New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-12
Superintendent of Prisons Re-
fuses FIatIy Governors De.
mand That He Hand In
His Resignation.
WILL NOW BE REMOVED
To Prefer Formal Char. IS To-
day and Give Him the Hear
ing Required by Law,
and Then Put
Him Out.
BY Telegraph to The Tribune J


Albany, March 11.-As result OF the
report Of the department investigators
Governor Sulzer has asked Colonel
Joseph f. Scott, Superintendent Of
Prisons. To resign. Colonel Scott, who,
before the investigators went into his
department. placed his resignation at
the disposal Of the Governor, refuses to
resign under fire. He intends TO force
the Governor to remove him.
This Governor Sulzer will do, acting
have served on Colonel Scott tomorrow
a copy of charges based on the depart
ment Investigators report. Colonel
Scott will make a formal defence, but
he does not intend to fight the Gov
ernor.
What Colonel Scott's friends will DO
is another matter. They are ten times
as hot tonight as they have been at
any previous time-and they have
been pretty hot before ths-at what
they consider the Governors playing
politics with his Superintendent OF
Prisons. OF course. nobody can prevent
the Governor from removing the super
, intendent if he chooses 10 do so. what
ever answer Colonel Scott may make
to the charges. But a new Superin-
tendent of Prisons will have to be con-
firmed by the Senate. which is COM
posed very largely Of warm personal
friends Of Colonel Scott. And If their
| temper when the Governor makes his
appointment of Colonel Scotts sue
| cessor is anything like their temper to-
night they are quite likely to take that
occasion TO read the Governor lesson.
Differences between Governor Sui
| ger and Colonel Scott arose soon after
the Governors inauguration. Prior 10
that event. It is said. Sulzer had taken
steps to conciliate the anti-Tammany
element Of Democracy by promising
three jobs to men more or less promi-
nent in that faction.
Sulzer's Three Promises.
Governor Sulzer promised to make
John ~ Carlisle Public Service Com
missioner. He promised to make Mil
ton r.. Gibbs, of Rochester. member
| of the State Hospital Commission. and
| has actually nominated him. The Tam
many Senate Finance Committee is
now considering charges against Gibbs.
Also the Governor promised Charles
| f. Rattigan. Of Auburn. protege of
Thomas Mott Osborne. the job OF
| Warden OF Auburn prison, which Rat
| tigan has coveted for several years.
| But the Governor didn't think 10
ask Colonel Scott about giving away
| this Job. which comes within the prison
superintendent's appontive power.
When finally he sent for Colonel Scott
and said he wanted Rattigan appointed
the colonel refused. He said he would
not appoint as warden OF any prison
man active politically in the county
where the prison was located. RE told
| the Governor he would resign before
he appointed Rattigan.
Governor Sulzer let ii go at that for
a time. Soon afterward the Sulzer
department investigators went into the
State Prison Department, and short
time later the Thaw scandal. including
| the alleged attempt 10 release ThaW
| from Matteawan by a 100000 bride 70
DR. Russell. Colonel Scotts subordinate
came out. In connection win all th's
came the charge Of William +. clark
| the investigators secretary, who was
| himself under charges Of using the
| Governors name To obtain Thaw's re-
lease. that colonel Scott and his "un-
derlings" were pardon brokers' ana
that Thaw had been human meal
ticket" for them.
lust a few days later. when the Gov
ernor was denouncing Colonel Scott iof
| not having removed Warden Benhah'
of Auburn. on charges which the EX-
| ecutive said he had filed. Colonel Scott
secretary. John G. Mcdowell SAID the
Governor was lying or mistaken be
cause no such charges ever had Jeen
fled and the Governor could go to
hell"
Called for Resignation.
on the showing made by the testi-
mony in this case and other phases Of
prison department administration, the
Governor yesterday afternoon sent 10
Colonel Scott a request to resign. Col
onol Scott told the messenger. accord
ing TO a man close to the Governor,
who has acted as intermediary himself
that he wanted some time TO decide
whether he would resign or force Sui
zer TO remove him. The Governor sent
back word that he would expect an an
swer this evening.
Governor Sulzer sent his intermedi-
arv TO see Colonel Scott this evening.
and the superintendent went to the Ex-
ecutive Chamber himself. The Gov
ernor. Colonel Scott and John A. Hen
messy. the executive auditor" held
discussion in the big room, with two
score persons looking on.
The Governor was very emphatic
saving the air with his arms. Colonel
Scott was quiet and calm. but appeared