The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-19
Assembly Ihquirers at First Ses-
sion Hear Of Wording
Of Specifications.
RECEIVE WHITMAN DATA
Hennessy Refuses Job, but Gives
Leads to Graft Through.
out State.


doing highway work for the State under
spectors do not favor them, said John X.
Clark. counsel OF the committee. TO the
Sullivan investigating committee Of the
Assembly at its first meeting tonight.
Mr.. Clark asserted that It seemed ap-
parent contractors had to give Zip cam
paign contributions on demand so that
they could make n profit on their con-
tracts. He asked the committee to recon-
mend that teeth be put In the present
corrupt practices act 80 that II will be
worth something.
The first thing q man asks who wants
to break the law 10. what n / don't7' Z"
cannot be fined or put into Jail he goes
ahead and breaks the law"
"You mean the Ten Commandments are
no good II a man does not believe In he'll"
suggested Democratic Leader Alfred F.
Smith of the Assembly, who IL member
OF the committee Mr.. Clark assented.
John l.. sullivan, chairman Of the COM
mittee, conferred for more than two hours
with John A. Hennessy. the Sulzer In
vestigator, to-day. Mr.. Hennessy prom
ised to give him new leads In the high
ways and other departments and COM
prehensive report on the alleged state
printing ring.
when you begin investigating the
printing ring do you expect to call Will
lam Barnes as wtne%s?' Mo. Sulli-
van was asked.
eff Il is necessary Mr.. Barnes will be
treated the same as any other man. Mr..
Sullivan replied.
Mr.. Hennessy suggested that the com.
mittee investigate the state Conservation
,-I 81 roll
Department, Department OF Economy and
Efficiency. Department OF Public Works
and Engineers and Conptrollers depart
ments as well ae the highway situation.
Mr.. Hennessy told Chairman sullivan
that he could not accept the proffered
post Of chief Investigator OF the com
mittee because he expects to go abroad
In about two weeks, TO be gone not more
than fve weeks.
IF the leads I give the committee do
not develop ! win again be at the dis
po~al OF the committee when l return"
said Mr.. Hennessy.
Mr.. sullivan said that Mr.. Hennessy
suggested the name OF Joseph Curran.
who made highway Investigations under
Mr.. Hennessy. as an assistant Investigator.
He also suggested one or two other men.
The report that Mr.. Hennessy had asked
for $1,000 week as chief Investigator
Mr.. Hennessys friends.
Every member Of the committee but
Mr.. brewster Of Steuben. n Democrat.
was present when the meeting was called
to order tonight.
Those present included Chairman Sulli-
van. Sce-Chairman Burlingame OF Kings,
Mater OF Seneca. Cristman OF New York
and Jones of Ch,uanEo, Republicans, and
Democratic Leader Smith and Progressive
Leader Michael Schaap.
Mr.. Clark read to the committee the
testimony taken in the Investigations OF
District Attorney Whitman From re-
marks he made about Everett Fowler. an
ex-StAte Highway Department employee
who collected campaign contributions from
contra ctors and later was Deputy State
Fire Marshal. II In believed that the com
mittee will make an investigation OF the
State Fire Marrhal's office as well as the
other State Departments
As Mr.. Clark read OF the many thou
sands Of dollars given to the Democratic
campaign fund by contractors after they
were virtually told that they wouldn't be
In the family II they didn't give up"
Leader Smith asked
"Is there anything In the evidence TO
show that the State lost any money
these campaign gifts
Mr.. Clark said that the quality OF the
roads would be- proved as soon AS the
frost Ii out OF the ground, when they will
be gone over by engineers OF the commit
tee.
Mr.. Clark announced that no would
avoid duplication Of testimony already
taken by Mr.. Whitman. Mr.. Iennessy, Mr.. I
Osborne. the State Commissioner of Eth /
cheney and Economy. ana any other In
Commissioner Osborne agreed to give
a final hearing on these charges in New
York city on next Tuesday morning at
IL o'clock. when Mr.. Hennessy will take
tho stand and will probably be ques-
toned by his counsel. D-Cady Herrick.
In REPUTATION Of these charges.
Mr.. Osborne will resume his investiga-
tion of graft on State highways to-
The Assembly committee will meet again
Tomorrow morning. Sessions will be held
on Monday afternoCn from I TO 6 O'Clock
and on Tuesday and Wednesday pights
from to IL o'clock.