New-York tribune., 1907-10-04
QUIGG EXPLAINS LOBBY.
WORK NOT IN HIS LINE.
Doesn't account for Cash Paid an
Transit Interests.

A lobbyist, according to Lemuel Ely Quigg.
is "a person who hangs round a Legislature
open to any engagement in connection with the
| legislative business" Mr.. Quigg does not con-
slider himself lobbyist, he testified yesterday
before the Public Service Commission in its
investigation of the affairs of the traction sys-
tens in this city. His services he said, con
sisted in open appearances before public bodies
and public officials legitimate business To
be sure. many legislators including the late
Speaker S. Fred Nixon. were his close intimate
friends. and II entirely natural for him
TO visit them and have them visit him. he said.
Mr. Ouigg did not account for S43.7S7 cash
disbursed personally by him for the Ryan tran
sit interests. He said that no had no memo
randa as to the identities OF the recipients, be-
cause he did not care TO subject them to the
danger OF having their names dragged before
the public were those of the men 10 whom
he had given checks. and had destroyed his
memoranda after each transaction
Mr.. Qugg yesterday at times Joked quietly
with William NJ WINS. who was examining
him. He telling about his antagonism to
the Elsberg bin of 1905. which led to his
arguing against II to every person whom he
met
Il think I should have argued against IT
even with you. Mr.. WINS" he added "fearsome
as you are"
More clearly than his testimony showed
how Thomas +. Ryan and the men associated
with him had induced August Belmont with his
| profitable subway and elevated lines, TO go into
| a merger with the surface system Just now. he
said his interest consisted in consolidating the
| public sentiment of The Bronx into n demand
| for the third tracking of the Second and Third
avenue elevated lines. This is one of the
schemes he fighting before the merger had
| been accomplished He was working, he testi-
| fed. through Edward H. Healy and James l..
Wells and the committee of one hundred.
Il wish" said Mr.. WINS. when those names
| came out. that we could find Democrat In this
: list" Mr.. Healy is the Republican leader of
| the 33d Assembly District. and a former office
| holder. James L. Wells"
LEssLER BRIBERY TESTIMONY.
! on only ono point did Mr.. WINS break Mr..
| Quigg's composure This when he read
from the minutes OF the Montague Lessler
bribery charges investigation. where Mr.. Quigg
| testified that never had he visited the General
Assembly OF the New York Legislature on busi-
ness other than political business when he was
president of the Republican County Committee.
and never had he represented rs lobbyist there
the New York City railway companies any
| others
"Will you tell us how you reconcile that tes-
timony with the testimony you have given dur
| ing the last two days before this commission %
asked Mr.. WINS pointedly.
| why il is absolutely consistent with II, ex-
cept In one respect, and only one" replied
| Ouigg. hotly. land If 1 had not discovered my
| checks when l began to look them up after my
! subpoena l should have made the same answer
here that I did there. namely that had not
been in Albany during that period had moth
| tI,a bu nj Albany
as have Just answered you, during that period,
further than to consult with counsel. I was not
| there I'm Albany on any legislative business The
| date of that testimony is January 1903 and up
| 10 that time / never had been in Albany for the
| Metropolitan Street Railroad or any other in
| terest other than political and 1 said so. and 1t
| was true and ] have said here. and there Is
no contradiction to reconcile or TO be reconciled
| The commission is not through with Mr..
| Ouigg He will be recalled to the stand when
| the investigation is resumed on Monday John
| b. Mcdonald the builder of the original subway.
NAV he called on Monday. He appeared at the
| hearing under subpoena yesterday. with his
counsel. ex-Justice Morgan J.. O'Brien but was
| excused until Monday.
Mr.. WINS took up first with Mr.. Quigg the
uees for which his cash part of the $151 900
subway special account had been spent. Cash
| checks Mr. Wins found. amounting to Si3,S7S.
| had been drawn, exclusive of about $4,000,
which went to Mr. Quigg personally as fees.
AS TO THE p S MEASURE.
The totals for which Mr.. Ouigg had accounted
ALTERED from the amount paid to him by the
Metropolitan Securities Company. Mr. WINS
said, by an amount entered in two accounts in
! the books-$6O111 A. charged TO property and
I Continued on fourth page.