Evening star., 1939-11-19

tax cases carefully and indicated that
he was aware of the complex political
situation in the Bay State. He is also
thoroughly aware of the powerful in
fluences that have been brought to bear
in Massachusetts. But just because of
those influences, said the Attorney Cen
eral resolutely. he would be that much
more determined to bring about prosecu-
ton of all who appear to have been
involved.
In Boston it appears extremely diff
cult to move against entrenched graft
and corruption, as Gov. Saltonstall is
well aware AS part of the process Of
cleaning up, he named a commission to
investigate the wholesale parceling out
OF pardons under his predecessors. This
commission has been hearing testimony
for several months. Charges have been
tiating evidence, that at least 80 pardons
were passed out under suspicious circum-
stances in less than 10 years.
In one month of Curleys adminstra-
ton pardons were granted to seven mur-
derers who were doing life, five men
serving sentences for manslaughter up
to 20 years and five gunner serving sub
stantial sentences on various charges.
Not one of these prisoners had completed
half his sentence.
All these and the other pardons that
were issued wholesale had to be approved
not only by the Governor in the first in
stance, but by majority of the Gov
ernor's council, a cumbersome survival
out of the past.
Report Postponed.
Despite the evidence that has been
developed, the names of certain top po-
lltical figures have never been publicly
brought into the investigation. Orig
lnally the commission was to have made
a report this fall Now the report has
been postponed until after the first of
next year.
You must remember" says Gov. Sal
tonstall, that we are a very old COM
munity"
He stands warming his long thin legs
before sea coal fire in the Governor s
office in the State House that Bulfnch
designed. Representing as he does so
much OF the past that is alien to so much
OF the present, Saltonstall is very obvi-
ously trying to be realistic in trying
situation. A man OF practical experience
In politics, former Speaker of the
House, he realizes that the moral indig-
nation of his Puritan forbeers is not
enough. The term reformer is to him
one Of opprobrium. The Governor feels
that it would be futile merely to initiate
another cycle of reform.
You are perhaps not aware of the
condition that prevailed here he says.
MY predecessor in Office (Hurley) had
II bodyguards who guarded him not only
here in his Office but at his home. His
only request to me when I took over was
that he be allowed to retain this guard
for three months. have single police
man on duty outside. When I go out, I
walk across the Common alone"
In moving against the appointees of
Curley and Hurley, Saltonstall has pro-
ceeded cautiously fearing apparently
that any stormy controversy might make
it impossible to accomplish anything at
all. He has brought custer proceedings
against several state officials appointed
to long terms of Office by his immediate
predecessors.
Tits With Labor Commission.
Saltonstall failed in an effort to oust
the State Labor Relations Commission, a
body created under a State act COM
parable to the National Labor Relations
Act. This unsuccessful move did not in
crease the Governors popularity with
organized labor. He succeeded in per-
suading the Republican Legislature to
adopt legislation ousting John H. Backus
as State director of securities after bitter
charges and counter charges in the
course Of which Backus intimated that
Saltonstall wished to protect the dubious
practices of certain Republican brokers'
The Governors admirers point with
pride to the character of his appoint
ments. AS state civil service director he
named Ulysses j. Lupien, formerly in
charge of personnel for large plant at
Lawrence. AS unemployment compensa-
ton commissioner he named j. Edwin
Doyle, who had been personnel director
at large plant in Lynn. To the chair
manship of the Civil Service Commits
sion, an appellate body, he named the
personnel director of Filene's department
store here, William H. Bixby.
II want honest, economic government" !"
Gov. Saltonstall says. II believe it is
possible to achieve that kind of govern
yaanya$ -