New-York tribune., 1910-10-08
BUSINESS DEPENDED ON
THE STATES BOUNTY
But Sugar Men Gave Tokens
of Appreciation" After Bills
Passed, Steigerwald Testified.
BURNETT GOT ONLY S1,500
Graft Hunters Invite Belts to
Testify-Records Are Open to
District Attorneys, Judge
Bruce Says.


witness stand Of rhe legislative investigat-
inS committee. with the result that the
record now shows that Jean Burnett re
oeived 1850 instead OF 5000 for his share
of the work Of putting through the sugar
bounty bill Of lHsS
ZiuIrnerIin was tho lobbyist Of the beet
sugar interests and looked after the bounty
bills at Albany from 1897 until Governor
Hughes put a stop 10 them in 1908
lie testified yesterday that he gave the
late Senator John Raines $500 in 1906 and
SSeao in 1907, which added 10 the sugar
contribution TO the same Senator in 100
made total Of 5000 which the Lyons Beet
Sugar Refning Company paid TO senator
paines I'm three years.
charles H. Belts. OF Lyons. was named
again yesterday by Zimmerlin as a recip-
sent OF the sugar company's generosity in
the year 1896. On Thursday the lobbyist
testifed that he gave Belts $500 in 1905 and
yesterday he swore that he gave Belts $50
in 1906 Betts was in those two years the
chief clerk Of the revision committee Of the
Assembly. Zimmerlin testified.
Altogether Zimmerlin's acknowledged do
nations 10 legislators or men connected
with the Legislature. as summed UP at the
end OF his session on the stand yesterday.
5000. in three payments Of 5000 each in
three successive years. beginning 1905: TO
Assernblyrnan Jean Burnett. $500 in 1905,
and 10 the then chief clerk of the revision
committee, Charles II. Belts. $3.50, in two
payments of $500 and $50 in 1905 and 1895,
respectively.
Nj Retts's denial OF the accusation made
against him on Thursday by Zimmerlin, as
shown in dispatch to The Tribune. was
shown 10 the lobbyist and TO Judge Bruce,
the counsel 10 the committee. Zimmerlin
after looking il over contented himself with
repeating that his statement on the witness
stand was the truth, and Judge Bruce 5
only comment was:
Invites Belts 70 Testify.
The witness chair IS open 10 Mr.. Belts
90 come here and make any denial he
wishes TO under oath"
Judge Bruce added only that Belts would
not be suhpnnaed.
ZimmerliT's retraction as 20 tho extra
s 54o which he said on Thursday he had
raid TO Jean Burnett in 1905 was based. it
appeared on 4 conN eTsation he had with
Frederick Steigerwsld last night lie Was
convinced. he said, that he had been in
error IN naming $500 az the sum lie gave
Burnett
The 1896 payment To Senator Raines, said
Zirnnerlin. had been made At the Sen
aicrs Own Office in CanandaigUa in July
cf that year. and he had made the trip
from Ly ons to 1he Senator 5 home town
1or that purpose
y went 10 his Office" said Zimmerltn,
and. finding him alone handed him over
5000. saving tha1 it slight tcllt n
OF the compsnys appreciation
Zimmerlin then described the 19oS Fay-
rnent 10 Belts. Il took place in Lyons. he
said a. Betts's Office. and again he used
tho formula which the sugar company
seemed 10 adhere 10.
- slight token Of the company's appre-
oistIon' he said. IS he handed the $50
10 Betis. who. like the Senator. THANKED
him courtcousIy. and that was all
In l997. some lime after the adjourn
r1ent or the cEislature-Zimmerlin could
not fin the date-he gain made pilgrim
sEe 10 Canandaigua. where he handed over
another 5000 20 Senator Rsines. with the
same remark about il being "A slight token
cf the oomnany's appreciation" and again
lle returned 10 Lyons.
The failure Of tho company 70 reward
Burnett. after J9o5. Zimmerlin explained by
saving that in i9a5 the circumsr snces were
t7fnerert. because in that year it vas not
only an appropriation Of the sugar bounty
thar vas needed but also 4 revised enact
F5irHsnn for Farmers.
Frederick SteisorHald. the president OF
.he Lyons company during these years.
further explained the revision Of the
fcurtv law BY saying that in 1905 # was
necessary to- draw II I'd that il sppar
eutlv favored the farmer and grower Of the
heets instead Of the manufacturing re
finer
But the farmer was never intended 20
ret the bounty explained Steigerwald
frankly. and no farmer ever thought that
he vas getting dollar more for his
l,eets"
lie said, however. that the bill in its
changed form had his approval. and each
slime Judge Bruce referred 70 the new law
IS giving the bounty to the farmer Mr..
.Stcigerwald was careful 10 interject the
somark. ''or his assignee Judge Bruce"
Nr Steigerwald before his connection
with the Lyons sugar company and since
-qgE has been a resident of Tompkinsville,
Staten Island. lie admitted that when he
came into the business in Lyons the life
OF The industry was practically dependent
iipon the states bounty, and said that
when he took hold Of matters in the COM
yany IL VAS an established custom that
Zimmerlin should go down 10 Albany dur
i7- each legislative session 10 look after
rite company's interest in the bounty
There was never any particular agreement |
with regard 10 Zimmeriin's compensation, !
said Steigerwald. but il was understood
zhst he vas 10 get his expenses.
Poor 'Zin' needed money quite often" /
rsid Mr.. SteiEerWald, and so far ] was
concerned. IL he kept two or three thou
SAND Of the money We gave him that was
a. right. too"
When the lobbyist needed money he came /
50 him. tie witness said, and sometimes
ic gave him personal check, which /
would later be mace good 20 him by the
company. and there was never any ques-
Ion as 10 how ZiTnmerlin going 10
.sisI,1,rse the money he got in that way.
Steigerwald admitted, however. that in |
Jsl5 he had talked over the bounty sitUa-
,ion specifically with Zimmerlin. and they /
Lad agreed. after conferences with Senator /
Taines. tEat 10 get the bill through that 1
year lis form would have to be changed |
- make the bounty payable to the grower
his assignee. instead OF 10 the Tefiner.
- Was done. Also they had conferred. /
Zimme-lin and he. said Steigerwald upon
the status of The bill. when after being
J. froducod IN TIE Assembly on February
= le5. II had slu.nbered there peacefully |
uut1 within few days of the end of the