New-York tribune., 1910-02-18
CONGER ACCUSES
SPEAKER NIXON
SAYS HE RECEITED A
81. 900 ENVELOPE
Jean Burnett. He Testlfes,
ReceiUed The Package IcIth
$4,000 IN 1t.
rRr r.l.r-zp, . he rrtsun- :

rBy Telegraph % The Tribune
Albany, Feb. I7.-Testifyjng today
before the Senate committee OF the whois
in the investigation OF the bribery
charges against Jotham P Aids. Senator
Bean Conger declared;
That the name of Fred Nixon. thsr
Speaker Of the Assembly. was writrsn
On the second $1,000 enVeIope, but that
he did not see the envelope handed 20
Nixon. though he introduced Moe TO ths
Speaker. (Mr. Nixon died in 19o5)
That the $4,000 envelope was deliveries
10 Jean Burnett in his (Con5er's) pres
ence- (Mr- Burnett died IN 1907
That the 1905 demands were made BY
certain persons for $4,000, in consIders-
tion Of which the highway bills sffectins
the bridge interests then pending before
the Legislature would BE killed
That at meeting of representatives.
OF bridge companies in Syracuse u ass
decided not to be "bIack1silsd and 70
fund was subscribed
That he consitered the bII introduces
BY Asserbiyr1sn John Vale OF Pusrsr'
County. affecting the bridge companies
which became law IN 1905. strike bill.
and that the MaIby- Stevens bills ard
their successors OF like provisions "srs
regarded as strike legislation.
That in 1903 a fund OF 5000 was SUD
scribed by various bridge companies
and that the highway bills that year
died IN committee
That IN 1902 ne visited Colonel Georgs
w. Dunn. then Republican State Chair
man. IN his office at the State Hafiro7c
Commission here. and iater made cor
tribution TO the campaign fund for 1Ir'-
self and some bridge companies IHat
year the highway legislation dls6.
That he did not consider the money
Maid TO Aids and the others bribery, out
bIackn1ail-
Senator Conzer's testimony thus at
tackled not only the individual les1sla-
tor whose name he mentioned. but N its
entirety was A vicious blow at the lesis-
Iative and political system in this state
The testimony Of Senator Thomas =
PIatt regarding corporation campaign
contributions before the legislative COM
n1fttee which Investigated the Insurance.
scandals was not 50 farreachins. be-
cause it was not SO specific
GENERAL INQUIRY NEEDED.
One Inference. and only one, was car
riad by Conger's testimony to-day-thar
business interests had been subjected
10 strikes and "blaCkmaiI by IHdi-
vidusI legislators and that there
was so close a bond between the Legis-
- - .Lo zroo,,,,ETica7 State COM
ufttee that a campaign contribution
would kill bills which in other years
we're killed by contributions to infiueu-
tiaI members Of the Legislature
Members of the Legislature who are
known TO be in accord with Governor
Hughes say that. each days proceed
ings in this investigation seem 10 bring
out some new reason for the proposed
general investigation which shall clear
the atmosphere aIIay public suspicion
that nrisdeeds are being concealed and
furnish ma teriaI for housekeeping and
reorganization 70 sever practical politics
and the Legislature as far as possible
In that light an incident of the days
testimony, which developed into an at
tack on the. Speaker and the Rules Com
rnittee, assumes considerable impor-
tance-
This had reference TO the killing in the
Rules Committee last year Of the Hea-
cock bill amending the state highway
law TO provide for a petition by citizens
70 the courts 20 have a bridge rebuilt
when BY vote of the town it had been
decided not to rebuild the bridge Under
examination by Lewis 2 carr, OF Sen
ator AIIds-s counsel. Senator COnger said
that that bill was drawn after consuita-
tion with Chairman Hooker OF the state
Highway Commission and himself with
Judge Fisher, of the Attorney Generals
Office.
Senator Heacock, being chairman Of the
Internal Affairs Committee. introduced
il. L was reported unanimously and
passed the Senate unanimously. Mr.
Carr was trying 10 show that this bill
was pressed by Conger simply % help
the bridge companies when Senator
Heacock sprang to his feet. apparently
very indignant He subjected senator
Conger TO a crCss-examiuatiOn which be-
came an attack on the Rules COMMITTEES
and the Speaker.