New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-23
SPEAKER COLE PROTESTS.
RzsrSe m THE ASSEMBLY TO A QUESTION
' OF PRIVILEGE.
- nvnorwars THE INVESTIGATION sy TIE
cErLrNs SUB COMMITTEE At Ais HOME AZ
rrnsEcuTroN HIS BANK ACCOUNT

,ur nESoJEoEs THE lNVEoNtoAAN1NN % AAD
,,rrY1va SUB COMMITTEES. AT HIS HOME AS
pypsEcuTroN-HIs BANK ACCOUNT
AT WATKINS.
-. ,rauIAs CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBuNR.l
- Mareh 22.-Speaker Cole came TO the
.-s.s,h,s today highly indignant over q dispatch
60 s.,,a his home at Watkins yesterday TO " The
~. yorb World" containing alleged testimony
,.hioh had been given TO Assemolymen mcmaster
and q. N. Bush, acting as subcommittee OF
r,'.,n. Investigation Committee, in relation to
sno ca,ss rrisate affairs After bis frank testi-
ss hstore The Ceiling Investigation Committee
..,d !, his banking affairs and his submission
- 10 h.nk books 20 that committee, coupled with
- sS,la,ation OF every item recorded against him
49, Mr. Cole thought the course OF Messrs.
ss.ss.stsr and Bush in thus accepting evidence
:. 80 rersonal and political enemies in Watkins,
..hout giving him chance TO cross-examihe
60 IN the nature Of persecution. Scarcely
20 ne Assembly met, therefore, before he put
~ ssxton In the Speakers chair and descending
= tbe door OF the Assembly Chamber, addressed
his fellow-members As soon as the nature OF nus
sreech was perceived, the Assembiymen ceaseo
writing letters, reading newspapers, and other
srise occupying themselves, and listened intently
TO what Mr. Cole was saying. profound silence
soon reisned in the hall and there was q dramatic
$500 O~~N'
said:
rre for Eve years and upon this door with colleagues
tom dserens parts OF the STATE. believe that here
tfore have regarded IS reasonably honorable sna
decent Individual have never before in all my ies
aiye career seen nt rise to question OF privilege.
tbs Is the rst question Of privilege to which nave
arsen; but sir Mr. Speaker. there Is time wnen eT-
besranee becomes longer virtue, and think me
gentlemen Of this House must recognize win me 'nAs sne
tim, Is here.
Mr. Speaker had the fortune be candidate for the
speasersp Of this House during the weeks intervening
election and the converting Of this body Tnere
certain gentlemen opposed to me IN that contest
sees TO make nvdions conclusion by reason OF this
hay, always had the profoundest respect for my as
tnguiaed opponent and want 70 say that now nave
but Ms Speaker growing out OF that contest there came
certain rumor throughout this State in regard 10 the
erection Of this Assembly ceiling. These rumors TOOK
somewhat during that contest, and grew and broad
ened, uzil when we met here in January, there was
almost q, avalanche Of public sentiment demanding an
Investigation OF the construction OF the Assembly eene
committees appointed for that purpose IL was the
Committee Appropriations Of this House. resolution
passed IN this House that everybody that saw nj SHOULD
Be- allowed to ask whatever questions he desired 70 10
regard 70 that investigation The matter proeeeoed
weeks until the Appropriations Committee con-
Guided tat all the testimony that could be taken hsa oeeh
,sksn and all the facts that could be ELECTED had been
elected they made their report did not ertcise
thss report, sthough fell then and ssil feel that u
was unjust But MT. Speaker, the matter did not END
there Certain members this door desired thorough
investigation. That distinguished gentleman from New
York Nj. Gibbs, moved for the appointment Of new
investigating comsaittee selected by himself, consisting
Of Mr. Ffsh Mr. Asplnsi MI. MeMaster and Mr.. King.
together with such Democrats as the Democratic caucus
should 1T seiest Mr.. AcMaster IL not
here In his the gentleman to whom desired
shis morning 70 address my remarks
HIS Rank BOOKS SHOWN THE COUNSEL.
short tine ago eetsin newspapers in this State de-
nanded an Investigation Of my bank account AS soon
demand made stated that was then ready
and willing 10 comply with any demand which the In
yesegating Committee nt 10 make. went down 70
the DeIasan House and produced bank books which
are Everything connected with these bank books,
and which are bona hde and which contain sh Of my
financial transactions, gone by one with Mr.
