The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-24
GOV. GLYNN SUGGESTS
COURT TOHUNT GRAFT
TO Be Composed Of the Retired
4, Appeals Judges or Some
Of Them.
"FOUR RING CIRCUS" NOW
Senator Blauvclt Offers Bill
for Appointment Of Cullen,
Vann and Haight.
"FOUR RING CIRCUS" NOW

ALBANY. Feb ss--There may be no
more Investigations OF graft at the ex-
rcnse OF the state Treasury unless Il IL
conducted by ex-Chief Judge Edgar NJ
Cullen Of the Court OF Appeals, a Demo-
crat. and his former Associate Judges
Irving q. vann and Albert Haight. who
are Republicans.
These three Judges recently retired
from the Court Of Appeals under the age
limitation OF seventy years and under
chapter 229 Of the laws Of 1911 became
official referees OF actions. In which the
people of the State are party. at an
annual salary OF $4,000 each.
Gov. Glynn sent a special message to
the Legislature tonight asking the
Legislature to pass law creating a
permanent state court Of inquiry for the
purpose OF continuing the Investigations
being conducted by state Graft Hunter
James W. Osborne, the Frawley legisla-
tive committed, the special committee Of
the Assembly. of which Assemblyman
Sullivan Is chairman. and by District At
torney Whitman In tho John Doe pro-
cesdings.
Senator Blauvelt's Btll.
Senator George A. Blauvelt. chairman
Of the Senate Judiciary Committee. intro
ing Judges Cullen. Vann and Haight AZ
the members OF the first state court of
inquiry, to serve for three years. In ad-
dillon to their salaries as official referees
they will get $40 day for their expenses
while sitting as members OF the court.
which 10 empowered to inquire into any
questions pertaining to the conduct OF the
executive. legislative and judicial branches
OF the State government.
The court 10 to elect its own chairman
and appoint q chief clerk, Investigators
and assistants, fix their salaries and have
all the powers OF a legislative committee.
This court Of ir'uiry can he convened by
a legislative resolution or proclamation Of
the Governor and may sit anywhere In
the State.
Members OF the court may be appointed
from among the retired Judges Of the
Court OF Appeals, acting official
referees. or from among the official
referees appointed by the Appellate Divt-
sion Of the Supreme Court. The only
other retired Court OF Appeals Judge
serving as an official referee IL Judge
John Clinton Gray. who retired on De-
cember 81 last and 10 in Europe.
The Assembly expects to pass Tomorrow
the bill appropriating $4,000 to pay the
expenses of the sullivan investigating
committee, for which John Kirkland Clark.
District Attorney Whitman's assistant, is
counsel. This bill will not be passed
by the Senate. whose Democratic leaders
say the Assembly investigation IL purely
partisan and designed to aid the Guber-
natorial aspirations Of District Attorney
Whitman.
Proininen. Republican legislators. how
ever. declare that GOV. Glynn is u little
late with his suggestion OF judicial
Investigation OF groft after the Assembly
had made arrangements for an inquiry.
II was said that the Governors message
znl Senator Blauvelt's bill had the IN
dorscment OF William Church Osborn. who
10 to be elected chairman Of the Demo-
cratic State committee next. and OF
ex-Chief Judge Alton II. Parker OF the
Court of Appeals, who advised Gov.
Glynn that II was about time that there
should be a non-partisan investigation Of
graft
~ have been prompted to provide for
court Of inquiry" said Senator BlRuvelt,
by the hystera. which In these graft
hunting days seems to have carried the
public mind away from the thought Of
honesty and Justice. Every public of1clal
and every private Individual connected in
any way with public work Is presumed to
be guilty OF grating"
speaker sweets Comment.
Speaker Thaddsus c. Sweet OF the AS
sembly said tonight:
my opinion OF a court OF inquiry. as
indicated by the Governor in his message.
would be that retiring JUDGES In many
instances would fail to qualify as MEM
ber0 OF the court. Furthermore Its crea-
ton would simply mean an added force
OF photographers and clerks 10 carry on
what would become substantially another
State Department.
This would be directly in line with the
policy OF the Democratic party during
the past three years. My personal arnbi-
ton. however. 1t to eliminate existing
ofiicss which seem unnecessary rather
than to create JOBS.
Il harry feel that the Governors sug-
gestion meets the situation which con-
fronts US. / believe that the Assem- bly,
committee should so on with It's work"
Gov. Glynn's message 20 the Legislature
follows
Il respectfully suggest a way to take
Investigations out OF politics and politics
out Of Investigations.
u respectfully suggest a way to have
Investigations within reason and reason
In Investigations.
II suggest that the Legislature create
q court OF inquiry to be composed of the
living ex-Judges OF tn. Court Of Appeals
They are seven in number and three
Of them now serve the State as official
referees. These three are Judge Albert
Haight. Judge Irving G. Vann and Judge
John Clinton Gray.
The other four-Judge Charles An
Alton u, Parker and Judge Charles VI
Brown--or as many OF them as necessary
could probably be induced from a sense OF
civic duty TO serve when absolutely
needed.
A Four Rin1 Circus.
AT present New York State Ia con-
Quoting n -four ring circus OF investiga.
tons The taxpayer is not only paying
the price of admission but In hiring the
performers as we'll. Carried to Its logical
conclusion the present situation would
soon demand an investigation to investi-
gate the investigators.
During the next year the Highways
Department OF New York will be called
upon to expend approximately 5000, 0Ot
FOR the construction Improvement ano
maintenance OF the States highways.
"Unless the Legislature IL prepared e
let a perltlexed department spend 49,
100000 OF the states money II must turr
the present epidemic OF Investigations into
a single deliberate and impartial in
quiry. Where matters have progressed
far enough to he the subject Of a Crane
Jury proceeding neither the Governor moi
the Legislature should attempt to inter
fere
I'VE can. however, consolidate thre,
State Investigations into one and max,
that Investigation such that II will com
mi ma b. H.h