Milford chronicle., 1910-02-18

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mrs H Appoint Commission FO'
Sweeping PrObs-ss5oc CHECK idsn
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Albany \. =. Feb l6-DurinF the
cross s-examinatior Of Senator Congel
an the Conger-AlldI scandal, Senator
Newcomt quoted . remark OF Attor
ney Osbornet admitting that IN 1903
the bridge interests o. the state raises
corruption fund
81 ask said Nj Newoomb. IF you
have personal knowledge Of the &C
cumulation Of a fund IN 1903 to in
huence the trend Of legislation in New
York?'
Il have" said Conger
The question was not followed but
ConEers answer Is indicative OF con
ditions which may be found when the
legislative corruption probe commits
sion gets down to work
Senator NJ Wainwright, OF West
chester county introduced resolu
tion providing for the appointment OF
a Joint committee Of three senators
and FIVE assemblymen who shall be
given an ample appropriation and
practically unlimited power 70 con
duct such an inquiry The measure Is
supposed 70 represent the views Of
Governor Hughes and his advisers
and its sweeping provisions reveal
how desperate these men consider the
situation
When Senator Conger returned 10
the stand ne identified the stub of the
$500 check which originally repre-
scented the alleged bribe fund Il was
dated April %. 1901 He said his
brother Franks checkbook was deliv
cred to him in 1902 By Moe after
Frank Conger's death The stub he
said was in Noes handwriting. The
presiding officer ruled that the identi
acation would have to be proved by
Moe and the admission OF the check
book in evidence was postponed until
Noe could be recalled to the stand
Senator Conger then outlined his
legislative and business career. He
arat became personally interested in
bridge affairs he said in 1901. when
be became identihed with the Boston
Bridge works He became interested
n the Groton and Canton Bridge com
paniea from 1909 TO 1904
The testimony then veered to the
bHla which figured in the alleged brib
ing Of Allda In 1901. Senator Conger
save a brief history Of the proposed
10 q he
letter between former United States
Senator Platt and Editor Smyth. OF
Oregon - recall conversations be-
tween nv brother Frank and Mr..
Aids In my apartment here" he con
tinued some time between April 10
and IS. 1901 Mr.. Aids said: You
don't care n that taxpayers bill Of
Stevens and Malby passes n the other
bill is killed We let that go through,
he said. and II will be a little sop to
Stevens
Senator Conger said the Malby-
stevens bill had passed At that time
and was in the hands OF the governor
The identity Of the two unnamed
legislators Conger and Moe say shared
with Aids in the $4,000 corruption
fund came a step nearer disclosure
when Attorney Osborne asked II either
sf these men we're oficeholders under
the state government
Conger replied that they we're not.
Frank L. Barnes. assistant cashier
Of the First National bank. Of SYRIA
suse took the stand after recess. He
identified the New York drafts cashed
By Moe at the bank on April p Of
that year. and further corroborated
Noes testimony regarding this trans
action by the banks books. The wit
ness said he had never seen Moe
since this transaction. but remember
ed how he looked. He and Moe talked
Banking matters. he said. when the
latter was presented to him.
There was a stir In the chamber
when the witness admitted that Ray
p. Smith. clerk OF the assembly had
called his bank on the telephone snd
inquired about the entries on the cash
ing Of drafts Mr Osborne tried un
successfully to have Mr. Smiths name
withheld