New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-09
SENATOR RAINES TESTIFIES.
CLOSELY cRoss-EXAMINED AS TO HIS
FIREMEN's SALARIES AMENDMENT
HE DID NOT KNOW LOUIS F PAYNs BUSINESS IN
ALBANY WHEN Mr.. PAWN ASKED HIM TO
PROPOSE THE AMENDMENT. THE
SENATOR TELLS COUNSEL


FOR THE PRESS"
The trial OF the action brought by state senator
John Raines. of Canandnigua, against the New
York Press Company recover $4,000 damages ior
an alleged libel published In THE Press on April
IS 1895 was continued in the Supreme Court yes
terday before Justice Maclean and a jury. Senator
Raines SAYS that the article charged him WIN ue-
manding brides FOR his action in insurin8 the pas
sage Of the FireInens Salaries BILL asserting among
other things that among the Senator'S VINO re-
quired to be taken OF Senator'S Raines,
Coggcshall and Robertson" The defence IS a de-
NAL OF the allegations in the complaint ana the as
sertion OF the truth OF the article in question
The direct examination OF Senator Raines was
closed yesterday morning. The Senator denieo the
statements concerning him published IN lhe
Press" and told Of his action with regard TO the
rtremens' hill He said he drew an amendment
70 the BIN as introduced in the Assembly making
the provislon for the increase Of the ofhcers saa
rles mandatory at he request OF Louis r. fayh
DeIencey N,cou counsel for The Press, cross
examined the Senator. MI Raines said ne h's,
mot Pawn in ISL He denied that he ever had any
husiness transactions with Payn. but SAID ne hao
conversations with him several times ne met
Pawn IN the Senate library when asked by MN 10
draw the amendment to the Firemen's Dill
"Wbat was M Payn doing?' asked MT. N'c"i
81 DO not know" the reply 49,
Did YOU ever suspect what his business WAS
mo"
1T never occurred 20 you that ne was US''s ~
influence legislation for money
Il never had any such idea
Mr. N,col pressed tho witness as TO whether ne
knew what a lobbyist was.
senator Raines said he had heard OF lobbyists
as persons employed as attorneys IN Inc 'h'''S
q, certain corporations and he had heard the term
annlioa 10 persons who used improper means 10
inauence legislation He said he expressed no sur
prise at being asked by Payn 10 ORA" the ane"u
ment lie never made any Inquiry OF mo au't'o'-
ties O. New-York City to the ACCESSIBILITY OF inc
passage OF tho bill. He never spoke about 'he
amendment 10 anybody except Payn. He had often
seen Pawn IN the Senate chamber behind the ral
and had seen him In Northumberland sa1toh
-
Have you and Payn ever talked this matter over
.inceY' inquired Mr. Nicoll
when Mr.. Payn is called as a witness. saio
George f. Raines who is counsel for his brother
he Will tell you all that occurred between them
with great yolubility."
Tho witness said that he got figures In connection
with tho salaries Of the officers OF the fire brigade
from an act at the time In force.
Were you not In 1852" Mr.. NicoH ASKED
charged with corruption In connection with your
votes ia tho LeglslatureT
The question was objected TO. and Justice Mac
Lean sustained the objection Mr.. NicoH then
asked tho witness what were tho charges mace
against him and whether or not he took any pro-
ceedings for libel against tho persons VINO H'auo
tho charges but the questions were not allowed.
Senator IA nes said he ala not remember that
he voted IN lsS2 for bill 20 relieve mo Elevated
railroad Company OF "A large part ot It's taxes.
lie was then Intercepted as 10 MS vote anu H's
action generally WIKI regard TO a BIZ introdgeea
hy the cas- Consumers Association OF New-Hork
In 1855 FOR the reduction OF ~" price OF gas hhu
a. 10 whether he not tho leader or the caucus
watch defeated the bill lie was not allowed 20
answer these questions. Mr.. NlcOll then wanted
"a know II charges had not been made against the
.ltn.ss hy A citizens society in 1881 on account
OF his votes IN tho Legislatures or lSh- 1919 ans
$50 These quest ions also were overruled.
Mr. Nicoll next wanted 10 know whether the Sen.
a,e Committee on Privileges and Elections had not
made an inve-tiga lion into charges made against
the fiaiuiin on account OF his actions In the Lex
Tho Ohio Railroad Company and the Standard OH
counssl FOR the plaintiff said the Investigation
VIZ. mad. on tn. application 81 the plalntiif VINO
made charges against George +. Splnney; OF 4 nc
Eow-York Times" who had published them lie
added that he was satisfied TO permit tho part OK
the committees report showing !ts concusiohs 10
De put IN evidence . - 500, q,
M Nicol asked that the whole report be put IN
40 that tho Jury could see inc testimony X "
shovy what the legislative character Of the pantiH
rad been he said. ard tho estimation IN whlch ne
y-as held by tho citizens In his district. Ihat was
.he oniv Issue before tho jury and their oiy stlue
ia d.t.rn,ining The question % damages fie lheh
,1afn questioned tho witness as TO tho Fircmeil
%TI and his relations with Louis +. Payn on the
subject Senator Raines repeated ms former sac
Mon, Tint he di nothing more than ara" tIe
ar,endrner. asked by Payn and again said 'hat mo
charges made In The Press" were absolutey
untrue. 49,, ,,N.- ~. -.
nv