The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
LID FRIED OFF BRIBERY CASE New York Legislature Goes Further Into th3 SCan1aI CONCEPTS CONFESSION Senator From Groton Tells About Money Put Up By Bridge Companies to
 Influence Legislation and for
 the Campaign Fund
CONFESSION

Albany, N. Y, February 15.-The lid was pried off the legislative bribery scan- day today and the developments disclosed justified all suspicious regarding It's un- savory nature. At the same time plans were made for wider investigation to follow the present inquiry now being con ducted by the senate into Senator Con gers charges that Senator Jotham P. Aids took s1O00 bribe from an agent of the American Bridge company.
 The days disclosures were important principally beca Use they laid the basis for future attempts to write tho history of legislative corruption in New York state during the last decade. When Senator -onger's attorney announced that they were through with his direct examina- ton late this afternoon Aids accuser was taken in hand by Senator Newcomb of New York and forced to confess that the combination of bridge building con cerns, known os the American Bridge company, had raised a corruption fund in 1902, 1905 and 1905. Conger refused to an- swer some of Newcomb's questions until directed to reply by the presiding of- fcer.
 Under such oompulsion, the Groton sem ator admitted that the bridge companieh in 1903 turned their legislative bribery fund over to the Groten Bridge company fund over to the Groton Bridge company Frank were interested. He was not rressed to tell the uses to which thls fund was put, but after the grilling Con ger had received from his republican col leagues, grim smile flashed across his harrassed face as he volunteered this ip formation:
 "Tnere vas a contribution to the state chairman of the republican organiza- ton In 1902
 Conger was questioned no more along this line, for Senator Newcomb declared that the purpose of his Interrogation was not to carry the investigation outside the limits of tie charge against Aids, but to get cn the record evidence for use when the inquiry is carried further after the Aids charges are disposed O.
 This morning Senator Wainwright '.n9o- ducsd ir the upper house resolution pro- viding for an inv stigatfon practically without limit as to tho time or place with in the state. For the present, at least,
 
 Mearwfjle the senate has before 1t an other republican proposition.
 After Senator Newconb had brought from Conger his admissions rega rding the further rse of a legislative corrup- ton furd he moved that the authority of the oeI ate in committee of the whole be extended to embrace this new testi- mony and "all matter relating to cor iupt practices to influence the course of highway leg station between 1901 and 19Ob. as a separate specification at the close of the invest igation of the charges against Aids. lie asked leave to have action on his proposition postponed until all the Aids testimony mad been received. Ow- ing, however, to an unexpected effort by Senator Grady, the minority leader. to secure col sideration for the Newcomb resolution tomorrow debate followed end the senate adjourned with the ques-
 o, of it's disposition unsettled.
 While much still depends upon future revelations of the Aids investigation. the plan of the republican leaders to- night seems to promise an extension of the present investigation to cover all ale gations of corruption in regard to high way legislation only. The only unliriited inquiry pro rosed by Senator Wainwright is not regarded seriously.