Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-15
POWER OF THE POL|CE PLAN FOR SAGE FUND
investigation May Be Made at De Forest Explains That It
Albany of BhIecoat Lobby Won't Be Restricted
CORRUPTION FUND STORIES MRS. SAGE A TRUSTEE
Inquiry Certain Bingham Bills Are She Will in
Killed in New York Senate Directing Expenditures.
PROSPECT OF THE MEASURES CHARITIES BE BENEFITED
Legislators Of the Empire They Will
Trustees
CORRUPTION FUND STORIES
Inquiry Certain If Bingham Bills Are
Killed in New York Senate.
PROSPECT OF THE MEASURES
Activity Of Gotham Inspectors Among
the Legislators Of the Empire
State-Attitude Of Senators.

NEW YORK, March 15.-It is pretty GER
tain that there will be a legislative investi-
CATION IL Commissioner Binghams police
bills get slugged to death in the senate.
1t is believed that Gov Hughes, who has
taken a direct interest In the fate of the
commissioners bills, will see to it that
there is an investigation to determine how
the inspectors corruption fund, which has
grown to a figure not less than 100000 and
very likely nearer 100000, was split up.
There's a pretty strong belief at police
headquarters these days that the bills will
ride through the senate safely, though by
a narrow majority. 1t Is known that twen-
ty-four senators are pledged to support the
legislation Commissioner Bingham asked
for Twenty-six votes are needed to pass
the bills and gain of several votes is ex-
pected when Gen. Bingham/and party Of
New York men appear next Tuesday before
the senate committee on cities to explain
just why this legislation Is required.
Another reason why success Is expected
for the bills by the citizens committee OF
fifty and others more directly Interested
few senators who know of the existence OF
the inspectors dough bag won't have the
nerve to stand out. few OF these are ex-
pected to get attacks Of grip Or tonsiiltis.
The inspectors have been downright frank
about their corruption fund. and the news
papers have told the people much about
the way it has been accumulated.
Chances Of Investigation.
It is known that If legislative investiga-
ton comes 1t won't be a half-hearted in
vestigation at all, but an inquiry which
will set about to determine how much cash
the inspectors took to Albany, where the
money was collected. who got it and how
much. Persons working hard for the bill
are confident that Gov Hughes will In
sist on just such an investigation, and feel
that the governor is just the sort Of man
who will see that the principal business
would be to find out things
There is q prospect now that the Bfng-
ham bills will be made party measures
after the hearing next Tuesday. will be
adopted by a caucus of the republican SEN
ators and showed straight through. Her
bert Parsons, president of the republican
county committee. is for the bills. so is
Page. and William Barnes, jr. has
also come out in favor of the legislation.
Up to date Mr.. Parsons hasn't consented
to make the bills party measures. saying
that the time hadn't come yet for such &C
ton. 1t is thought, however. that after
the hearing. and IL 1t becomes apparent that
there is no other way of saving the bills,
Mr.. Parsons will consent to It,.
The Police Fund.
The most interesting news relative to the
fight against the commissioners legislation
was the certainty that the corruption fund
has grown to twice the size that was indi-
Gated it might be when the first story OF
the inspectors activity was published
few weeks ago. Not only the inspectors.
captains. sergeants, detective sergeants
and detectives have Clipped in, but it Is es-
timated that about 6OO0 policemen have
been dubbed into anteing $50
apiece. That would make 100000 from the
plain cops alone, not to speak Of the cash
contributed by the men with the gold
stripes.
The fund has grown swiftly from other
sources. however. The news got to police
headquarters yesterday that a number Of
gambling houses, poolrooms. disorderly
houses and other prolific sources of easy
money have "felt called upon to add their
to the good work" Among
the gamblers who are said to have fattened
the pot are a bunch Of men who run two
houses in West 32d street. Their donation
Is said to have been $500, which they
could easily afford. as young western
plunger, so the story went, was trimmed
out Of $15,00O at faro bank in one Of the
houses last week. There were other stories
told Of $1,000 contributions from poolroon,
men known to the inspectors and captains.
several Of them owning places In the bus'-
ness district downtown. 1t Ia pretty certain,
too, that saloonkeepers have been contrib
uting 500 to $3.50
Before Commissioner Bingham left his
Office yesterday he was asked about the
story that one Of the cops attached to his
office had been approached by a policeman
for contribution of so. The policeman
was asked to chip in for the benefit of the
''mortuary fund.-" consulted superior Of |
ficer and was advised not to contribute. |
The commissioner said the story was true, |
but that he couldn't divulge names.