Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-11-19

|
thousand dollars to vote against the
anti-race track betting bills in 1908
vas offered to State Senator Eugene
NJ. Travis Of Brooklyn, so she swore
on the stand today, testifying before
the legislative graft committee. A
my sterious little man whose name he
does not recall, made the offer in the
lobby of the Senate he said on be
half of Former Senator Frank j.
Gardner. And Gardner, he added. con-
firmed it in a subsequent telephone
conversation.
| Gardner is now under Indictment,
charged with having attempted SIM
| ii"r)N. though with Il lesser amount
to influence Otto X. Foellier of Brook
| iyn, now congressman, but then a
state senator. FOeikner voted for the
bill, as did Travis. and it was passed
Notwithstanding the efforts of the
race track interests and the alleged
use Of a fund which previous test-
mony had placed at $5O0.OGO
Travis testimony and the commit
tees efforts to subpoena James II.
K"ent and Harry PAYNE Whitney, two
millionaireS whose hobby is horse rae
| ing, were the most interesting devcl-
OpmcntS Of today's hearing. resumed
after an adjournment on oc: -. Eff
fOrtS to ind Messrs. I<eene and Whit
nev have so far been without success
and Nj. Linn Bruce, chairman of the
committee. is growing impatient.
| Both men have been mentioned in
previous testimony as having been at
a conference at Delmonico's at which
| the alleged corruption fund was
raised and the committee is anxious
to examine them.
| Travis testimony today added two
new names to the list of senators ''ap-
preached" The amount offered him.
he explained, was to be paid in two
nstallments $4,000 down and $4,000
after his vote had been cast.
Did you ever hear of any other
senator being apprOached?' he was
asked.
yes, I took lunch with Senator
Fuller and Senator Carpenter one day.
and rhey told me they had been ap-
preached. Senator Gates told me he
| had been called on the phone"
Would You know the man who ap-
| preached you if you saw him again?"
Yes, I think So
| W as he Il regular lODDNlSl!
II think so. He was interested in other
| measures
| Senator Carpenter, whom Travis men
| toned. was a Republican from West
| chester. Senator Fuller was a Brooklyn
| Democrat. Senator Gates came from
| Madison county.
Orlando A. Jones, a bookmaker, the
first witness called, was questioned at
length by Judge Bruce. counsel to the
| COMMITTEES, regarding the objects and
methods of the Metropolitan Turf Asso-
| citation. This organization. Mr.. Jones ad
! mitted. was known popularity as the
| Bookmakers Association before the pas
sage of the anti-betting bill. 1t helped
| to carry out its purpose of improving
| the breed of horses by contributing at
| one time to the racing associations, the
| witness testified, to the amount of $500
| daily.
Jones said the association levied no as
| sessments for the defeat of the anti-bet-
| ting measure He admitted that assess
ments were raised for the employment of
lawyers to aid in the defeat of the bill
/ by presenting the views of the associa-
Il ton. Senator Eugene NJ. Travis of
| Brooklyn testified that he voted in favor
| of the anti-race track bill. He had been
approached by a lobbyist whose name he
did not recall. he said. and who told him
| that more votes were needed to defeat
the bill.
II told him." said Senator Travis. my
vote was already pledged for the bill and
that ended the conversation
| He said this same man came to him
| and said Senator Gardiner wanted him
on the telephone. II went to the phone
| he said Senator Gardner said the
amount intimated by the message would
be paid
"How much was it,
TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars before I
| voted and $4,000 after the vote was cast.
| Sheriff Alfred r. HObley OF
Rrooklyn testified that he had had two
,conversat tons with Congressman. then
Senator Otto G. Foelker, about the
pending race track bill.
Senator Foelker said in his testimony
that YOU told him he would imperii his
denomination if he supported the meas
ure." said Judge Bruce.
mo. I told him that he would i'm
peril his reelection" replied Hobley.
Senator Travis added by way of ex-
PLANTATION that this mysterious lobby
list had mentioned the amount he was
to be paid before he called up Ex-Sen-
ator Gardner.
This was in the lobby of the Senate.
Senator Travis said he saw this same
ilobbyist talking with other senators
Judge Bruce said that subpoenas
had been issued for James r. Keene
and Harry Payne Whitney and diligent
efforts had been made to locate Them
but so far without success.
During the afternoon session, Con-
rad HaSenflug of BROOKLYN. q former