New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-13
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
BLAMED BY CLYNN
Their Duty, He Says, TO
Prosecute Highway and
Other GrafterS.
REFUSES TO ANSWER
THE TRIBUNE STORY
Merely Says Rot" When Re-
minded of Promise on Be-
coming Governor.


Albany. Jan 12.-Governor Glynn put
the responsibility to-day for falling to
bring to trial the men involved in tho
theft Of 10000 from the state through
their connection with the building or
highways, entirely Upon the district at
torneys. whose duty II was. he said, 10
prosecute such charges. As for tho dis-
closures made in The New-York 1riDune
to-day that evidence Of highway graft
had been placed in his hands on Novem-
ber 10 bv John A. Hennessy and that he
had not taken any step to prosecute the
accused men. he felt sure that it was al
rot and written for political reasons. lie
would not 20 into details. however.
Mr. Glynn's attention was called TO his
promise on becoming Governor TO take Up
with Attorney General Carmody the
charges Of highway and other kinds OF
graft and 20 bring about statewide
criminal prosecution of such cases. when
reminded by Tribune correspondent that
there had been no criminal prosecutions
except those resulting from the Hen
Messy investigation. he said that any
charges Of theft OF the states funds
should be taken up by the district attor-
neys.
Gould you not call extraordinary terms
Of court for this purpose he was asked.
81 could" he said. but don't want TO
take am such action until I get the facts
before me-
The Governor said it was for that pur-
pose that he appointed James ". Osborne
loot More
land act Although the subject had been
before him for two months. he said he had
not decided what ne intended to do ana
that he would wait on Osborne.
Mr. Osborne has been handling hear
ings for more than a month, and. While
he has shown incompetency and favorit-
ism by highway officials, he has brought
out no evidence upon which criminal
prosecution can be based. it is said.
Governor Glynn said to-day that Os-
borne had informed him that in about a
week he would be able to resume his
graft inquiry and proceed without inter-
ruption. The hearing IS adjourned with
out date.
So far he has held hearings only one or
two DAYS a week, and It is given out that
neither the Governor nor Attorney Gem
eral Carmody is satisfied with his work.
There had been talk of substituting an
other man in his place, pressure having
been brought 10 bear to force him to
either give his entire attention to the
work or give up his commission.
In the face Of this. however. Governor
Glynn said to-day that Osborne would be
selected 10 investigate the State Hospital
Commission. If an investigation was con-
sidered necessary.
One prominent lawyer OF this city, VINO
is familiar with the state highways graft
situation. commenting last night on Gov
ernor Glynn's shifting the responsibility
from his shoulders to those of the dis
tract attorneys throughout the state Tor
failure TO prosecute state road graft cases,
said:
eff Governor Glynn wanted action on
these road graft cases, he could have
acted on the proof that was collected by
Hennessy.
Moreover. outside OF District Attorney
Whitman, whose hands he tied when
Whitman wanted to investigate the whole
matter. there is not a district attorney
In the state with the necessary money to
go out and conduct an investigation into
these state road frauds. And what Is
more, il Is the duty of the state to give
these proofs to the various county prose-
cutors, for IL Is the state which made the
contracts and it Is the state which was
robbed.
But | venture to say that Governor
Glynn, since he has been in office, has not
given any proofs of state road frauds to
any one of the sixty-two district attor
neys in this state. The only convictions
or indictments so far found in these
frauds were those that were prepared by
John A. Hennessy, who was acting for
Glynns predecessor in Office
This lawyer. who knows that Governor
Glynn has proof of road frauds that were
given to him by Hennessy more than two
months ago, said 1t would be interesting
to ask Governor Glynn IL he has given
any evidence collected by Hennessy 10 the
district attorneys Of Warren, Montgom-
cry Ulster. Greene. Rensselaer,, Chautau-
qua or Cattaraugus counties.
And If he hasn't" said this lawyer,
TASK him why hasn't he"
TIL aaAn aalICT TIkI1Cu