Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-25
Contributed to Campaign When Can
didates in New York.
some PAID As HIGH as $4,000
All Of Them Thought It Right tc
Contribute.
EXPENSES WERE LEGITIMATE

NEW YORK, September 25.-Justice Ed
ward Patterson of the appellate division of
the supreme court was the first witness
called by the Mazet investigating commit
tee today.
Chairman Mazet, in an Introductory state
ment, said the committee. at the request of
the city club, the chamber of commerce and
other bodies, had decided to request from
| the judges In the city their opinions as to
the ACCESSIBILITY of the passage of a strin-
gent law prohibiting the paying of election
expenses by candidates for judicial offices.
In reply to Mr.. Moss, the witness said he
had made a contribution toward expenses
at the time of his election. He did not re-
member the amount.
WAS 1t several thousand dollars?' asked
Mr.. Moss.
4 think so. I was nominated by the
county democracy, and made a contribu-
ton to that organization. l was Endorsed
by Tammany Hall, but made it no contri-
button, and was not asked for any"
DO you think that the making of such
contributions by judicial candidates ought
to be prohibited by law?'
80 long there are political parties
they will need money for legitimate eX-
penses, and the making of such contribu-
ton by a judicial candidate in no way In
fiuences his judicial conduct thereafter; but
IT would be great relief and welcome
thing if such contributions were not al
lowed
Cost G1luerSIeeVe $4,OUO.
Justice Gilderseeve of the supreme court
followed Justice Patterson on the stand
He had brought with him a copy Of his
sworn election expenses, amounting to
something over $4,000. He did not know
where the money went.
He thought the practice of requiring a
large sum of money for election expenses
from a judicial candidate a bad one,
but did not consider 1t harmful for the can
didate for judgeship to make reasonable
contribution to his party's expenses.
Justice Giegerich presented his election
declaration, filed in 1892, showing that his
expenses included 5000 paid to Tammany
Hall. He had not been asked for any GER
tain sum, but in conversation with the
chairman of the finance committee he offer
ea that amount and it was satisfactory.
He did not see, he said, why judicial can
didates ought to be exempt from contribu-
ting as long as parties need money Tor
election expenses.
Justice Scott was called. His election
statement showed that he paid to John
c. Sheehan, as chairman of the Tammany
finance committee, $3.50 Tor printing ana
other election expenses and had made other
disbursements. mostly to newspapers, max
ing a total of $500.
Justice Scott's Views.
Justice Scott said he thought political
organizations should be required to file
statements showing how money contrib
uted to them was spent
Justice Bischoff, who was elected to the
court of common pleas in 1889, said he
had voluntarily contributed to the demo-
cratic-republican county committee (Tam-
many HalD 10000 The witness said that
in his case the payment of contri-
button in no way affected his judicial con-
duct afterward, but he thought judicial
candidates should be exempt from such
contributions. No political leader he said.
had ever attempted to influence him in the
appointment Of a referee or commissioner.
Justice McAdam followed. A friend OF
his made a contribution of 10000 at the
time of his nomination. The cost OF an
election in the city, he said, Is 100000 or
thereabouts. and he did not see why judi
cial candidates should be exempt from pay
ing their share.