New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-12

Reel and Bense was placed in the
/ hands Of Governor Glynn more than
two months ago. one who has seen
this report said last night IT contained
| enough charges To warrant a grano
| Jury inquiring into The conduct of the
| Highway Commission az II was then
/ constituted. namely. Duncan W. Peek,
now Superintendent Of Public works,
| John A. Bensel. G. Gordon Reel and the
| First Deputy Commissioner OF High
ways. Charles r. Foley.
II is asserted this report Of Hennessy
involves more than three hundred re-
Fair contracts in 1912, Of which only a
small number. IL is said were let in ac-
cordancc with law. Some were handed
out over the long distance telephone
and some were passed out TO the con-
tractor friends OF Democratic leaders
throughout the state over the bar or
the Hampton Hotel. one of the hos
tleries in Albany frequented by legisla-
tors and state officials.
concerning fotNSci, reel rem anu
Foley il will Ice recalled that last July
Honncssy was ready to proceed against
the four. and that Henry a. Wise, for
mer United States District Attorney for
the southern district OF New York, who
prosecuted successfully the tobacco
trust and sugar trust cases, was in
vitcd To Albany To take charge of the
prosecution. There was no money
available for his services. but Wise
offered 10 serve the state free Of cost
provided he received sufficient assistant
counsel and expert accountants.
Clynn Warned November 3.
The matter was first brought Off
dally 10 Governor Glynn's attention on
November 3 10y Mr.. IIcnncssy. He out
lined what he had in his possession as
the result of his Investigation under
Suffers directions, and the Governor
told him he would like TO have all COM
muncations from him in writing.
II can give YOU fifty OF these high
way graft cases to show you that the
state Highways Department is rotten
with corruption" said Henncssy. How
many dp You WANT"
Governor Glynn's reputed reply was:
About a DOZEN
Hcnnessy sent him fifteen. all ready.
save for preliminary preparation that
any lawyer could attend 20 i'm "A couple
Of weeks. for presentation To grand
jury.
When Hennessy had this conVcrsa-
ton with Governor GIynn the Governor
said he would call for further cases if
he believed the evidence in the fifteen
submitted to him typical Of the 80
graft cases Hennessy had investigated
But up to the present Governor Glynn
has not only failed TO ask for more, but
has ignored Hennessy completely. When
the Governor tied District Attorney
Whitman's hands in his investigation OF
the state highways graft situation by ap-
pointing Mr.. Osborne every one expected
a special grand jury would be ordered 10y
Mr.. Glynn i'm Albany. But none has been
ordered. and the reason therefor is one
Of the mysteries of the present admins
tration.
1t is said Bart Dunn. one Of the leaders
OF Tammany Hall and close friend of
Charles +. Murphy. is only one OF score
Of Democratic leaders who would he
caught in the net if a real investigation
Of conditions proceeded Dunn, it will be
remembered, was sentenced recently to
ten months on the island for state roads
graft I'm Rockland County With him went
former inspector OF the State Highways
Department.
II was stated last night by a man in
possession of the facts that evidence OF
| road graft in fifty-seven Of the sixty-two
| counties in the state could be obtained
with little difficulty.