New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-10
SUPT. LEARY UPHELD
Mr.. Wadhams, Appointed by
Governor, Makes His Report.
"DILIGENT AND ENERGETIC"
Deputy Praised for Results at
Last Election-Primary SUI
pervision Favored.

,,,.o,,,. Anril q-William II. Wadhams,
=, -. ar,ointed last September by Gov
ernor Hughes to Investigate the manage
,,-o,, aud affairs Of the department OF the
State Superintendent Of the metropolitan
Elections District has submitted ms report
TO the Governor No formal charges were
made against superintendent NHllah
I.eary. who was appointed January %
1907. and Commissioner Wadhams says no
evidence has been found Of any corruption
or Intentional wrongdoing by the super
intendent or any Of the subordlnates now
in the service of the department. Crit-
cisrns and complaints had been made. how
ever, and into these MI Wadhams mace
careful inquiry. The report says:
The Superintendent has shown himself
d1igent. energetic and enthuSlaspC ~ t W.,
performance OF his duties. He has taken
Inc keenest interest in the work OF the de-
partment. being the first to arrive ana Tue
last to leave the Office lie mas pursued
iudicious system. Of publicity as a heans
Of preventing The commission of crimes
against the election law. lie has shown
mastery OF detail in the eniarsement aile
perfection of the records and statistics or
the department. it being his policy 10 es
tablish complete and eftecdve system ~, OI
records a. a means for the DETECTION anu
prevention Of illegal registration and Vot-
ing. .....ta, tic
There has been no apparent lack OF discl-
pline BY reason of temperamentalI CI, la
acteristics the languase anu any. ~, s,,cb
of the superintendent have not been sucA
as at all times 10 command the entnus
astic support of the entire force, ana on
o,ca sions have discouraged the men al
dressed aud tended to create lack OF
confidence and nearly cooperation between
the Superintendent and his suDoTdIlates
and 10 endanCer the esprit de corps or me
dcnartuncnf This tendency was IN large
measure counteraCted by the eNceILent
quality of the men TN charge OF the dlHer-
ent departments, by the interest ON Ine
mart Of MANY OF the permanent force in
tho work Itself and by the enthusiasm IN
spired by the chief deputy IN command OF
the force i'm making Investigations. Inc
Superintendent has shown a sincere desire
to bring the Office TO the highest degree OF
efficiency.
The success Of the office in achieving re-
suits in connection with the election of
1909. Mr. wadhams says. was very largely
due 20 the efforts and work Of John Boyle,
jr., tho chief deputy.
Commissioner Wadhams makes several
recommendations. He says the organiza-
ton now provided by Law is not well adapt
ed for obtaining the most efficient work.
tie suggests that the office of field deputy
be abolished, and recommends that the
work Of the legal department he performed
by the general counsel appointed dep
uty attorney general detailed to the super
intendents office. and by the appointment
Of assistant deputy attorneys general dur
ing the election period to carry on this
work.
Nj Wadhams further recommends that
the law providing for the appointment "f
orga nization deputies he repealed and that
such deputies be abolished; that the Brook
lyn office be discontinued and that in its
place a branch office be opened during the
campaign period. lie would have the Law
amended to provide for the following or
gsnization and salaries of the department:
superintendent. $4,000: chief deputy,
$4,000: secretary. $4,000; auditor. $500;
two stenographers, $1,000 each; chief clerk,
$500; assistant chief clerk. 81 200: thirty
clerks, $3.50 each; four messengers, $500
each; telephone operator s72O; 100 annual
deputies, fifty receiving $1,000 each, seven
ty-fiye receiving $1,000 each, and twenty
five receiving $1,000 each. The present SAL
ary of the superintendent is $1,000.
Concerning the work Of the department
Mr. Wadhams recommends:
That the authority of the Superintendent
he extended SO as 10 include supervision Of
the primary election as well as Iho general
election, and that all annual deputies be
authorized 10 administer oaths.
I'm order that there may be sufficient time
to correct the registration he recommends
that the law be 20 amended that appiica-
tons may he made for such order IL the
court not less than six days prior 70 any
election.
As the Attorney General is by the exceed
tive law made the legal adviser of the
superintendent, Il is recommended that the
election law be so amended a. to provide
that The evidence I'm cases Of false regis
tration be delivered to the Attorney General
for preseutment TO the grand jury.
The recommended ons contained i'm the
annual report Of Superintendent Leacy ale
approved. except the one that all persons
convicted Of felony in whose cases sentence
has been suspended he disfranch;scd The
disfranchisemept Of a citizen following his
conviction for the commission Of felony
Is part Of the penalty imposed for the
commission of the crime. SAYS Mr.. Wad-
hams. Where I'm the wisdom of tie court
II = determined 10 be in the interest Of Jus
ticc 10 withhold the penalties imposed by
ART EXHIBITIONS AND SALES.