New-York tribune., 1910-08-30
.PROBERS HEAR WH|PPLE
Forestry Investigators Uncover
Some Unusual Transactions.
FIVE HOURS ON THE STAND
Wadsworth Also Testifies Re-
garding the Purchase OF
Adirondack Land.


Albany Aug. 2a-Commissioner James S
whpple of the Forest, Fish and Game De-
partment had his day in court to-day. For
months Commissioners Clark and Austin,
who were appointed by Governor Hughes to
investigate forestry conditions. have been
probing into Mr. Whipple's departmental
affairs and Adirondack land purchases by
the Forest Preserve Board, of which he is
a member.
George n. Ostrander, an Adirondack land
operator, who has sold thousands of acres
of land to the state, has testified that on
three occasions he indorsed notes for
Nhipple. and Frank L. Bell. an expert in
Adirondack land titles. said he lent Mr.
Whippie money soon after his employment
as an attorney for the forest preserve
board. The investigators have been en-
deavoring to show that Commissioner
Whipple may have been Influenced by these
and other matters, but the Commissioner
insisted that they were purely business
transactions and were not instrumental in
the least in influencing his official actions.
He had been importuned on hundreds of
occasions, he said. by legislators and
others. but had always decided matters in
accordance with his best judgment and
without regard 10 influences brought to
bear upon him.
1t was brought out that Ernest II. John
son. Assistant State Superintendent of
Forests who is paid $1,000 d year by the
state is also superintendent of Harry
Payne Whitney's preserve az a salary of
81 500. Whipple said he knew Johnson lived
on the Whitney preserve but that the
derstanding was that Johnsons sons
locked after the property ano- that they
were paid by Mr.. Whitney.
Commissioner Austin then produced the
testimony of Johnson. which he had per-
sonally taken, in which Johnson stated
that he is still superintendent of the Whit
rcy preserve, and that the check for such
services is sent TO him. although his sons
do such of the duties as they able
fc perform.
eff that is true I'll dismiss him to-mor-
row morning, and you can bet on that"
exclaimed Commissioner Whipple.
Mr. Whipple added that he did not con-
slider there was anything in handling the
Whitney property which would conflict
with the states interest, whereupon Com
missioner Austin pointed out that the
Whitney preserve adjoins state land. and
that numbering operations for Mr.. Whitney
were conducted by Patrick Moynehan, who
had been ''one of the principal trespassers
on state property
Forest Chief a Lumberman.
1t was brought out that Robert 3. Mich
OILS a game protector and later division
chief in the Forest, Fish and Game De-
partment, was acting a lumber con-
tractor for Finch. Pruyn & Co. in 1905 and
1907. while in the employ of the state. Com
missioner Whipple said If Nichols had
stated this was with his approval and
consent he must be mistaken. During the
last year, he said Nichols had reported a
case of alleged trespass by Finch. Pruyn
& Co. on state lands.
Questioned concerning department en-
ployes the Commissioners said he had en-
ployed his son Gurth Whippe as his pri
vate secretary because he wanted a man
| upon whom he could depend in that posi-
| ton Another son. Burdette Whipple is
| employed at a small salary in the Salaman-
| ca office.
| Attention was called 10 the fact that ad-
yances from the office receipts had been
| made to John X. Ward, chief counsel of
the commission. far back as 1905, for
which he had filed no vouchers. The
vouchers, it developed, were filed with the
! departments auditor to-day.
1t certainly was a silly and improper
thing for Mr.. Ward to have had advances
! and not to have accounted FOR them on the
! spot" commented Commissioner Whippe
| Whipple was on the stand nearly five
hours, at the conclusion of which he sub
mitted a long statement setting forth his
/ accomplishments in office, the reading of
| which he was compelled to cut short TO
catch a train FOR St Paul, where he is to
deliver an address on conservation.
Speaker Wadsworth Heard.
! Speaker James W. Wadsworth, chairman
| of the present Forest Preserve Board. who
had requested that he be permitted 10
testify, was next heard. He explained sew
eral matters which have come up during
! the investigation, and dWelt at length on
the purchase of the fq two thousand
acre tract in the Schr6h Lake region,
which included about twenty-five thousand
acres known as the Pickhardt property. The
state paid 81 % an acre to the Raquette
! Falls Land Company for this tract, al
| though il had been offered to q previous
purchasing board for much less.
1--WE are being criticised said Mr.. Wads-
worth, for paying 81 % an acre for land
two years ago which is worth much more
than that now. Ten years hence the people