New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-17
ALL THREE EXONERATED.
THE REPORT ON THE PRESS CHARGES'
SENATOR'S RAINEs. ROBERTSON AND CoGGEs-
HALL DECLARED TO HAVE BEEN FREE
FROM EVEN ANY KNOWLEDGE OF
CORRUPTION FUND-CoMMENTS


CORRUPTION FUND-COMMENTs
on lou" PAYN.
Albany. May 1.-THE special Senate committee
which investigated the bribery charges against Sen
ators Coggesha,l Robertson and Ranes in connec-
ton with the passage of the New-York City Fire
mems Salary bill and the attempt to put through an
amendment increasing the salary OF the onicers Oh
the New York Fire Department submitted ITS re-
port 10 the Senate to-day 1t exonerates the Seha-
tors mentioned. The report was written by senator
Pound. 1t says:
No evidence was given upon the hearing before
us OF any communication or transaction ny anu hn p
tween the Senators named ana any persons Whoni-
soever. or between any person wnomsoeVer acuIs
or assuming to act on behalf OF the senators nAnea
having reference 10 corrupt negotiations Io' My,l
influence behalf of the officers amendment TO the
levied upon the members OF the Oihcers Asso-
citation, there Is an absolute failure OF evidence,
direct or circumsantal. that any senator ever hal
knowledge of the raising of such fund or OF an
attempt TO raise or use sucn fund TO promote lr
interest Of the officers amendment to the Flremeh
We find that there is evidence whatsoever that
Senators Raines COggeshall and Robertson were AT
any time aware that any corrupt fund was being
raised for the purpose OF aiding the said officers
person 'Orruptly soliciting them TO favor such an
amendment and that the evidence justifes no other
their convictions with regard to the merits Of the
proposition submitted TO their consideration as mem
The testimony establishes the fact that. while
Insse DIS were pehus a. ipas; ru'io onr
the officers and men not only that the OF money
Robertson amended bill bur tina; the officers Of the
Fire Department were raising or were about TO raise
arrears that Dynnis Leapy' lobbyist. was intro
duced by ex-Deputy Fire chief McCabe to Fire ON
Of the bill, at Albany ieary made a proposition
to them that he be employed by the Officers Asso-
citation for $1,000 to 90 up to Albany. The follow.
Ing note was addressed by Shaw TO Leary. under
date of March .. 1895:
- Leary. Esq.
Dear Sir. We unable TO influence the Off
GERS Ger. to change their programme last nght ana !,
sooner and might have had different results, Yours.
civilian SHAW"
This transaction together with the statements Of
and Thompson (Which that officer now saws were
Of Flrcmen conroy. Campbell stevens and Reagan
as TO Officer Horan's lost nemorandum-hook that
i was an officers ssessment- book; the evidence u
Rottenhauser, Clifford. French. La Grange. Homer
CONWAY. sheridan. Shaw and Ryan. ana me err
cumsi ances surrounding MEGA suicide poi"i IT.
resisbly to the conclusion that the ,tea ga. cnf
ment was ever passed II wou.d be necessary ~ Itse
.arge sum TO accomplish 1t, ana thai prep
no evidence that any sum was actually fasel o,
that any one outside OF the Fire DEPARTMENT. except
Officers Of the Fire Department mentioned 10y SAID
Witnesses took the stand ana hay cqntrailcteh al
been made by them. and numerous otncr oNiceis
denied all knoTleige OF sge r, fuH yyork Press"
called witness in his own behalf, admttei
that he was the author G the ar,siG III anu Se
avowed any personal knowledge OF any Of the facts
stated therein with reference to the raising or pay
mcnt of money for corrupt purposes or connecting
Senators herewith
Louis F. Payn. mentioned in the newsp2pg: arr d
ces responsible for the appearance OF the ON
GERS amendment at Albany After learning rom
Foreman BurEs. the president OF the oncrTs Asso
clation that the Pavey bill 1t passed the As
en5y d9 not psae ssnatoT Kans to
draft the amendment AM senator h1 P,n says
he but the amendment In the bill and agreed 10 take
pawn testifos that he resides at Albany during the
sessions Of Legislature 70 look after cessation
that he is the salared lessaye aeens ~, 9 scnae
and Assembly for the purpose OF influencing me
nc wbc % b, emtovers are interested 10y argu
ments before Committed but solely by peisyns'
ronversaiion and personal solicitations Of private
ana confidential nature that he has followed tnat
occupation for many years, ana that ne ma no
sena:oriai investigating committee IN the year sls
In connection with services OF the above character
rendered by him for the Erie Railroad ai'nousn on
,baf occasion as on this. bribery or at'einpi'l
bribery Of legs9'STs was not ' yNcv@l in reea
- NAT cers,re 10 the effect that the principal WI
hess va renoTt made an aiiay materially mod
flying or substantially taxing DaoH nS ~, H.
Committee Who signed hc report Of which commit
tee the Hon Matthew Ha.e was Snar ,h, censura
Of Payn based upon ih h Ee 3l nT
n,ad ,hev exoncraied Payn from all blame ana
nracticaly retractei their censuIe OF fayin rao-
,nittee certified copies OF the afdavt OF van
and OF the retraction by the commit
a'hen hcn he alleged were on nle In Washing
tee " VIM In default OF doing. his testimony In
Terence TO this matter was TO be stricken rom
s renoTa Mr. Payn submitted TO the committee
a'e cer,iSed copy OF the affidavit OF Van Nalken-
berg wh nry,mal OF which was filed IN the Depart
ent Of justice at Washington ana which ai,davt
nrodmce the rctracton OF the committee, stating
iettc- 70 the committee that the papers could
not be found on file in the department. ,,,,, al
the facts upon which The Press, article Of April
IS was based in the p9sseSs9,n OF Mr., }'ge e
&C. az them for more than month and only pub
lIshed the story upon learning tnat senator Lanes
,nn fTom, tho Judiciary Committee bill to change
the place II holding judicial sales In New-fork
mn as we'll as The Fireman's bill. coming 10 Albany
frequently to urge It's PASSAGE ana hnsotat'nb VIC
same aos trs Gay a9m 's thas was only after
me adverse action Of the above named Senators on
The Judicial Sales bill that he thought 1t was time
IT is a matter Of regret that the name OF Senator
Ahearn was mentioned by Ere Somiss'n ha Ia
| been communicated to him by eX-'hei McCabc IN
connection with an alleged nrenen ~orn1pdlic ,n
! Senator Ahearn opportunity TO meet ms near
| say accusation. when requested so 10 40 by MN.
| The result his complete vndicanon from any
charge OF improper conduct
Senator O'Connor moved the adoption OF the re-
| port He then stated that Mr.. Payns refusal to
| reveal the names OF those whom he represented
| raised a question as 10 whether the Senate could
punish this as a case Of contempt There was
| some question whether his entire testimony should
| not be stricken from the record. The report was
adopted and 100 copies Of the report and evidence
ordered printed, Senator Coggeshal remarked that
| thought perhaps persons might want 10 read
the evidence when they read the report
BILLS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.