The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-24
LAY SHINY TRAIL
OVER MANY STATES
Bridge Companies Ac-
cused of Wholesale
Corruption.
DEFENSE OF ALLDS
TURNS TO ATTACK
His Counsel Denounces Corpora
tons Which Seek to Save
Themselves by Dragging
Senator Down-Prosccu-
ton Must Follow if
Charges Are Proved.

Albany, y. Y. February 2s.-The first
day OF Senator lothian p. Allds's re-
ply to the Conger bribery charges was
less OF a defense than an attack. The
outline OF the Aids case, laid before
the Senate to-day by his attorney
Martin w. Littleton, was a burst OF
denunciation, invective and accusation
that, If proved, would lay the bridge
companies, one or the most important
industries In the State, open to prose-
cution for conspiracy TO derraud ana
legislative corruption.
In striking the bridge companies
Littleton also hit Ben Conger. who,
with his brothers. once stood high IN
the councils OF the bridge building
combine. and still 1t is said. retains an
interest In that business. II Littieto,
carries out his promise he will prove.
First. that Congers charges and their
support by Hiram Noe are untrue; sec
ond, that Allds's activity IN suppress
ing legislation hostile to the bridge
companies in 1908 was due to the or
ders of United States Senator Piatt,
the Republican State leader: third,
that Conger's statements are unworthy
Of belief and the testimony OF many
of his witnesses is quite as untrust-
y
corporations which LittIeton, i'll pic
turesquc language, said have laid
trail of slime over five States.
The afternoon session was devoted
TO the examination of the clerk of the
Assembly Internal Affairs Committee
of 1901, in an effort to prove that Con-
ger in that year deliberately juggleu
certain highway legislation until II
came out of the committee IN FORM
IL tyNt ar
charges made in Littleton's opening
speech are important because some of
the alleged unlawful acts come within
the statute OF limitations ana Suggest
criminal proceedings.
To Rob Many States.
The basis of Littlctor's argument
was the cleveland agreement, undel
which, he alleged, sixteen bridge coh'
cerus conspired in 1901 to rob tht
states of New York. Pennsylvania
MARYLAND. West virginia, Kentucky
Ohio. Indiana and Michigan by mean:
of collusive bidding.
Iittleton also mentioned Job a
Harrisburg. Pa, for bridge over
Penn's Creek, In February, 1905. He
declared that the contract price was
s64.9T5 and the estimated constructor
sI4,5O0. In this contract Ltttietoh
memorandum showed an item ot @o''u.
for "engineering." He charged tha'
under this head the bridge companies
set down what 1t cost, them to bride
the local authorities
I.ittleton declared that the bribery
| of town officials was a regular Gus
tom OF the bribing companies, but bS
! charging 50 per cent. profit they had
| enough TO divide among all the bidders
for a contract. Alldss attorney went
! even further and charged the bridge
interests with deliberate conspiracy
| against the defendant He declared that
| .Allds hal lived beyond reproach, be-
| yond Impeachment and above attack
| until the bridge companies, enraged
| driven. bounded, discovered and eS-
! cluded from the State. at last. in Sec
| ret and confidential communication.
| endeayored to strike him blow in
| the back and by the aid OF popular
| clanlor hoped they would strike him
| down from his place in the Senate.
Just before the close of to-daJ's ses-
sion of the Senate Bribery investiga-
! tion, the resignation Of Senator lothian
| P. Aids as temporary president OF the
! Senate was read by the clerk and ord
| cred spread upon the minutes.