New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-15
Result of Tribune's DiSClOS-
ures of Failure of
Graft Inquiry.
C.. II. JACKSON LIKELY
TO BE APPOINTED
Hennessy Reiterates That Proofs
of His Charges May Be Had
in Five Minutes.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune


cisms directed against Governor Glynn
by The Tribune, on account OF the lax
manner in which his special investiga-
tor. James w. Osborne, has conducted
the inquiry into the theft OF state
funds BY highway and other grafters. IT
was reported here tonight that the
Governor might appoint Charles h.
Jackson OF this city, TO take up the
task. Mr. Osborne, when In Albany
last week. said that he might submit
his report on conditions in the High
ways Department within few days,
and 1t is said that he would like 10
retire from the job.
The Governor. who is not impervious
70 criticism. will welcome the oppor-
tunity to get another commissioner. 1t
is believed, following The Tribune's
disclosures OF Osborne's failure TO In
vestigate any Of the more serious graft
cases in the Highways Department.
Mr.. Jackson, who is supposed to have
been working up evidence OF Highways
Department graft for several weeks,
was one OF the deputy conservation
commissioners who lost their jobs be-
cause Governor Sulzer cut out OF the
| appropriation bill the money for their
salaries. Being a good organization
Democrat and a political friend Of
Governor Glynn, he was not out Of
state Job long having been appointed
short time later Deputy Commits
sioner Of Efficiency and Economy.
One of Jackson's Cases.
Jackson obtained the evidence on the
, condition Of the Sanitaria Springs
Harpersville state highway in Broome
County, four miles long. John II. De-
laney. head Of the Efficiency and Econ
omy Department, who is also close to
Governor Glynn, announced tonight
| that a hearing on this road would be
! held in the Capitol tomorrow.
Charles Van Amburgh. Superintend-
| ent OF Highways in Broome County.
who makes the complaint, reports that
the road is in a dangerous condi-
ton and that it was not built in con-
formity with the specifications of the
contract The engineers in charge OF
the highway division at Binghamton
have been subpenaed TO produce all
the documents and papers relating 10
the road in their Office. Commissioner
Carlisle. Of the Highways Department,
has been requested to produce the pa
pers on file in his office relating TO the
contracts.
In an interview with Tribune reporter.
John A. Hennessy. the former Moreand
act commissioner said at his home. No.
200 ST. Marks Place, Brooklyn, last night.
that James w. Osborne, who was ap-
pointed by Governor Glynn to investigate
state highways graft. did not know the
situation. and that If he did the last place
he should have gone for Information was
n the office OF Attorney General Car
mody.
The interview was the result OF a let
ter received by The Tribune from Mr..
Osborne's assistant Arthur T. Warner,
who wrote the letter after reading the
story in The Tribune on Monday telling
Of Governor Glynn's utter failure TO act
on the fifteen cases of alleged road graft
involving some prominent Democrats
given to him by Mr.. Hennessy on Novem-
Der 10. Mr.. Hennessy says Warner does
not know anything about his job
Warner Can't Get Data.
when James W. Osborne was APP
pointed a commissioner by Governor
Glynn the latter turned over TO him
certain charges submitted BY John
A. Hennessy," said Mr.. Warmers letter.
AS an assistant TO Mr., Osborne. care
fully read these allegations, selected what
appeared TO be the most fragrant, and re-
quested of the Highways Department the
original contracts, specifications, etc, re-
lating 10 them.
II was informed that the department
did not have these data, that they had been
taken away from the files by Mr. Hen
messy, and that although demand mad
been made OF Mr.. Hennessy by both the
department and the Attorney General The
pa pers had not been returned
Then Mr. Osborne's assistant goes on 10
relate how he found some OF the papers
they had been stored by Mr. Hennessy in
order thet they might not be tempered
with by some persons vitality interested.
He further tells OF the several occasions
he sought documents and data from the
state Highways Department, where he
and Mr. Osborne replaced the papers and
other matter seized in Mr.. Hennessy's
apartment at The Tub" only to be told
the papers could not be found.
In the meantime" the letter continues.
investigation has gone on as TO other
OF the charges submitted by Mr.. Hennes-
sy. Evidence concerning part has been
submitted at public hearings. More viii
be submitted later. The inner workings
OF the department have been revealed.
The relation between political contribu-
ton and favoritism TO contractors has
been established. Inefficiency has been
proved rampant. The defects OF the sys-
tenn and the insdequacy OF present laws
have been pointed out.
"It IL the desire of Commissioner Os-
borne 10 make the investigation thorough.
Charges submitted by MIR. Hennessy and
others will be inquired into. When evil
dence OF wrongdong is found IT will be
presented, no matter whom IT may affect
Mr.. Osborne has repeatedly stated
he desires the cooperation Of Mr.. Hen
messy and all other citizens