Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-18

lpE10&S tfISas SendSe pfuS1ufng for more
IextcEisive Investigation indicates de-
ftSefnMati6n 10 awai the Developments
4 of the preser iAquiry before deciding
what to do next. Senator Cenger
probably will be on the stand through-
out tomorrow's session.
Albany, n. Y, Feb. 11--Little save
regret was expressed in legislative cir
cles today over the developments of the
Senate bribery investigation yesterday
4 SO Tar as they smirched the name OF
Assemblyman Jean Larue Burnett
Poor Jean is dead" said one Of his
friends today. "Why couldn't they let
him rest?'i
Few members of the Lower House
enjoyed greater personal popularity
than Burnett but for this very reason
the stern advocates of thew to the
line, let the chips fall where they
may point out that he would have
been valuable to the custodians of a
corporation corruption fund.
Senator Conger's mention of the
names of Burnett and Louis P. Bedell
marked an epoch in the proceedings
before the Senate. Others who may be
involved learned for the first time that
|
will no longer shield them. The inves-
tigation, so to speak, has taken the bit
in its teeth and no one can tell where
| even the present inquiry will end. The
| efforts of the Republican leaders are
now confined TO narrowing it as much
as possibly to Conger's specific charge;
but when they dispose of the Aids
case they declare that no man in the
state of New York who holds or has
held public Office and sold his official
influence can feel safe.
| When the Senate committee of the
whole adjourned yesterday afternoon
Aids attorneys were digging deep into
Congers business and political career.
! The trend of several lines they had
been following was not yet apparent
and these developments were expected
today. If Aids is so inclined he can
force a revelation of the names on "Hi''
Noes envelopes as easily as he had his
lawyers wiring from Conger the name
of John Burnett.
Unless Chairman Davis has received
instructions to pay closer attention to
the lid" the defence can make the
witness tell more about Louis p. Be-
dell. All that came about Bedell yes
terday was that he made to Conger tha
same proposition about an amendment
favorable to the bridge companies that
was advanced by Burnett. Conger did
not intimate that Bedell profitted f.
nancially by his interest in the well
fare of the bridge companies.
If the idea that the envelope handed
to Burnett was that which contained
the $4,000 is correct, there is room here
| "a y,,A. ,,,,&1,
names.
The superstition is that this larger
sum did not all go to one man, but was
distributed by the recipient among
several assemblymen.
Senator Conger came back to the stand
when the investigation was resumed to-
day The audience was large as ever.
| in spite of heavy snowstorm. Mrs. o.
II. p. Belmont, who came up from New
| York to attend the woman suffrage meet
ing last night. sat next to Mrs. Martin
W. Litteton. wife of Aids chief counsel.
Louis W. Carr who continued Conger's
cross-oxamination. asked If the witness
had a conversation with Mr.. Porter,
clerk of the Assembly committee on in
ternal affairs regarding amendments to
the bridge bills of 1901. Conger did not
remember any such conversation.
do you remember having a CONVERSE
ton on this subject with any person or
persons other than those you mentioned
| yesterday"
Il don't remember any others
: Senator Conger again insisted that he
| had a talk with Mr. Burnett regarding
| amendments to the Stevens bill, saying
| Burnett had a memorandum of the pro-
posed amendments.
who put the amendments in the bill?"
| Il don't know"
The witness was questioned then about
his conversation with Aids. He said no
| one else was present.
| Counsel Carr asked him to repeat his
previous testimony as to the conversation
in which he said 'You better get the
American Bridge people up here
| Conger said today that he had first re-
lated this conversation eight or nine
years ago at his home in Groton to Mr..
Landon, manager of the Groton Bridge
Co. He repeated it again, he said. In
1905 to Giles NJ. Stoddard, Groton at
torney, and about two or three years
ago to L. ]. Townley, also of Groton.
who was holding that bill in the COM
mittee Qnternal affairs)?" demanded
| Carr
81 was urging my friends not to report
the BILL" sa,
And they didn't report TT"
| mo, SIR"
Conger was made to rehearse what he
| says transpired between his brother
Frank, vice president Of the American
Bridge Co. and AiIds. when the latter
called at Senator Conger's apartments
| here to discuss terms.
Did you make any objection to the
payment of money for the purpose re-
| ferred to-" inquired Carr.
| mo. SIR {;
| you understood what bribery is?"
! yes. sir"
| Continued on Page Twelve.)