Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-06
SAYS HE NEVER TRIED TO.
INFLUENCE LEGISLATION
Chairman Of Jockey Club Declares
He Ha, No Knowledge Of Any Fund
or Action by Himself Or His sssc-
ciates Which Was improper TO De-
feat the Anti-Race Track Bill.


NEW YORK, Dec. 81 can't make
too emphatic the statement that
have never directly or indirectly. in !
! person or through any corporation or
individual. contributed. authorized. or
advised the expenditure of single /,
dollar 10 improperly influence legisla-
tive action. nor have been asked to-
do. So
August Beaumont. chairman OF the
Jockey Club. makes this statement In
a letter TO NJ Linn Bruce. chief coun- !
sci for the legislative investigating
committee before which Mr.. Belmont
was a witness last week. The letter
was made public tonight along with
brief letter from F. X. Sturgis.
treasurer of the Jockey Clug, saying
that he tSturgis) was in error when
he testified recently tha, James w.
Wadsworth. Jr.. speaker of the state
assembly recommended as counsel
for the racing interests. +. T. Coyne.
of Livingston county. This recon-
mendation. he adds came from the
elder Wadsworth. state commissioner
of racing 4
Mr. Beimont's letter. which Stursis
says ne read anu heartily endorses.
says in part:
BeImont's Letter.
"Since the giving of my testimony
before your committee 1t has come
/ TO my attention. through the news
papers. that most unfair and dis
! torted view OF my connection with
racing Interests Is sought to be I'M
.bedded il. the public mind Racing.
with me now. and for many years
has been. a pastime. not business.
My financial holdings in property used
for racing purposes have always been
I very moderate. The great bulk of my
fime is devoted to the management
Of my banking and railroad interests
and ! now repeat what. | stated TO
your committee. that the sweeping al
| legation of a corrupt use OF money
to influence legislation. was mat
ter of what ought to be presumed.
was ignorant.
"rhe claim is made. as ! understand
! IL. that money was used TO bride the
members OF the legislature of 1908 10
vote against the Hart-Agnew law.
Claimed Sum Reasonable.
"My interest in racing as sport
has prompted me to maintain gen.
eral and not a special supervision OF
i the amount of money that was being
expended by the associations. Iii
would seem that in 1897 upwards of
$4,000 was paid to Judge Coyne for
services rendered by him before the
legislature and elsewhere in behalf
of racing interests This money was
paid him before toe legislature Of
loas. which passed the Law Gripping
racing. came into existence. To this
sum most. Of IL not all associations.
contributed. The figures. while large.
were claimed by him TO be reasonable I,
IN the light Of the work performed.
Mr. Coyne had been county Judge and
surrogate OF Livingston county and ~
lawyer of high standing in the up
state ooUnties"-
Mr. Belmont then says that the rae
ing interests were very much inter
ested in securing the active support
of agricultural societies and horse
breeders of the state TO exert all pos
eible Ierslative influence 10 preserve
their legal status. He continues. TN
a statewide way Judge coyne en-
deavored to represent US No sug-
eestion xas ever made 10 RE thar
these bills covered any improper dis
bursenents sor that our moneys had
been. IN 1897. or in sny other way.
used improperly to influence me leg
isiature.
Itens Correctly Given
In 1893. the fIart-Agnew law -hav-
ing been usssed while I was in Eur
ope. undertoot on my return. after
consultation with nv associates. the
tisbursemenleo such portion Of the
fund Of $40. go testified 10 before your
committee IN publicity and legal ser
vices. a. ! must be able 10 arrange.
and the items Of moneys paid ont
from such fund have been correctly
Eiven you.
y in no way shirk my share ~ re-
sponsibility. bot that tho public should
be persuaded into belief by juggling
with figures that !. have foiled my
nane ~ stoooing 70 cover ~ under
the gHise Of lawyers bills and reus-
paper expenditures the bribinr OF
n,esnbcrs " the Legislature = . Dosi-
ton ~ Witch no man would wish tot
nisre me- Nor shall 7 ever content
to believe. until the prccf II over
Whcimiug 10 the contrary throughout
any Of ny as oriafes we're PARTY % /,
- .,.~rt-nuf - nmr r.4sT.rnffIrr 10 I