New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
Mrs. F. Spencer Baldwin
Presented Auto by Man
Who Got $4,000 From
Fund Husband Managed
G. E. Wynkoop the Donor
Testimony i'll Inquiry Into
Industrial Board to Go
to the District Attorney

Miles NJ. Dawson. counsel to Com
missioner Jeremiah +. Connor, ap-
pointed to investigate the State In
dustriaI Commission, yesterday dropped
the line of examination which uncov-
cred the graft ring in the Offices OF
the commission to inquire into the re-
latons between +. Spencer Baldwin.
manager Of the State Insurance Fund,
and G.. +. Wynkoop, owner Of Wyn-
koop's Service, ITO Broadway. Mr..
Baldwin, who was a professor of eco
nomics at Boston University before he
entered the service of the State In
dustral Commission as its insurance
fund manager, was witness at the
hearing.
The features of the testimony were:
That Nh Wynkoop received $39,-
S0o55 up TO three months ago as his
share of dividends paid 30 large en-
ploycs of labor whose workmen'ss
compensation insurance he placed
with the State Insurance Fund.
That Mr.. Wvnkoop presented Mrs.
Baldwin. wife of the manager o. the
State Insurance Fund, with a SO 400
ar'cm mobilc
rnat Mr. Wynkoop assisted Mr..
Baldwin to make loans at banks.
That Mr. Wynkoop was permitted
tG take spondence from the Of
fee of the State Insurance Fund in
violation OF Section 105 OF the work
mems compensation law.
Denies Gift Was Improper
Mr.. Baldwin denied vigorously that
there was anything improper in the
giving of the automobile to Mrs. Bald
win. or that there was anything sig
nifcant in the fact that seven Of the
nineteen industrial concerns which in
sured through the Wynkoop Service
had previously insured directly in the
State Insurance Fund.
He also den.ed that the car had been
given to him, and when confronted
with an affidavit in which he swore
that he was the owner explained that
1t had been made out by the dealer and
that the statement regarding owner
ship was an error.
Did you consider that in giving this
automobile to Mrs. Baldwin Mr.. Wyn
hoop wanted to express in this manner
his appreciation of the favors you had
done him ." asked Mr.. Dawson.
"No, l did not" replied Mr. Baldwin.
Slt never entered my head"
."Or. that the state fund had done
him.
"No, sir; no thought of any business
consideration on that side or obllga-
zion on my side WAS involved IN that
SIdDSdCLlOn.
Says He Consulted Mitchell
"In view Of the fact that the state
fund afforded him Indirectly a large
sncome, and the fact that he was some
how able to get large employers al
rca-v in the state fund and nut them
OF MS list, and that he could sec and
could often take out files, he might
very we'll have felt on appreciation for
what the state fund had done for him
might he not -
Il am sure that he did not in this
case, and that it had no business sig
nticance or relation Whatever"
Mr.. Baldwin explained that the day
after the automobile was purchased it
occurred 10 HIM that there might be
some msconstruction placed on the
acceptance Of the gift, and went to The
tate John Mitchell. then chairman OF
the State Industrial Commission, and
told him OF his scruples. Mr.. Mitchell
)le sa!G, said there was nothing wrong
IN i" This, he thought, he did al
,hc suggestion Of MIR. Wynkoop.
THO mere fact that either you OF
Nj. Wynkoop could think o. an ugly
connota;iou in connection with it va;
enough to put YOU on Your guard tina
it was very likely to be given that"
Il thought that the decision of tht
chairman or his opinion IN the matte
was decisive; that was what settlct
my mind.'
Thought 1t Was Fine Deed
"lf it would look ugly at all it woul
look uglicr for it to bs given to you
wife than to yourself, would it not Z?
asked Mr.. Dawson.
"My thought WIS that this was fin
deed or Mir Wynkoop's part that
was capable Of misconstruction, bu
that if no concoalment were made, an
If told the circumstances to tn
chairman OF the commi ssion, my ST
pcrior. the story never could b
dragged up and never be given thi
ugly connotation. ] was so absolutel
conscious Of the perfect cleanneSs
the motives Of both sides in this tran.
action that the word OF the chairma
settlcd If for me-
\ report to Governor Smith hy Chai
man Mitchell few weeks before
died on the matter Of the automobi
was then offered in evidence, whic
contained the following passage:
Ihc tender Of this gift, its acccp
ancc and the circumstances attendiu
Them were not concealed in any ws
from the friends and associates Of tt
officer. The chairman OF the indu
trial Commission felt and still fee
shat 1t was purely personal matte
mat II mad no rCtatlon TO tnC &fdi'
of tho state fund or Of the iNdustri;
Commission, and while the commissio
feels that the acceptance of this q
is open to criticism 1t has full cont
dencc in the intcrgrltv and honest
Of the Office concerned.'
Bought Second Hand Car
In the report there WAS no mcntie
Of Mr.. Baldwin.
Asked if this was the only autom
bile ever given to any member Of h
family by MIR, Wynkoop, the witne
declared it was. but explained that
bought a second hand car from NJ
Nynkoop for which he paid $1,000
''Do YOU remember any one else ma
ing YOU present of automobile tir
at any time for this same car that "
given to Mrs. Baldwin ~ asked NJ
Dawson.
"No, had no present OF automobi
tires
NO tires reached you through a
other official OF the state fund as
present ~
mo. | bought some tires from Z
Williams, who was the former medic
adviser"
Did you ask Dr.. Williams fro
whom they came? =
"No; don't know where the tir'
came from"
"Iic is not now living. is he?"
No"
<Ie never told YOU that those can
fFor, Mr. Schwartz the pres lucnt