The sun., 1910-06-25
SKENE INVESTIGATION.
O'MaIley Gives His Reasons for Request.
Inc Special Term oG supreme Court


ALBANY. June 7t--CharRes Of graft
growing out Of the administration Of for
mer State Engineer and Surveyor Fred
erick 3. Skens OF Long Island are 10 be
Investigated by q special Grand Jury at
Albany, the special term 20 bo presided
over by supreme Court Justice Henry
b. Conan of Madison county. a former
Deputy Attorney General. These charges
are based on the letting Of contracts for
good roads in iSO7-Os.
Skene ran on the Democratic State
ticket headed by Hearst In 1901. when all
Of the candidates but Hearst were elected
Joseph Cassidy was the Democratic leader
Of Queens a. the time skens Was nomi-
mated, and FiRgy Corners and Hearst
controlled the convention which nOmi-
mated him.
In regard 20 his application 10 Gov.
Hughes 10 convene an extraordinary term
Of the Supreme Court 10 investigate the
subject Of the letting OF good roads con-
tracts by State Engineer Skene Attorney
General OMalley made the following
statement to-day:
-Soma time ago changes were fled with
this Otiige calling nv attention officially
10 what purpOrtnd to be irregularities
and wrOnRdoing In the lifting of con-
tracts for good roads by the state Engi-
neer and Surveyors Department during
the year 1907 and I00s.
Immediately upon having my atten-
ton called 10 the matter an Investigation
was begun. Il was necessarily slow
pr0cess and occupied considerable time.
After securing all the information possible
without the aid of court process / came
TO the conclusion that the evidence adj
duced vas Of such a character a. TO de-
mand thorough investigation by Grand
Jury
day 20 the Governor for the cOnveninR
Of an extraordinary term Of the supreme
Court here on July ~. All Of the facts
heretofore gathered and which NAV ba
found by further inveati cation viii be
placed before the Grand Jury Of this
county.
This investigation will probably cover
various portions OF the State, and be.
cause Of its general application / con-
cluded Il was a proper subject for the
Attorney General 70 handle instead of
the various district attorneys. Il would
be improper for me % say anything al
this time az 70 the nature Of the evidence
M " AAilcN feluaou 70 admit who
brought the charges 90 his attantiOn.
bON0 ISLAND CRY. June 2t.-When for
mer State Engineer Frederick W Skene
was seen this evening a. his home, o.
Stevens street Astoria. he declined 20
discuss IN detail the chargss WHICH have
been made public agninst him In Albany
and which Il Il said are 20 be made the
subject of an investigation by an eH-
traOrdinary Grand Jury in that county.
Mr.. Skene said he had not received any
notification, Ofilcial or Otherwise. that such
an investigation was 20 bs made How
ever. he said. -ths Investigation ~ par-
ported TO he outlined by Gov. Hughes and
~ reported In to-day's papers is lust what
desire. Il IA the sort II an inquiry thai
! requested the Governor 90 make wten
charges were first made against my adj
mtniStratiOn a. state Engineer. I court
and request the fullest and m0si searching
inquiry. Only through a legal inquiry,
"a now evidently cOntem plated. can 1
obtain a thorough vindicatlon. | expact
90 60 TO Albany the early part ol naxt
week, and will then make arranRpments
a. TO my future course