New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-22

CHARGES BY Edmund STEPHENSON
AGAINST THE EXEMPT FfREMENS
ASSOCIATION


State Controller James A. Roberts has been asked
10 institute inquiry into the affairs OF The Ex-
erlpt Fircmen's Benevolent Fund. and particularly
10 investigate the details o. certain items In the
reports OF the fund for 1895 ard 1896. The request
has been made by Edmund Stephenson. president
of the Home Bank. No. 3cI West Forty--econd-st.
and time president Of the Exempt Firemens
Association MIR Stephenson il supported In this
action by several members Of The association. ana
II IS openly declared that the Legislature Of 1875 re-
ceived upward Of soj o for the purpose OF passing
u hill putting a ? per cent tax on foreign nre IN
suranco companies doing business In this STATE TOT
the benefit Of the Exempt Firemens beneNoen'
Fund II is also asserted that the fund Il MIS-
managed and IFS income perverted from tho proper
channels and II Is further charged that tho cor
ruption fund Of $4,000 mainly distributed
through a lobbyist who IL well known both In Ale
bany and in this city.
Apart from his request 10 Controller Roberts MI
Stephenson has applied to the Legislature 10 order
an Investigation determine what. n any. MEM
bers Of the Legislature received the money alleged
TO have been paid to obtain the act. or " none OF
of the members were directly brihod what outsider
who was supposed 10 he influential With the legis-
lative body put the funds into his own pocket
During the last two three weeks Mr. stephen
son has corresponded with various authorities al
Albany but the following letter. which he for
warded TO Controller Roberts on February g. states
Dear Sir. II not already received. YOU VIII In a
few DAYS receive the annual report Of tho trustees
of the Exempt Firemens Benevolent Fund. as pro-
vided by law I'm that report desire 10 cal your
attention to pages 10 and u Of the report in which
il is shown that on March H. 1895. there WAS paid
for counsel fees and expenses slO"o. ana on Juy
% 1895 there was another payment OF ~" 10,
counsel foes and EXPENSES, and on tho same W.
further sum OF s,H Il for expenses oi cofn'ne,'
Albany secure the passage OF me ~ 49, -,
surance tax You will also find by r'tett'hs, "
tha renort of 1906 which is on file in your oince
pages 10 and II of the report charge OF 49,. ~
counsel fees and expenses AIS" q .l'i 49, ', Al.
paid Evarts. choate q Beamdn tor s"r|i.,s -,
banv and A further charge of s421 %. expense. OF
committee TO Albany. making toia, cos "o 10 90
benevolent fund Of S2iJ5 - 10 secure IN, Pis,ata
through tho Legislature Of the per cent lhsnr""'e
tax for the beneh; of This find. -, ,.
II me that II l. wlthin your mn ~. ,,an,s
70 demand from this Board of Trustees inc l'eins
of fees and expenses paid tines" lawyers ~ 80, 60
| 1896. amounting % the princeF sum u S-'' anu
Il IS within nv knowledge that this large amount
of money was paid out for lobbying 10 pr"''sS'o'''s
TO put i, in it's mildest form, IT is q wiliul ana
unwarranied waste and expenditure oil ''s '""''
I max this charge to you. as the Controller or
this state 10 whom the trustees by law must ma 40
and vslv file wi,n yU" '"' EpMND STEPHENSON.
To This communication Mr. Roberts replied ma,
he had no Jurisdiction to investigate tn' sn"l's w
Wy ~ ,ha STAT. Assemblyman +. T.. Lamoser.
Who vas also com nunicated with. suggested TO MI
Stephenson that he sh9ui mrs, pro s,c,s re.mng
therefrom warranted TO appeal 10 me
Mr. Stephenson az the annual mems ~ ex-
| animation OF the books shall be maze a.. d.,
James W. Watkins the secIe,rsy 81 VS. ,, t Sns
S,ndrsd Northumberland. refused 10 discuss
Mr. Stenhenson's charges for the present re a..
,1,o,.,ad that before any statement would D" mans
for publication conference OF the trustees "o'''
be held.