New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-14
Difficulties Hedge Offer OF
Place to Whitman by
Committee.
ASSEMBLY FEARS
SENATE "BACKFIRE"
Report of Burglary in District
Attorneys Office Remains
Dark Mystery.


eating committee. who arrived Yesterday
( in New York for the purpose OF con
ferring with District Attorney Whitman
and others" on the question OF counsel
I FOR that body. found themselves against
a stone wall when II came TO deciding
whether they would offer the position out
right 10 Mr.. Whitman. II was admitted
/ by one OF the special committee appointed
TO select counsel that nothing would he
! done until Mr. Whitman was consulted
| but there are two important matters
which must he settled before the sub
committee reports to the graft invesu-
! gators
First is the doubt in their minds
! whether the District Attorney would ac-
cept their offer being forced TO resign
/ his Office 10 do so. in the present un-
settled state or the bill providing the
! necessary money for the investigation.
! The second dilemma. which arose with
renewed force after Speaker Sweet talked
with Governor Glynn about the coming
, PROCEEDINGS. is whether the Senate, piqueo
/ because II was not given chance TO
! Get some OF the future glory, VIII start
an investigation Of its own. 1t was limited
that the upper house would use its power
/ TO stop the appropriation for money bN
/ insisting that the investigation ne maue
| a Joint one.
| sneaker Sweet. with John Leo SULLIVAN
/ chairman Of the investigating committee
and Alvah ". Rurlingame. jr., vce-chalr-
man OF the committee. arrived here yes
| terdav. Immediately II was rumored that
! the committee had tentatively decided 10
/ set Frank Moss. Whitman's former as
1 sistant. as counsel, and John A. HennessY
would be made investigator.
Air Moss. who is now i'm private prac-
tice. denied any knowledge Of any inten-
, ton to make him counsel He had not
| been approached in any manner, he said,
and did not expect to be.
/ Similarly Mr.. BurlinGame denied that
the committee had considered Mr. Hen
messy as investigator
! - have not seen. talked with or thought
Of Mr.. Hennessy." he said, and so far
as know meme Of the others OF the COM
mittee have done so"
/ II was pointed out 10 Speaker Sweet
that Mr.. Whitman. as we'll as his assist
ant in the graft investigation. was out OF
| town.
IL know that they are not here he re-
piled. and we came down 10 shape
/ things I'D before We talked with him. The
subcommittee appointed 10 present the
names Of available counsel must report
/ back TO the investigating committee Mon
/ dav. and before that time we will be in
conference with him. We won't do any
| thing until We learn his views"
! According TO al" Smith, Tammanys
minority leader in the Assembly. there is
another motive in the appointment Of the
| investigating committee besides that OF
remedial legislation
THE investigating committee must re-
port to the Assembly three weeks before
! IL sdiourns. the last Of March" he said
/ and unless it can be continued over 10
/ report TO the next Legislature. what
/ chance has il Of doing any real invcstisa-
ton? 1t will be continued over as mat
fer Of course. and will get in its fine
work during August, September and Oc-
( tober. in the midst OF an election for
Governor That is its whole object
Without a member Of the Senate on the
committee. what chance has it Of accom-
nIshinc any real recommendations for
legislation?
Resides. We don't need any new laws.
II the graft is proved, there are District
/ Attorneys and courts TO punish the men
and the Commissioner Of Efficiency in the
] oil no
mower 10 conduct an Investigation.
There will be no overt attempt. IN the
event that the District Attorney takes the
Offer. 10 prevent his acceptance BY the
I Assembly. II will be in the senate i
WIS limited. that the Assembly's measure
will he discouraged one new suggestion
Was thrown out-that If the Senate Kills
the appropriation of $4,000, some inde-
uendent organization or person would CON
tribute the money 70 provide ammunition
for the Republican party in the next cleo
ton.
The Senate Republicans feel that they
arc sighted in not having the investigs-
lion Joint one as even with the large
Democratic majority in the Senate the
balance Of mower IN joint committee
would still be Republican. II Is TINS
feeling which gave weight 70 the report
that Governor Glynn. with Senate leaders
was considering Senate graft committee.
| In The absence OF the District Attorney
and John Proctor Clark. his assistant
from the Criminal Courts Building yester-
ldav there was opportunity for burglar
scare in the reported rifiing Of letter
cabinet in Mr. Clarks Office Some went
40 far az 10 say that the transcripts OF
much Of the grand jury testimony and
tho originals OF Sulzer evidence were
the detectives and that some fear-haunted
CRATER had tried 10 remove the evidence
from the District Attorneys hands
The fling cabinet was tempered with
came limo between Wednesday evening
,,d Yesterday morning. The building was
closed Thursday for the holiday. ana II
any attempt was made the person or
,orsons had n good opportunity.
when lanes Barry. Mr.. Clarks chief
,erk went 20 the cabinet yesterday morn
INC "a obtain some Of the records he was
unable 10 open the Yale lock which closes
,no stocl drawers. Al first IL was thought
DIT the lock was damned. until a lock
NTH found a short piece OF the KEY. ne"
,d anparently made fer the occasion IN
-. tock The outside Of the cabinet bore
80 traces Of force. and as the door mad
,,.o, loft unlocked entrance was easy
rhe detcctives attached TO the Crlinha