New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-15
Refuses TO Discuss Author
ship of Attacks on Char
tiles Inquiry.
ASSAILS STRONG
AS POLITICS PLAYER
Apologies at Afternoon Session
for Reflections on Honesty
of a Reporter.

The investigation OF the State Board
Of Charities before Charles II. Strong
sitting as a commissioner under the
Noreland act. developed a controversy
Yesterday with the Rev. William b..
Farrell, Of Brooklyn, as author OF
series OF signed articles attacking the
inquiry. and +. A. Moree. press agent
Of the state Charities Aid Association,
az author Of an anonymous pamphlet
intended az an answer to those OF
Father Farrell.
Moree told the commissioner the
pamphlet was printed at his expense
az a private enterprise. More infor-
nation on this point will be sought
this morning, when the printers and
the mailing company which circulated
the tract appear with their books and
show who it was they looked to for
their pay.
The season opened with an exciting
clash. Commissioner Strong beginning
with the announcement that he had
two pamphlets bearing the name OF
Father Farrell and attacking the com
mission.
"These pamphlets. entitled A Public
Scandal and Charity for Revenue
said the commissioner, "have been cir
culated. am informed, to the extent
of hundreds Of thousands of copies.
These charge that the commission IS
A public scandal, has discredited itself,
is an instrument of injustice, is
conspiracy in the interest Of the char
ity trust and a return to baby farming
and is anti-Catholic.
cit is further charged that Deputy
Commissioner Doherty was selected py
Commissioner Kingsbury to do DIS
honorable and contemplate things
against his own Church and that Mayor
Mitchell indorsed it and is satisfied
with it."
Feed Me to Lions"
Commissioner Strong further said
that he was charged in the pamphlets
with being partial and needless Of real
issues.
If" said he, "there is a conspiracy
against the Roman Catholic Church
should know it. The only concern that
have is that the cause OF the inmates
of these institutions shall be IN some
measure promoted"
Father Farrell replied that the rec
ord showed Governor Whitman acted
too hastily in appointing Mr. Strong
a commissioner to take testimony.
1.-TWO official parties, state and city"
said Father Farrell. ARE struggling
for supremacy. Mr.. Strong Is a de-
cided partisan of one faction. The
unfair, misleading and inaccurate. Nh
Strong permitted browbeatng and
hearsay evidence
You are the author Of these pamph-
Let's" asked John X. Clark, assistant
to Mr.. Strong
81 don't know whether | am. don't
know in whose hands they may have
been" was the answer.
you are anxious 20 tell the truth ?"
"Certainly, | am anxious to tell the
truth" he answered. 81 knew when !
came here that was going TO be
thrown to the lions"
When further questions were asked.
William 5. Butler. Father Farrell's at
torney, told the commissioner that he
had advised the witness not 20 answer.
on the ground that the queries were
immaterial or impairment.
"Do you not think IL right for US 10
have perfectly frank discussion as 10
these facts ?" asked Mr.. Strong.
I'VE can have that privately" said
Father Farrell. you wanted me here
only to feed me to the lions. You
simply wanted to cross-question and
assassinate me-"
Retracts Nothing.
That was about az far as the ex-
animation went in the matter OF
answers. Question after question he
declined to answer.
Are you willing TO withdraw your
statements? ," was one question an
swered.
81 am not Withdrawing anything
said the priest with heat. 81 simply re-
fuse to discuss the matter. You have
an outrageous cheek TO bring me here
n