New-York tribune., 1910-09-07
GRAFT HUNTERS TO CALL
TRACY ROGERS TO-DAY
Member of DefunCt ''LegisIatlve
Clearing House" Will Have
Chance to Tell All.
COMMITTEES JOB TOO BIG
But None Will Be Prosecuted and
None Spared, Judge Bruce
Says, After Ccnferring with
Chairman Merritt.

Fx-Tusttce NJ. Linn Bruce counsel 10 the
,,--,.,...,,. co-,-,i++ee delegated to conduct
G general graft hunt and investigation INTO
LEGISLATIVE methods. with 4 view TO better
i-r conditions. said Yesterday that at the
%re- hearing today Tracy Rogers. OF blns-
,a-,,on would he called as a witness
Roee-s has extensive traction interests.
He haunted Albany during the legislative
sessions for several years ana seenned
crea-Iv interested in legislation Affecting
traction lines.
Rogers also was a special partner III
-he 5af1,nc- brokerage firm Of Elltngwood
& cunningham. which came into public no
st. during the Aids bribery investigation,
e,5 -,a ere insurance probe conducted by
Insurance Superintendent Hotchkiss
M Horchkiss's work showed that so
many legislators had their accounts with
-,is concern that IL was dubbed legls-
1a-ive clearing house Among those VINO
Maintained accounts with the nrm We're
An6s Who resigned from the Senate just
refo-e il voted him guilty of bribery ex-
Senator Lou C1oodsen, of Orange Coun-
?. who handled many so-called traction
erah bills during his years OF service; eN-
Assernhlvman Lou Beden who also han
died considerable traction legislation: James
Rogers. once leader of the Assembly:
REPRESENTATIVE George Malhy, long power
IN Albany and the close political and
-,ersonal associate Of Chairman Merritt OF
-he committee and Others whose names
never have been made public
Al these men will he called as witnesses,
according 10 Judge Bruce It is expected
h- the committee that their testimony WEI
throw much light on the transactions re-
corded in the EllingwOod & Cunningham
books
lanes " Osborne. counsel for Senator
Caneer in the Aids bribery scandal never
had acess 70 more than a transcript OF
AIlds-s account with this firm
crrerjnt.ndent Hotchkiss was estopped
from inquiry into many lines presented ny
the records because ne was following up
insurance affairs only
This committee has power to probe as
ceeplv as il likes into anything affecths
the LEGISLATURE or public officials. ana IN
terestirg and important developments are
likely 10 follow its examination Of the al
fairs Of this clearing house. so-calleq-
Judge Bruce and Chairman Merritt OF
The committee came 10 town YESTERDAY
They held long conferences through the
dav with Alfred Hu-ren and Isidor hresel'
of the committees legal staff, blocking out
the work for to-day's session.
J,1dge Bruce said the committee was after
facts. and would Try TO get them without
fear or favor Il wasn't in business, ne
said. 70 persecute anybody or TO spare
snvhodv. II had no axes to grind or in
1erests 70 serve.
The committee has a great amount OF
work ahead Of il. II II takes Up only the
material now in sight and the duties lald
on il by the resolution creating it.
L must follow up the leads Of the Aids
case including that statement by Senator
ConEer that in 1895 demand for $1,000
was made on the bridge people II must
follow also the trails disclosed by super
irrerlden- Hotchkiss's work. including the
particular interest showed by certain IN
surance people IN reinsurance legislation
The beet sugar bounty scandal promises
70 develop startling facts. Mr.. Hurren Is
working on that now. The technical exam
ination Of fire and casualty and industrial
insurance company methods and manage
rnenr VIII be a tremendous job in ltSelf.
vet the Legislature saddled il on TO this
committee against the protests Of many
members, who said that the committee
would be so bUrdened Il wouldn't be able
70 do any real graft hunting