Bowers and Mr.. Seward, and every
item was explained satisfactorily to them.
Mr. MeMaster was there during thai time when was
explaining this matter to these counsel.
But Mr.. speaker, it that the committee did not
propose end the matter there. They ssnt suecom
nittee up to my hone-up 10 my home where have
lived for twelve years; where beeye and shall besye
until proven 10 the contrary that the people Of that
home that village sna that county, hare confidence IN ny
pnsnhced my integrity. have Hvea there for some
years I have beer politician 10 that locality OF some
prominence There have accrued 70 me many and bitter
personal and political enemies. But Mr. Speaker.
said fss time that any investigating committee
has investigated me. And this Is an unprecedented
procedure Of this subcommittee OF this Ceiling Committee
going there and exsrnng my personal ehemes ana look
ing into bank books getting all sorts OF rumor and hear
say they could possibly in that village
and around the county; ~ to be anasng Inn
puasnce Mr.. Fish told yesterday that he had not
Authorized M McMssiss the subcommittee and knew
nothing Of the faot that they going 20 Watkins
That being the eEonerats him But VINO did send
them theref Mr.. Bowers undcs,snd, says he did not
Mr. Seward understand claims b. knows nothing about
it. Who 6id send them theref Where did they get
their auxhh1vf They went up there. 1 received
teissrsm yesterday morning fOm brother that they
were holding sessions Ia the Fa Brook House, had sub
poenaed my personal and political 70 appear before
them ana tell what they knew about me- Among other
gentlemen they subpoenacd lawyer named Norton Mr.
Morton Is here 10 defend himself and thus VIII
make no aspersons whatever upon his character MS
integrity. He has been q political enemy OF mine for
some years. He refuses now, and has for some time
refused, to feccgnize upon the streets. lie
tiws some six or eight years ago. tine Republican
candidate for County Judge and was defeated since
then his efforts in political life successful
largely, perhaps dup 70 my own efforts, 70 ambi
tSn., He says am dishonest man and skunk lie
. entitled 20 his opinion, MI Speaker and have nothing
further say about it.
They have the testimony, they claim, OF young
employed OF the hotels named Searles who says
that said that Mr.. Chickering involved In little
natter certificate OF deposit for $4,000 have
said in the county Schuyler the floor Of this
House. anywhere, Mr. chiekering had interest,"
he certainly has not with sny financial transaction with
which was ever engaged But, little further, Mr..
Speaker. they claim that tine last sumsaer thsfe
$4,000 certificate OF deposit lost By me. General
Richard A. Elmer II he aliyeand have some Of ais
letters in my pocketcoud doubtless explain the eirea
stanees Of this traneacon, but he s dead There are,
however nearly halt dozen living witnessS some Of
them who have State reputation who kno'f ell about
thss transaction Mp. D. r. Davis whose mans was
the back OF thas ncte Mr. Jeha NJ Drake, whose name
10 also upon the back note snd who Is the
fy Of the Board OF Trade Of New.York the publisher Of
sDrakes Travellers Magazine" the publisher Of "The
Nsx-york pispasehs and who Is business man in New
yerk-thsy can explain that sansacton the same rs
explained Il 20 Mr Seward the explained IL TO
this committee and they oil understand IL and they sll
knew Of H. They ali know about every item there 10
apcn chat bankbook and that has contained all my hns
<isi transactions there not that aan net per
feetly willing 70 explain TO everybody who desres an
explanation.
WHY DID THE COMMITTEE GO TO wArKISsi
But M Speaker why 10 II that this committee this
sub committee and Of course ths had any authority
they must be held responebse--why that this sub