New-York tribune., 1910-09-08

DELAYED bE its preliminary debate IN
executive session. fled in 10 begin the
first public hearing of the graft hunt
Scattered around the big roam were half
Dozen old Legislators, prominent among
them being Beden and Goodsell Promi-
nen- also were q score of lawyers, more
or less well known. who seemed 10 he
there in a sort OF voluntary first aid to
The injured brigade.
The mornings session al which Tracy
Rogers was the chief witness, was de-
voted by Judge Bruce to laying
foundation for his future work He CID
not dig deeply into Rogers's traction
activities in Albany, confining himself
more 10 the traction mans connection
with the brokerage concern.
In the afternoon came the interesting
material Willia1c W Cole. a stocky.
half-baid. self possessed individual, be
gan il He said he was civil engineer
who divided his existence between This
city and Philadelphia. where he was a
member Of the firm Of Dodge & Day.
Cp 10 July. 1a0S. he lived at Elmira'
where he was Vice-pTesident OF the FL
mira Water. Light and Street Railway
Company He had known Tracy Ros-
ers for fifteen years.
From 1903 TO 1906. the witness went
Oh under the examination OF Judge
Bruce. he was treasurer of the Street
Railway Association. From 1905 to
1905 he was secretary also. In both ca
pacities he kept books Of record for the
organization. which. he thought, were
n he1rHSlPN =
secretary Of the Elmira company, and
by him to the president Of the Street
Railway Association.
Bankers OF the Association.
Mr.. Cole said that when he became
treasurer Of the association he trans
Terred its funds TO the Chemuns Canal
Trust Company. in Elrnira. Prior to
r+at time. It had an account somewhere,
he couldn't remember just where.
Pressed by Judge Bruce. he made a
good guess" that II did its banking with
EIIingwood & Cunningham. Also he
rec0liected that il had a checking ac-
count with the Morton Trust Company,
but couldn't swear that there was one
ct the Guaranty Trust Company
DID YOU know Alexander s. Hack
lrv?" oueried Judge Bruce suddenly.
No. I don't know him" replied Mr..
Cole.
Wasn't he connected with Ellingwood
q Cunningham? went on the lawyer.
y had no business dealings with him
that ! can recall
Don't you recall making transfers Of
money TO him soon after you became
treasurer Of the Street Railway Associa-
7ion?"
Mr. Cole couldn't recall il. He said he
might refresh his memory If he had
chance TO look over a memorandum book
which he thought he had in Philadel-
T.hia Judge Bruce urged him to brush
Up his memory and to bring back that
book with Aim next week
Don't Won recall sending a check for
$500 TO Hackley on June 26, 1902"
asked Judge Bruce, lingering a pile Of
documents.
There was 2 transfer Of an account,
hut don't remember whether TO Hack
ley or 10 Rogers" answered Mr.. Cole
Likewise ne remembered that some
time in July there was a transfer Of
g 800 Judge Bruce asked about q So
600 item on July 24. The best Mr.. Cole
could say was that there were two or
three transfers.
In Less than a NORTH, $4,000
Don't you recall" thundered Judge
Bruce, that from June 20 TO July "a
Just two days less than a month-you
sent Hackley S20,oo0?"
COLI l,er y1K-1 hi ? <
definite that
Thereupon Judge Bruce produced and
had marked as Exhibit ! q letter telling
Ellingwood & Cunningham that draft
on the Morton Trust Company for $500
was being sent to them. A similar let
ter about the $4,000 draft became En-
hibit z.
Then Judge Bruce began TO make in
quiries about the finances of the Street
Railway Association Mr. Cole said il
had twenty-five OF thirty members, and
its receipts were from $1,000 to 5000 a
year. Then the witness admitted that it
had deficit of about $4,000 when he
became treasurer. He didn't show much
enthusiasm about telling how II hap
pened He hadn't looked Up any Of the
old books TO see, he said
Il think II was q growing deficit ne
explained TO Judge Bruce. 4 think the
deficit came from contributions in pre-
vious years"
You mean campaign contributions? ,"
oueried the lawyer.
Yes. campaign contributions. said
the witness, almost in surprise.
Campaign contributions to whom
Why to the political organizations:
70 both parties. / should presume" said
the rnatter-of-fact Mr.. Cole.
Rogers in Full Control.
F5e didn't remember just where he got
this Naturalization general conver-
ssrion with members Of the association
and OF the executive committee, he
imagined Mr. Rogers at that time was
president of the association. he said.
and controlled the whole thing" al
though he didn't devote much attention
TO Standardization Of accounts. equip
nnent and such things"
Members Of the association he said
were requested 10 contribute TO make up
this $1,000 deficit which he found when