The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-17
WHITMAN AID WILL
DIRECT GRAFT PROBE
John kirkland Clark Named
Chief Counsel Of Assembly
Investigating Committee.
HEARINGS BEGIN THURSDAY
District Attorney to Keep in
Close Touch With Situation
Throughout Inquiry.

ALBANY, Feb. I6--John Kirkland Clark.
assistant to District Attorney Charles ..
whitman of New York city. was named
chief counsel OF the Assembly graft in
vestisating committee tonight. with the
understanding that at all times during the
Assembly probe Mr.. whitman will be In
close touch with the situation and will
from time 20 time OFFER advice and sug-
ges.ions as to procedure. The District
Attorney will be the power behind the
throne, II is understood. although he him
self refused 10 become the counsel OF the
committee when requested to do 50 By a
subcommittee consisting of Speaker
Thaddeus C. Sweet. Chairman John L.
Sullivan and vice-Chairman Alvah w.
Burlingane.
The first witness will be called by the
Sullivan committee Thursday morning In
the capital. The Highways Department
Will BE- probed, the committee touching on
matters which neither District Attorney
Whitman. JChn A. Hennessy, Gov, suffers
Investigator. nor James ". Osborne, Gov.
, Giynrs graft hunter. have sU:.e irtc. It
! !s not believed that the committee VIII
spend much time with the Highways De-
! pdrtn!ert. merely getting additional facts
ard co"tct!ns tEe evidence ALREADY taken
/ by other prubers.
| The committee will meet in Albany on
Wednesday night at 8 80 o'clock when
| Mr. Clark will turn over a carefully pre-
! pared statement showing Just what has
! been done by District Attorney Whit
man, and laying before the committee
additional evidence which has been
! gathered and prepared by the whitman
probers but has not been brought GU,
publicly Mr.. Clark is in Albany and
ready to 60 ahead with the work.
| Mr.. Clark will resign his position as
| Assistant District Attorney when he gets
back 70 New York. perhaps not until
| Wednesday. This Is made necessary.
for the work OF the Assembly commit
tee
! II accepted tse place Of counsel TO tho
committee with the distinct understand ms
that | would have an absolutely free hand
In the investigation" said Mr. Clark to-
nigh, just before leaving for New York.
This means that the people OF the state
may be assured OF thorough, compre-
henslve and absolutely non-partisan In
vest!gatlon OF the Highway Department
and several other State departments
which can be reached by no other official
probe.
The investigation will be carried TO the
limit, rega rdless OF consequences to any
thing or anybody. II is evident OF course
Investigation Will go along In complete
harmony with the work OF District At
torney Whitman I'm New York. My resig-
nation from the District Attorneys otfice
does not mean that will not keep up my
close association with Judge Whitman
which have enjoyed for several years"
The statement OF Mr.. Clark regarding
the scope OF the investigation. which will
include several other State departments
which can be reached by no other official
probe" is considered significant. Under
the the Moreland act. under which Gov
Giynn named Mr.. Osborne as an investi.
gator, only State officials and depart.
ments under the supervision OF the Gov.
ernor can be probed, IL is understood. Mr.
Clark and the Assembly will be able &C
go into affairs OF the elective officers and
their departments which could not b,
done by Mr.. Osborne.
Just what departments would be gon,
into Mr.. Clark declared he could no
say, as the committee had not determined
what procedure would be followed.
already has been said. however. that tn,
construction of the new barge canal unl
the administration OF the present cana
system would be gone into by the As
sembly committee, SO this would NEAR
the Stat" Engineers Department, OF which
state Engineer John A. Bensei is tn
head. and the state Department Of Public
Works. of which Duncan W. Peck y
syracuse Is superintendent
The matter of assistant counsel for IN
investigation has been left In the hands o
MIR Clark.
John kirkland Clark is 81 years old. II
was born at Springfield. Mass, and is IN
son OF the late Edward y. Clark. 70
many years well known newspaper MAJ
In this city He prepared for college 4
tho Polytechnic Preparatory School Il
Brooklyn and was graduated from Yal
IN 1899.
After his graduation Mr. Clark entere
the law Office OF Hornblower. Byrnt
Miller & Potter, remaining there unit
| January, 1905. For the next four year
he was assistant general counsel for IN
New York Life Insurance Company. II
was appointed TO Mr.. Whltman's stan O
l January l. 1910.