Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-08-23
RECORD GIVES
HIS SIDE OF 1T.
Denies the Graft Charges But
Admits That He Took Fees
For Services.

JEltoE1 VII, aug. 23.-GeOrge
L. Record, corporation counsel of
Jersey City, and the candidate of the
Colby republicans in New Jersey for
United States senator, appeared yes
terday before the committee of the
state Legislature which is Investigate
ing the affairs of the state board of
riparian commissioners. He denied
the charges made against him at a
recent session of the committe by
Secretary John c.. Payne.
Mr.. Record was formerly general
counsel for the board of riparian
commissioners, and Secretary Payne
as a witness before the investigating
committee charged that Mr.. Record
had acted as counsel for applicants
for riparian grants, and had received
fees for such services, although he
was paid a salary by the board of ri
parian commissioners. Mr.. Payne
also charged that many of the per-
sons in whose interests Mr.. Record
appeared received grants at ridicu-
lousy low figures.
When the committee met yester-
day, in the chancery chambers in Jer-
sey City, Mr.. Record asked that he be
allowed to cross examine Mr.. Payne.
After considerable discussion the
committee told Mr.. Record that it
would first hear what he had to say
regarding the charges. Mr.. Record
persisted in his request to cross ex-
anime Mr.. Payne, but the committee
refused to allow him the privilege at
this time. Mr.. Record took the wit
ness stand, and after being sworn
submitted a typewriter statement
covering all the charges made by Mr..
Payne. 1t was read by Robert Carey,
Mr.. Records counsel.
In the statement Mr.. Record de-
MED that he had we received a dol
lar in fees to which he was not legal
ly entitled, and he also denied that
he had ever used any undue influence
in obtaining grants for applicants
whom he represented.
Accompanying Mr.. Records state
ment was an affidavit made by John
F. Odiorne, who, as a member of the
III III u OOlOlh NV N wv 90 DtlPt AAfhA
~ufacturers, had made application for
a riparian grant on the Hackensack
river. The purport of the affidavit
was that after the firms application
had been refused they retained Sena-
tor Wakelee, the chairman of the leg
islative committee, who is a lawyer,
and he succeeded in having the APP
plication favorably acted upon. Mr..
Wakelee, according to the affidavit,
received a 5000 fee. This was five
years ago, and the purpose of Mr..
Record was to show influence had
been brought to bear in the riparian
commission.
During the hearing Mr.. Record
and Attorney General McCarter, who
is counsel for the committee, had sew
eral tits. Mr.. McCarter cross exam
med Mr.. Record at length regarding
the fee he had received. Mr.. Record
admitted that the fees he received
might have amounted in all to
around $4,000.
why charge fees when the board
had fixed your salary at $1,5OO a
year?" asked the attorney general.
Because my salary was for advice
to the board and the fees were for
services rendered to the applicant"
replied Mr.. Record.
1t was brought out on cross exam
nation that Mr.. Record divided his
fees with Secretary Payne. Mr.. Rec
ord insisted that his moral relations
with the board were all right, ever If
technically they were not.
$50 you took the money on the
quiet, in addition to your salary?"
asked Mr.. McCarter.
Mr.. Recprd Indignantly replied:
THAT is a gratuitous insult. 1t is
unfair"
Secretary Payne was called as a
witness. He was turned over to Mr..
Record for cross examination. The
.wo men were formerly close friends
md betrayed much i'll feeling against
each other. Mr.. Record forced Mr..
Payne to admit that he had taken
documents from Mr.. Records desk
md had given them to Governor
81 did this for my own protection,
vas Mr.. Payne's explanation.
At the close of the session the
passed a resolution re-
luesting the governor not to permit
my more riparian grants to be made
Until the committee had finished its
Investigation and filed its report. The
lext meeting will be in September.