New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-26
Republicans Believe Teeth
Were Extracted from
Documents.
AMAZED AT ESCAPE
OF BENSEL, PECK, EFT AL
Glyun Administration Bent on
Protecting Tammany High.
way Grafters.


Albany. Jan. 25.-The manifest desire on
the part Of the Glynn administration to
give a clean bill Of health 10 the Dix
Highway Commission has reused some OF
the Republican members OF the Assembly
who arc here tonight. and they promise
10 make the matter a subject OF discus
sion at the conference OF Republican As
-emblynon and Senators at the Capitol
tomorrow night
Attorney General Carmody has alre1dy
said that John \. Bcnsel State Engineer
Duncan w Peck. State Superintendent OF
Public Works. and c. Gordon Reel ior-
mer Superintendent OF Highways. and ms
deputy. Charles r. Foley, did not violate
the law in privately letting Sl4 road con-
tracts. involving 100000 in 1912. Attor-
ney General Carmody's opinion is shared
bv District Attorney Alexander so that
any criminal prosecution Of these four
Tanmany men is out Of the question.
The attitude OF most Democrats here IS
that enough crimes on the part OF Demo
cratic officeholders and politicians nave
hccn brought TO light by District Attorney
Whitman and they cannot sec any rea-
son why the Glynn administration should
also be PARTY 10 the disruption OF the
Tammanv machine throughout the state
But this frame of mind is not shared by
the Republican legislators, and Harold j.
Human. majority floor leader OF the AS
sembly. said tonight that there was
every likelihood Of a thorough investisa-
ton Of the highways graft by an Assem-
bly, committee.
Il am willing TO go the limit in the way
of an investigation If the others are
said Assemblyman Hinman. For my
mart ] want to see the whole rotten sys-
tom OF graft in the Highways and otner
departments exposed.
Amazed That Charges Fail.
The Hinman resolution calling for
ioint legislative inquiry of the Highways
DEPARTMENT will be amended at to-moF-
row nights conference so that when L
appears before the Assembly 1t will be In
the form of a committee resolution and
will call FOR an investigation by the AS
sembly only. according 10 a Republican
legislator
they cannot hope for any support from
the Democrat Senate, and so are de-
termined to 20 il alone inasmuch as the
special committee appointed at last Mon
day nights conference Of Republican
legislators 10 inquire into the matter viii
report that the Assembly has power IN
itself 10 conduct such an investigation
and may have money 70, expenses while
sitting outside the city OF Albany.
Republicans here are amazed that the
charges fled 10y John a. Hennessy against
Bensel Reel. Peck and Foley should fail,
when all the charges that Hennessy has
brought before other District Attorneys
against highway officials. Tammany Hall
politicians and road contractors should
have led 10 criminal prosecution.
But" sighed one Assemblvman Of
many Years experience, "the traditions
OF Albany and its very atmosphere are
against any criminal prosecutions. II is
not considered good form here TO try 10
send any one TO jail.
Perhaps this conception OF good form
might be responsible. and, again, some
insist that the Hennessy charges as they
we're when they left Hennessy's hands
different II is possible that something
may have been lost in the mean time.
Want to Ask Hennessy.
This Is subject many Republican AS
semblymon hold should be investigated
and they are Of a mind that Hennessy be
subpUnaed and the documents which he
filed with Governor Glynn on November
10. 1913. and which were not acted on
until two and half months elapsed, after
The Tribune had told what those charges
consisted Of. shown 70 him.
II Is the intention OF these Assembly
men to then ask Hennessy Are these
documents, which YOU handed to Governor
Glynn on November 10. which embody
accusations against Bensel. Reel, Peck
and Foley. substantially in the same con-
diton now as they were them
n Hennessy's reply is In the negative
a thorough sitting Of the entire matter
will be in order.
Assemblyman Macdonald, whose posi-
ton as chairman OF the Ways and Means