New-York tribune., 1910-02-17


think he took it UP with the chairman
Of the committee
Were you approached by any other
person regarding the amendment OF these
biils?" asked Mr.. Carr.
After some sparring Senator Conger
furnished the second surprise.
Yes. by Louis Bedell. he said.
BedeIl he continued, was a member OF
the Internal Affairs Committee. ne
came to him after Burnett had spoken
spo,lt the amendments, and spoke along
the lines suggested by Burnett" and had
TO Go with an amendment TO the bridge
bill favora able to the bridge companies
Conger rounded up his testimony on
this subject by saying that this amend
ment was finally given the bill. and so
1T passed. II WAS another bridge blli,
hostile TO the bridge interests. which he
accuses Aids of using as a club to mold
up" The American Bridge Company
LAST BARRIER REMOVED.
This testimony is regarded On all sides
here as having removed the last possible
Lsrrier to a full investigation of tins
phase of legislative activities, which IN
turn will spread beyond doubt to others
Burnett and BedeH were q part Of the
so-called Assembly ring which absolutely
controlled action of the Assembly under
the leadership of Speaker Nixon, now
dead Burnett was sometimes spoken OF
In the legislative gossip the whip,
or agent. of this group of men, He was,
though young when he died, exception
ally clever in the ways Of the legislative
world He had a personal acquaintance
with everybody of any account in the
legislative political world, and person
atty and manner which enabled him TO
scouit himself of the most difficult and
delicate tasks. Thus, soon after he hrst
came to the Assembly, in 1899, he was
taken into the bosom of the Older poll
tfcians there, and soon became an I'M
portant part of the Assembly organlza-
ton
Jean Larue Burnett. known to almost
everybody in official life Jean. was
born in Canandaigua. Ontario County.
He went through the public school ana
academy there and then went 10 the
University of Michigan. at Ann Arber
There while a very young man. he DIS
tinguished himself by organizing the
American Collegiate Republican League,
q BODY which had an important influence
on the Presidential campaign of 1S92.
And at the first annual dinner of that
nrsanizstien be made a speech which
caused the Republican State Committee
to pick him up and use him in all subse-
uuent campaigns
Burnett came to Albany under the
futelase of Senator John Raines. who
loved hin, as son. and fondiy regarded
him as his successor. Therefore, his
legislative progress was sure. and. De-
cause of his briiliancy. rapid Three
wears after he entered the Assembly he
was appointed chairman of the impor-
tant Cities Committee a place he con-
tfnued to hold through the Assembly
house cleaning" of Speaker Wadsworth's
first year. Burnett's chief asset IN the
legislative game. aside from his keen
mental equipment and his ardent love OF
politics. was the artfulness Of his inter
course with his colleagues.
WHY. Burnett could f1atter anybody
into compliance with his wishes and
argue anybody out of his own opinions
in no time declared an Assemblyman
tonight
BedeIL too. was a part of the Assem-
blv ring He represented for many
years the I'd Assembly District Of
Orange County He was chairman OF
the Railroads Committee from 1900 until
1886. when Speaker WadsWortf deposed
him in the house cleaning. 2Bedell was
q member in 1896, but went partly blind
in that year, and was at the Capitol only
g few weeks of the session. Since then
he has served as counsel to one or two
legislative committees.
Timothy L. Woodruff. chairman Of the
Republican State Committee. who ar
rived in Albany tonight. declared that
he was in favor "of the most searching
an, exhaustive investigation of any
charge of corruption
There is no difference Of opinion
sn,one Republicans regarding the pres
ent investigation or any other that may
he properly proposed and instituted. L
voice the sentiment of the Republican
organization of the state when ! say
that / am unoualiiedly IN favor of the
most searching and exhaustive irvesti-
cation of any charge of corruption
emanatine from responsible source
made against any member ef the Lcgis-
lature or public officer and the seyerest
punishment which can be meted out 20
Fl the unpardonabEe crime Of official dis
Honesty