The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-25
GETTING AT THE REASONS.
BOTTOM FdCTS ABOUT TUE BROOK
LIN CHIRTER DEE-EIT

LIN CHIRTER DEFE1T
A t,obbyist Prsmiscd Fat Offices In tie CITY n
ChWrvbcs IN PayncHt for SaueIebins the
Bill -kx-serntar Norton Iutercstsd.
ALBANY, April 2i.-Thc committee which
Is trying to ascertain the reasons for the defeat
Of the BROOKLYN Charter had q session to-d,v,
but did not get much light upon tho subject.
Commissioners W. A. Fowler said he was on.
posed to the massage OF the bill, and had asked
tho Kings county Legislators to oppose n; but
had not talked with other members about ",
and had not given any money or promised any
places for its defeat. lie bad not been ap-
preached by any lobbyist on the subject and
did not know of any money being raised ~
Brooklyn ofietpls to defeat tho bill. IL Abe last
ten yo'rs he had been somewhat Interested Ia
legislation for BROOKLYN, and had something to
do 10 framing II. He had known Phelps for Ave
or six years, but did DOT know any OF the Repub-
licaps who voted against tho bill.
"Bub" Mclaughlin had also talked with
BROOKLYN Assemblymen about the bin. and also
with his uncle, boss Mclaughlin. and
the latter had assured him that the Gov
ernor would veto the bilt II 1t passed, so he did
not feel much alarmed about IL. He knew OF 10
pool to de feat the bill having been raised, and
had not paid dollar or promised to pay one TOR
that urpose. lie knew that bob Furey was In
Albany last week, and that be came hero 90 an
entirely different mission from tue Ogden char
ter. He had known Pbaips for three or four
months, aud was introduced to HIN by Mr..
pybnEIl
EX-SENATOR NORTON CONSULTED.
Last Saturday he had a talk With ex-senator
NJ. Norton, and be told him he had asked the
member from hts dtstnet Belts, to vote against
the bill.
Commissioner RodweTl had heard that Mr..
Belts could be induced to vote against the
trict, and that Neruop being . personal friend OF
his might influence him. He had never seen
voted against the charter lie had asked Phelps
to hsp de feat the bill and Phelps had promised
10 do so, and be tho,leht II conld be done, be-
cause some Republicans we're opposed to II.
His prio cipal objection to tho bal was because
Gen. Socum, who was trying to split the Deao-
cratic Iu,tty, was In favor Of H.
mmlssioner Pyburn ZOO, bad confined all
his Efforts to talk. He did not know Phelps or
any q TIE Republicans who voted aSainst The
hul. He knew Of the progress " the bill by
ghat ho saw In tho newSpapers. He had not
promised u paw any money OF to give anybody
places for the defeat OF the charter.
The interest Of the proceedings centred on the
examination Of q. K. Phelps, the LOBBY man, who
charter. Mr.. Phelps said he had been stopping
In Albany since New Years looking after things
that ne was Interested to-, principally connecsd
with horse railroad legislation. He was ac-
QUAR- with Com nlissoners Fo wier. McLauEhr
lin, and Pyburn, bur bad not had any talk With
charter The lstter told him he would fke to
have the BIZ Killed, and witness pronised to ny
To accOibpd sh.N bp Hlk1nk WIN uemDorS with
whom he was acquaipted-
THE PRIZE or THR H.IooAS.
In consideration or his services, II the bill was
defeated, Pybnrn sad he would giyv him one &C
two places In BROOKLYN; bat he kept the latter
fact dark, for members OF the Legislature, II
they ascertsined that be coslld get appoint
Inepts there, would run him ~ death to get
places fer theIns dives and their friends. No,
money was gwen TO him or Promised hiun for
the defeat OF the bill, and he had usod none. His
memory proved very trsaaher az to wnom he,
had talked with about the matter He wss con-
huent that he had not tleed with Watts. Betts,
Gallagher, or Hoffman, but thought that pe had
with Gugel alter the vote by which the bill was
killed, but could not remember what he said.
Ne had no business IN Albany except In con-
nectiOn with legislative matters, and had been
here during the sessions Tor abmrt two yeara.
lie Kept no. books or pat1efs than would serve To
refresa his memory. He kept good cigars and
LEGISLATURE frequently went there to sample
them. Pheipss memory ~as very ba1 as to
what numbers be had talk 1d with about this
bill In Fact he could not remember tnoflgh
be was confident be- ad spo zen o.severh.
Hamilton, Eisb. il. wanted to know whether
Phelps WAS In the habit Of taking pay for his
services in appointments, to which Phelps re-
Piled 10 wHs none OF Fsks business what no d Id
IN other cGses. Ito tfd, however, in answer TO
Fish. deny that lre bad written letnr saying
that there was n certain number Of puretlasa ID q
votes IN the Assembly. and that tho Erie rvor-
gdniz alton till could 10 beaten for $4,000, say
ing that he wasn't such "a foot as TO do thing
Norton about the Brooklyn charter, but mad for
goti en- what lie saul, Merton mad told hifu tilnt
be,had spoken to Mr.. BETA
Mr.. Belts admitted 10 the committee that he
had PROMISED OK 81 ator Norton " vote against
tho bill, providing y DID noi take his vote to Sc
cure its passage. A. tho bill lacked five votes,
aud he was the | Sc mnn to vuts, he kept his
agreement with an Influential mau in his dis
tTct ana did not defeat the bill.
AZ the committe0's hearing Wednesday
Bot Furey and other witnesses will DO exs
amined.