New Britain herald., 1928-02-01
New York Executive Declare. He Takes This Action With Great Reluctance" But Can See No Other Way.
Minor Officials, Cited With Mrs. Knapp, Not Likely
 to Face Charges-Gover- nor Disagrees With : Parts of Report.

Albany, N. Y.. Feb. R,-Crim-
 inal prosecution of Mrs. Florence F.. IS. Knapp. former secretary of state ] of New York, for acts growing out 'of her administration Of the 1925
 state census. was recommended to
 District Attorney Charles J. Herrick
 of Albany today by Governor Alfred
 E. Smith,
 Acts On Recommendations The governors decision was based
 upon facts presented to him in tho report of Randall J. Le Boeuf, who, as Moreland act commissioner ap- pointed by the executive, recently conducted an investigation into the administration of the enumeration. Specific charges were made upon which Commissioner Le Boeuf re- commended that the only woman who ever held statewide office in New York state be prosecuted for grand larceny, forgery. the making
 of false audits and certifications and the illegal removal of state records. Acts With Reluctance "I do that with great reluctance" Governor Smith stated in making known his decision, because I can
 see no way to treat otherwise seri-
 ous charges against an executive
 officer at the head of state de-
 partment." i Commissioner le Bouefs recon.
 mendation that criminal actions also
 be brought against Dr. Walter Laid-
 law. whose charges against Mrs.
 knapp's administration of the cen-
 sus precipitated the inquiry: Mark
 Stern. her first deputy secretary of state and still serving in the same /, capacity; Anna A. Little. auditor in the secretary of states office; ana Julia M. Ryan, chief clerk of tho
 state civil service commission. His Views on Others With respect to their cases. he de- clared:
 "On the other hand, believe that
 no purpose would be served if the
 minor employees. Mark Stern and
 Anna Little, who acted under orders
 and did what they were told by the head of their department, were talk
 en before the grand jury. Although the facts are somewhat different in
 her case, have come to the same conclusion as to Julia Ryan," Lakllaw's Connections Dr. Laidlaw's name was not men. toned in the governors statement. It had been recommended by Com-
 missioner Le Boeuf that he be pros ecuted for failure to register as . legislative agent as required by le- gislative law. in that his activities were generally those of d lobbyist Governor Smith declared himself in sharp disagreement with his ap- pointee on the questions of an alles- ed "breakdown of the civil service commission" and recommendation that the state census be continued. UphCltls Government Service "I do not believe that there was
 breakdown of civil service con-
 mission" he declared. and as proof
 he attached to his formal statement
 an opinion by Attorney General Ot- tinger and a communication from the members of the commission at
 tending to support this view. | "As to the current administrative
 work of the civil service commits sion," continued the governor. T
 believe that the clerical and other
 work could be improved and that
 additional and somewhat higher paid personnel are required.
 Appropriation fin Lump "I am therefore recommending
 to the legislature that the appro-
 priation for this department be
 made in a lump sum. the total tContinued on Page 1d)