The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-10-10
WHITEWASH
 IS VERDICT Citizens Express Dignified Dis gust Over County Probe
 Report
ELECTION WILL DECIDE
Chairman BIakeslee May be Held to Account at Polls
 For Result

New Haven, Oct. 1o.-The finding | of the county Investigating commit | tee, which has had under considera- ton, since the middle of last June, | the charges of mismanagement which | were made against the county com missioners, has been made public and, as was generally expected for some time on the part of those in- terested in thorough going inquiry into the whole management of coun- ty affairs, is a bold whitewash. Such is the general opinion of many citi- zens who have been discussing the report, and who, when seen, mani fested the same spirit of dignifed disgust which was exhibited when tn he political bosses took hold at the start to steer the inquiry safely through the shoals. At no time, it would seem, according to the opinions of these citizens, has the affair been free from the suspicion of an effort to conceal, rather than reveal. facts vestigation.
 Effect on Election.
 One of the principal things discuss ed by those who have been following county Investigating farce will have on the political fortunes of the Re- publican candidates who come up for
 Particularly is the effect of the re- port discussed on the chances of Sem ator Dennis A. Blakeslee, candidate on the Republican ticket for ieuten- ant governor, who appointed the members of the Investigating com mittee, acted as chairman and pre- sided at it's sessions, although in his business capacity a man who had done extensive work for the county F'urth ermore it was recalled that the pany of New York, which went over the county's books in the recent in- had done auditing for a, banking in- stitut1on of which Senator B1akeslee is a director. while another company, who wanted to do the work gratis, was turned down.
 Quite generally has this remark been heard. well. the people have had have their say at the polls in the coming election"
 The feeling of discontent with the i Investigation arose almost at the start when the naming of the com rnitteee was placed in the hands of 1 Senator BIakeslee instead of being ac- | which authorized the committee. It increased when the committee was | found to consist of six Republicans and one Democrat and when it was | pointed out that the membership in- cluded one dealer in liquors whose and one other prosecuting officer. Steps which it was felt restricted the refusal to allow unrestricted oppor- tuI1ity to present evidence added to the feeling and it was generally felt some time before the report was ready for publication that there could be but one result, one that at best was not satisfactory and did not set tie matters.
 Leaders Say Whitewash.
 Leaders in the struggle to secure an investigation have come out open 1y in their declarations that the re- port amounted to whitewash and that they were not satisfied with the results of the endeavor. In one or two instances some rays of success were detected behind the clouds for there are one or two places in the re- port where the system of bookkeep- ing at present employed is recom- mended to be abolished and a better one substituted, where it is held the rents of the Law Chambers should be collected monthly and where the power to punish prisoners is con demned in the hands of the superir- tendent of the chair company, that are considered as gains despite the fact that it is felt the main objects of the investigation have been missed.