Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-19
WHO COT REST OF MONEY?
Bride Committee Probing Distribu-
ton $4,000 Given to Burnett.
CONGER SAYS IT IS BLAcKMAn
Chief Witness Tries to Throw Odium
of Crime ON Members Who De-
manded Money to XIII
Bills.

ALBANY, N. Y, Feb. 18-The list of un-
answered questions that awaited the prob
ers Of the legislative bribery scandal to-
day was as long as on any day since the
senate began its investigation. Names on
the three envelopes holding the bridge
companies 5000 bride had been told by
Senator Benn Conger, but yesterdays evil
dence had opened several new leads which
the investigators may follow at once or
reserve for later action. under different
organization
Conger brought into the evidence yester-
day the names Of several men now in
office in such a way that, although not
charged with wrong doing, It is probable
they will have ayhearing. 8. Percy Hooker,
state highway commissioner, was named
as the man who helped Conger draft the
proposed amendment to the highway law
that was supposed to be desired by the
bridge companies. Assemblyman J.. P.
Yale of Putnam. county was spoken of as
the author of the highway law which
struck at the bridge companies after they
had refused, according to Conger, to con-
tinue the payment of tribute to the polit-
ical leaders. Senator Heacock Of Herkimer
county was the man who introduced the
bill drafted by Conger and Hooker, which
Aids is supposed to have persuaded the
assembly rules committee to kill at the
last session of the legislature.
The big questions, however, are: Who
shared with the late Jean L. Burnett the
$4,000 which Conger says Burnett received
from Hiram @. Moe on April %, 1901? and
who made the demand for $4,000 "protec-
ton money which the bridge companies
refused in 1867
Conger's testimony that Speaker Nixon
and lothian p. Aids received only 1000
for their influence at thai time precludes
the supposttlon that Burnett was given the
larger sum all for himself. II Conger
knows how the money was distributed he
may be forced to tell before he leaves the
stand
Made Charges to InsurRenta.
Lewis e. Carr asked Senator Conger
today why he did not announce in the
assembly that an attempt had been made
to blaekmail the bridge companies.
II didn't think it would 10 any good
replied the senator.
Conger declared that he had mentioned
his charges against Aids to two senator's
Just before the Insurgents held their
meeting. He said he did not Civ his in
formation to the republican caucus, that
chose Aids, but disclosed it at the 'in
surgent' conference.
Mr.. Carr announced that his examination
was over for the present.
Speaker Nixon Under Cloud.
S. Fred Nixon's was the third name that
Senator Benn Conger says Hiram G.. Moe
wrote on one Of the envelopes in which they
carried 5000 to the state capitol nine years
ago to buy protection for the bridge com
pany. The name OF the former speaker OF
the assembly announced yesterday by Con.
ger on the stand completes the trio. Speaker
Nixon's envelope. according to Conger, Xix
Senator Jonathan P. Aids, held 1000. TIL
remainder OF the fund Of 1900 was in this
! envelope given tc Nixon's lieutenant, As.
: serlblyman Jean Larue Burnett.
According to Conger. from 1901, to 1905
a systematic campaign was conducted az
Albany against the treasury OF the bridge
companies. For three years the companies
paid tribute. In 1905 notice came from
Albany that 1t would be to their interests
to forward to the capital 10000. Then the
men who controlled the bridge companie
met in Syracuse and agreed not to pay
AS Conger expressed, I'VE decided we
would not be bIackmalled any longer"
During the four preceding years meas.
ures hostile to the bridge interests had
been introduced regularly, but they always
failed to pass. But In 1906 the legislature
passed a highway act which placed on the
statute books, q provision against which
the bridge combination had long contended.
AS a result Of this law 90 per cent OF the
bridge companies were forced out OF bust
ness in New York state.
Aids accuser was on the stand all day
and this was his story. He told It under
eross-examination and AIis' attorneys
seemed quite ready to LET him tell II. Theii
purpose, apparently 10 brand conser Al q
giver OF brides, as a representative OF thu
bridge interest in the legislature and &c
show that he was actuated in bringing
against Aids the charges the senate Il
now investigating by a desire for reveng,
for Aids hostility to the business Interests
where conger had invested money. congeI
followed their lead with a readiness tina.
can be explained by q desire to oonvine'