Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-09-09
NO. TO
PHILADELPHIA IS
NOW BEING PROBED
Director Clay Tells Prcbers Pcnrose
Asked Him to Oppose Ware For
Mayor to Avoid Prosecution.

Mayor to Avoid Prosecution.
Philadelphia. Sept 8 For three
hours the Catlin commission. appoint
ed by the Pennsylvania senate. inves-
tigated the administration OF the de-
partment OF public safety by Director
Henry Clay. The department of public
safety has charge of the police, fire.
men and other city property at the use
of the public.
Director Clay sprang q surprise on
the commission by turning from &C
cused to accuser almost the instant
the proceedings opened.
The director demanded copy OF
the specific charges made against
him and the names OF the persons who
made them as condition OF his Coz
operation with the Investigators. He
followed up this demand by declaring
that he did not recognize the author
ity of the body to inquire into the af-
fairs OF his department. saying that
he had been advised by counsel that 1t
had no such powers.
Director Clay then made the charge
that the commission had been inspired
by Senators Penrose and McNichol for
political purposes. and not for fair
and impartial probe, and was only
pulling the Penrose- McNichol chest
nuts out of the fire. He declared that
Senator Penrose has threatened that
unless he and Mayor Reyburn headed
of the mayoralty aspirations OF Re-
corder of Deeds Ware certain actions
of certain persons would be made the
subject OF an investigation.
Senator Frank u. Baldwin, of Potter
county, holly resented the charge that
outside influences we're back Of the
probe. He said that he. for one, had
not seen Senator Penrose for six
months and that he was speaking both
for himself and bis confreres when he
promised full and Impartial inquiry.
Attorney General Bell and Thomaa
Raeburn White. who as special dep
uty attorney general. Will conduct the
investigator, also resented Director
Clay's allegations, and Mr.. BeH -
fused the directors request for COPY
Of the specific charges made against
the latter.
First Witness Called. IAsl
Major Charles II. Woman. deputy
controller, was the first witness called.
He identified each one of large
batch of contracts which are to figure
In the proceedings. the charge having
been made by the Builtt taxpayers
committee that the contracts were
awarded and executed In dishonest
manner.
Attorney General Bell wanted to
have the contracts left with the com
mission. but John Il. X. Scott, Mr..
Clay's attorney. objected to this on
the ground that they we're the prop
erty of the city. IT was finally agreed
that they should remain In the GUS
tody of Major Woman, who was to
appear with them whenever SUM
moned by either side
Alfred s. Eisenhower, chief OF the
bureau Of city property. was the next
witness called TO the stand, and he
gave some interesting tes mony. Mr..
Scott advised him at tie GU set not to
answer any ques ions. but Mr.. Eiss nj
hover went on He proceeded To st q
that when Director Clay assumed
charge OF the department o. plbncz
safety the latter at once changed the
system Of awarding contracts. The
witness declared that he did not see
the specification OF the various con-
tracts. but was Obliged to sign war
rants for them just the same, without
knowing whether they covered the|
specifications or not
In crossexam ming Chief Eisen-
howes. Mr Scot asked
was anv dishonest act performed
BY yeefself. your suhordinates or your
supefiors since ven have been III d.
Gee, TAR aa yen Enowgr
"Na elr leblle ac Witness
Wren Water liapne ehlel clerl3
~ lle department n nuhiIc safctv|
was tailed . tAo stand. ke did Ha1
answer 20 Hi ale haNah d skab]
poaaa vas on hih
Ar Scott eEFl lned ia Ar Honpe
ioob fe sa aad ss Director Cia
th b the assence Of any speeltl3
charges AGAINST him he could NOT d
foreaa 10 apper AIT this air. nell -
cNssa Mr Scott vi spiatng away WI
aess
pable Of taking step along the gres