Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-08

What Tobacco Company People Say
About Alleged Attempt to Bribe.
New York Wines. 7thl

| New York Times, 7th.)
William w. Fuller, counsel for the
American Tobacco Company, was seen
last night at his residence, 65 west
Seventy-third street. When shown the
dispatch from Nashville. stating that MIR.
Rogers. a member OF the Legislature. had
stated I'm speech In the Legislature
that Mr.. Fuller had drafted bill repeal
ing the anti-cigarette law, and that
Frederick S. Gibbs the New York MEM
Der OF the Republican National Commit
tee. had written him asking his support
of the bill because its promoters were
among the largest contributors to Thomas
c. Platts campaign fund, Mr.. Fuller
says:
II don't understand what prompted Mr.
Rogers to make the statements he is
credited with making. In the first place.
Mr. Rogers was the father of the anti
cigarette bill. which took effect in Ten
nesee in May 1897. As soon as the bill
went into effect | went to Nashville TO
test the law. A dealer, acting under nay
instructions. sold some cigarettes, and
when he was arrested / obtained a writ
or habeas corpus from the Federal Court
When the case came up for argument
In September, the law was declared I'M
constitutional which practically knocked
it out. Mr.. Rogers filed brief i'm court
in favor OF the cOnstitutionality Of the
act, but it was not sustained by the
Judges.
u have never met Mr.. Rogers and only
know about him i'm connection with lis
anti-cigarette bill. His statement that |
drafted bill repeating the anti-cigarette
law is not true, as such a bill would not
be necessary. in view of the United States
Circuit Courts decision. | would not hesi-
tate to draw such a bill. however If ne
cessary. l don't understand why my
name was mentioned in the matter, and
am very sorry that it has been done.
THE laws passed I'm Washington and
Iowa prohibiting the sale of cigarettes
have been declared unconstitutional, as
well as the law in West Virginia I'm
posing tax of 800 a year on their sale
The $1,000 yearly license-fee which the
city of Denver imposed on its retail cigar
cite dealers met like fate Every bill |
that has ever become a law which tended |
to interfere with or prohibit the sale of |
cigarettes, has, when tested, been de-
clared void.
Il know nothing whatever about the al
legged bribery, and can only say that Mr..
Rogers's remarks must be the rawlings of
a disappointed politician"
George Arents, treasurer Of the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company, who lives az 38
west F1fty-seventh street, laughed at the
report, and said that the American To-
bacco Company never, either directly or
Indirectly made any Overtures TO any
member of the Tennessee Legislature.
Frederick s. Gibbs, who, it is alleged,
wrote letter to Mr. Rogers on behalf of
he American Tobacco Company. said:
Il met Mr.. Rogers in St Louis at the
time of the Republican National Conven-
tion In 1896. and remember him as a
cripple with bad face. 1 wrote a letter
20 Mr.. Rogers about a year ago, at
whose suggestion l cannot say without
my letter-book, asking him. If
consistent with his convictions, to intro
luce bill in the Legislature to repeal
he anti-cigarette law, and telling him
he Republican party would consider ii
favor.
Mr.. Rogers is at perfect liberty TO
make my letter public l never mentioned
he American Tobacco Company In my let
er, and If he says / did. he prevaricates.
{ was just such a letter as am asked to
write every day, and / thought nothing
urther Of il after it was finished. II
ir. Rogers was offered n bride Of $500
e must be a cheap man. or the small
ess of the amount perhaps insulted
i'm"