The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-25
On e Of M an Accom-.
plishnlents Of ? X ofes-
sional Z lobbyists.
BUCKLEY s. CAREER
BEING UNF'O LDED
Evidence Shows That He Was
Invincible at Albany in Leg
islatiye Matters More SEN
sations Sprung in Story
oflGraft Received from
Insurance Companies.
Insurance Companies

oflGraft Received from
Insurance Companies.
New York. March 24.-Bit BY bit
there was unfoldcd at the fire insur.
nnce inquiry to-day the story OF the
career OF William II. Buckley, the al.
bany lawyer who for years was a
legislative agent at the State Capitol
for tho fire insurance companies. On
tho face Of the documentary evidence
produced, Buckley was well-nigh in.
Sincible at Albany. II the letters
which were entered on the records
contained statements OF fact-and for
the most part they vi ere letters en-
changed between Buckley and the late
George p. Sheldon. who was president
OF the Phenix Fire Insurance Com
pany. OF Brooklyn-Buckley.s power
with the Legislature was we'll worth
the money he admits he received.
Buckley's influence at Albany went
even further. according to his own
words. He was able to learn in ad
vance OF a decision of the Court OF Ap-
peals. he said. and would keep Sheldon
Informed as 10 what was coming off
in the court
Miles NJ. Dawson. a consulting ac-
tuary OF New York, said under oath
that Buckley had Informed him that
he could not get favorable action on
bill IN which he was Interested un-
aess ne paid some money TO the boys,
Buckley Aroused.
When evidence was produced show
ing that e. +. Mccall, now State
Supreme Court Justice. had written
BuckIey's name above his own on a
check for $500. which was one of
tic three loans made by the Phenix
Fire Insurance Company. of Brooklyn,
through Sheldon to Buckley. the lat
Ter became greatly aroused. He said
that Mr. Mccall knew nothing at all
OF the transaction. and had merely
acted in the matter at his request. He
admitted that he had not Endorsed
& the check ind identified the i1and-
writing In which his name was writ
ten as that OF Justice Mccall. When
seen this afternoon, Justice Mccall
said that lie never had any relations
or transactions whatever with Mr.
sheldon orwith his company, or with
any fire insurance company except
the Munich. 40
Z was late in the afternoon when
the letters relative to the Court OF
tAppeals were read. There were two
OF them. The first dated April 90.
1903. was from sheldon 10 BUCKLEY
II read in part:
Il note that the Court OF Appeals
has decided that the franchise tax
law is CONSTITUTIONAL. wish / could
q liavc got on TO this early enough. for.
Il am satisfied that this Is one OF tho
things that have been hanging over
the market. and IL could have
learned previously what the decision
wa6 likely TO be there would have
been money In thisg for all OF US.
Whenever anything like this is pend
Ing in Albany. It will always pay you
to advise me. IL you can. OF the prob
able outcome
Buckley replied the next day as fol-
L lows:
Fl am sorry thatI did not know Of
st any interest to you to have informa-
tion about the franchise decision.
told some Of our friends two weeks
ago WHAT would be. but was ad-
sSised from very important quarters
4 that as the decision was constitutions
Il al. 1t would 4 not have much effect on
Is the market and I didn't think 1t ad-
visa BILE to say much about it, II itI
i had been the other way, you would
& have been advised because Il knew Of
~ our terests In big gas In the fiji.
{ ture I will keep you advised
dramatic NJ ioment.
lss 1t wa 8 a. dramatic mo ment WI en- Mr.
! Dawson appeared on the scene ,lnex-
gpectedly to be sworn IN as a witness.
Dawson Who was consulting actu-
\ \ ary Of he sArn1stron g committee. which
Il ssinVes my the life insurance com
apanles, said that In q / COS he drew IN
q bill relating to the. method Of val,l-
alton of life insurance policies which|
\ afterwards was made law on # tho !
recommendation of the N SArnlstron
committee al though 1t failed the first
i year. He; Went to Albany and had |
the bill intro duced.
lille In the lobby of8the Senate"
he continued. Buckle whom II had /
known for ONE years, came to ma. /
He told me that the bill |wouldn't Il pass
unless money was provided for tile /
L boys \ II e said that THE boys thoughtl
L fIGWould I get 10. 4 lberal fee and thonghtI |
I, ought ito d ivide with them Nj I told |
I him i 5wasn' 'tSi there to Y bribe any one. /
Buckley said lie didn't like to have
mo &sp} }eak OF lit In that way The bill
didn't pa IS. 5S5s5s 55y
Nj. Hotchkiss turned Ia AR, Buck.
Icy: I'll !. .s
never said a word to Mr.. Dawson!
of M one ney for ~ The boys,,'''"'}S he said.
/. III Buck leyy's opinion of his own ability
TO Influence e glslatlon was shown in|
D several Of the letters which he wrote
stoi3 Sh eld Ion. I nj one b E spoke of the
5lnearned} liability bill. which was a
hill in tended 8t 9 repeal the law which|
3eSenpted lreln nsurance ne eseryes OF taX-
alton. In his etter, Buckley sa ID !: II,
agreed to allow the bill ito beEreportedI
StoSt he u senate wl probabl y "a pa SIS
itllat h ollse, sbu t IL give yourself no con
,eern a bout ~ as h Twill he hlocked lby|
the Rul les comnli stee. There Is no rea-
son ny hate for yol,l h ave any
concern a bout & matt tters here in i any 4
$particula IT, B aSS3 Il sts II
stinnnt a ! Ire IA surance Colnpan ny, r IwasE
on q stand tod ay Ion ng5 enou gF Ito 4
ifAYs hat he Nsc contrlbutetl $4,000 o. w \