.-DecIaring thar re-
cent disclosures have caused every hon
est citizen to tingle with shame and in
dignation." AMI urging that the per
I idiOus influences which have dishOnOred
the state" be uncovered. Governor
Hughes tonight sent 70 the Legislators
a special message recommending a gen
eral investigation of "Iyegislative proc
esses" and corrupt practices which
have been effectua1 in advancing OF
blocking legislation"
The singing words in which he cha--
acterized facts brought out in the Aids
bribery case and by Superintendent
HOtchkiss practically completed the dis
CCmfture Of those legislators and pJIi-
ticians who have been opposing the gen.
eraI inquiry.
Senator cobb said tonight that TIE
Senate Finance Committee would report
a resolution tor a general investigation
as recommended by the Governor as soon
as the wording of the measure could De
worked out satisfactorily He had no
doubt that the Senate would pass su,h
. a resolution. While il is certain shat
Speaker WadswOrth. Mr. Merritt. the
ma ajOrity leader, and Wadsworth he1ch-
men in the Assembly will fight il 70 the
end. II is becoming more apparent dany
that they realize their fight is a desper-
ate one. doomed to end in defeat
Trails of Corruption"
Governor Hughes's message. accom-
panied a report by Superintendent
Hotchkiss on the results of his recent
Investigations of the fire Insurance
scandals i'm which he uncovered other
trails leading from traction interests
TO the Legislature. Mr. HOtchkiss
pointed out in plain. blunt English that
system had existed whereby bills
inimica1 to certain interests had been
killed and laws favorable to them had
been passed to such an extent that il
was "a reproach To the people of the
state" The insurance official showed
that while he had ample power To deal
with such conditions in the insurance
| field he had uncovered traces of similar
/ conditions in lines of business outside
I his Jurisdiction.
f The Superintendent said he encoun-
I
/ able. in his attempt to inquire into the
affairs of the International Banking
and Trust Company. as ne was served
with notice which in effect prevented
an investigation Of the books of certain
financial institutions now out Of busi-
ness which were necessary To throw
light upon the subject.
Likewise" he says. further inquiry
into certain facts. developed as the r.
suit of a suggestion made by the cOun-
sci of former Senator COnger. seems 20
bc not only effectively blocked. but alsp
probably improper" This has reference
to revelations which developed from the
examination into accounts Of the former
stock brokerage house Of El-ingwood &
Cunningham. in New York. To- which
superintendent Hotchkiss devOtes con-
siderable of his report.
Mr. Hotchkiss has about finished his
investigation into fire insurance COM
pany affairs Whether il viii be re-
sumed on Friday will depend largely on
developments meantime.
This state of affairs Governor Hughes
put up To- the Legislature i'm words that
fairly made the air tingle.
This is a promising opportunity t.
pursue the opening trails of corruption.
he said. Ito reveal iIIici. methods and
agencies The time was ripe. he con
timed Ito expose sthe worst Of public
wrongs and 20 prepare the way for
needed improvements in our laws AMI
legislative processes.
Silence in Assembly.
The message was received in the As
sembIy with Ominous silence. Speaker
Wadsworth listening inteutlv while 1t
was read II was referred to.the Ways
and Means Committee.
In the Senate il save rise 10 a bri-f
discussion senator NewCorlb said TINT
several days ago he had promised sen
ator Grady 20 give twenty -four hours
notice before calling uD his motion g
sJlsre end all rules that his resolution for
a general inquiry might be taken from
tSo Finance Committee and passed. He
said he wished now 70 give that notice.
His hope was he said, that no srch
course would be necessary. but thtt tn
Finance Committee would follow tn
Governors recommendation promptly.
senator Cobb. who was pr, sidins. SAID
that Chairman Hill Of the Fin1nce Com
mittce had promised % take up The mat
ter immediately and give IL fun c"Esid-
Grafton. After the session he said thas
he believed pToTer'y framed reSolu-
tion for a general inauiry would De re-
rorted ly the committee this week. This
he thought would take the place Of tn
NcIneIney resoIStion. On which Speaker
Wadswurth and his Assembly followers
are resting
One Resolution irtrcduced.
Senator Travis Cf Brooklyn. to-uiyhN
introduced "a resolution frr a grneral
inquiry. based on tn Aids case revcla-
ticus. the fire Insurance scandals and the
recent interviews Cf State Chairman
ConnerS about the sale of supreme
Court nominations. The Travis rCsO'u-
titn provides for the appointment of
three citizens By the GCveruOr. To- sit
With three senators ami three Assembly
men. The preamble of this resolution
which was drafted by senator Travis
and the brooklyn Young Repubhcer
club. is as follows;
Testimony given upon the nvestisa.