The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-01
ANGERED BY JEROME CHARGES
STATE SENATE TO DISCO SIS THE
LTOTOR DEALERS FUND.
Ralnes. Aroused Makes the Motion and
sam Foley Agrees with Iim-Tamnany
and Citizens Union Join In Home
Rule Amendment for New York city.


and Citizens Union Join In Home
Rule Amendment for New York city.
ALBANY, Jan. 3i.-The charges made 10y
District Attorney Jerome that the New
York City Liquor Dealers Association spent
$4,000 last year in corrupting members OF
| the Legislature were discussed in I he SEN
ate to-day.
Upon motion of Senator John Raines.
the Republican leader. the Grand Jury pre-
sentiment and evidence taken before the
Grand Jury were taken from the table and
referred 10 the Judiciary Committee for
action and report.
Ii is expected that the report of the com
mittee will handle Mr.. Jerome without
| gloves, al the chairman Of the committee
Ia Senator Edgar I Bracket of Saratoga.
In moving that the Judiciary Committee
consider the matter Senator Raines said:
| We are informed IN the opening OF the
| proceedings lefore the Grand Jury by Mr..
Jerome as to the object of this inquiry he
! says. Mr.. Foreman. this Is an inquiry IN
reference TO the bribery Of public officers.
On that line the inquiry proceeded the ef-
| fort being to ascertain what became OF
certain fund of twenty-thousand and
| odd dollars which was raised by the liquor
| dealers of the State OF New York and OF the
| city of New York for the aNowed purpose
| ofadVancin K bills in their interest that were
| before the Legislature of the State, notably
Il bill which, at somebody's request, former
| Senator Green introduced in the Senate
Il want to state that so far as Is shown
| by this inquiry no penny of the money
attached TO the hands Of any member OF
| the Legislature or Of the EXCISE Depart
| ment or OF any officer OF the state OF New
| York except ,lne. and that Is in tn adj
| United evidenot that part Of that money
| a very small amount, and possibly entirely
legitimate in its expenditures went into
I the hands Of Mr. Jerome. the District At
! torney of the county Of New York.
| Aside from that, the only evidence
| which points TO any one member OF the
| Legislature as having received a particle
| OF that fund Is 70 one member OF the Assem-
! bly, mentioned by name in evidence. Mr..
| Bechtel, who * said 10 have borrowed $50
and 10 have returned IT,
Aside from that there ia no mention
| derogatory to any Senator in thus circle;
there IL no mention by name dcrogatory
| to any Assemblyman OF the Legislature,
| there il "A sort OF general mud throwing by
| four witnesses, of whom ! do not hesitate
| to say that Mr. jerome himself, if put on
| the stand, would swear that he would not
! believe either one Of them under oath.
Senator Samuel j. Foley (Tam) joined
Senator Raines in declaring that those who
had joined in the attempt 10 besmirch the
Legislature should be severely dealt with
! by the Legislature. He said
So far as ! personally am concerned
that We are only too anxious that this be
referred to the Judiciary Committee. and
that We hope that the Judiciary Committee
will take hold Of il seriously and if possible
bring TO Albany, IN order that that commit
tee may examine them, the people who
We're examined 10y the District Attorney
Of the county Of New York
In order TO overcome the opposition 10
bill creating a Judge7' pension fund IN 40
many words Senator Elsberg has intro
duced bill which accomplishes that end
but in a different manner The bill provides |
instead Of retiring them on half pay that |
where n Judge in New York county retires
from the bench after twenty years service
the Appellate Division Of the Supreme /
Court may appoint him an Official referee /
al a salary TO be the same ~ he was rcCey- |
ing when he retired from the bench. The !
bill applies to Judges who have retired as |
well AZ to those who are about to retire.
Senator Martin and Ahsemblyman Iomp
kins Tam1 to-day introduced the Citizens /
Union resolution amending the State Con- /
stitution TO give New York city absolute |,
home rule and TO prevent further egisla- |
tive interference in the matter OF passing |
bills for the opening, making, paving, /
lighting or otherwise improving or main /
tanning streets, avenues, parks or places, !
docks or wharYes, or for any other local /
work or Improvement The resolution is |
the one recommended by the Tilden Com
mission in 1877. That commission was
composed OF William F Evart,. Samuel
Hand, Simon Sterne, Oswald Ottendorfer,
f. Godhn. William Allen Butler. James c. I
Carter Mr.. Dimock and Joshua NJ. Van
Colt
Senator Cassidy to-day introduced bill |
giving electric light and power companies
the right Of condemnation proceedings in
order to extend their systems. This il
believed to he in the interests Of some of the
Niagara power companies. The courts
have decided that the companies have no
such rights now
Another effort 10 get IN Republican
Municipal Court Justices in BROOKLYN il
TO be made. Senator Gardner introduced
a bill creating two new Municipal Court
districts in that borough. one in Browns
vile district and the other in South Brook
Ign. The Justices are 10 be elected next
fall
The salary Of the under sheriff Of New
York county Is increased from s. 900 TO
81 900 by a bill introduced by Senator Fitz-
gerald. The bill also increases from 81 900
10 81 500 the salaries Of the assistants 10 the
deputy sherifls.
Senator Drescher rep. BROOKLYN to-
day introduced bill which is designed TO
relieve the congested condition of travel
on the Williamsburg bridge at the Man
haitian terminal. The bill turns over 10
the jurisdiction Of the Commissioner Of
Bridges Of New York city Delaney street
from the Manhattan terminal 10 the Bowery.
with power 10 enter into a contract for ten
wears, with the privilege Of a ten year re-
newal, with the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company TO lay tracks in Delaney street
from the bridge to the Bowery with loop
facilities al the Bowery
AsscmblymAn Friedel introduced a bill
compelling the removal Of one Of the two
sets Of tracks on the Bowery between
Gland and Fifth streets The bill provides
ina, there shall be but one set OF track
there, so that the Third and Fourth avenu,
lines would have 70 use the same tracks.