New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-23
MANI ED By CONGER
'ontinued from first page.

Noii"'Hci'U!E concerning the ~
conference held in 1905 to determine
whether or not to raise a $1,000 booo'e
fund. He was unable to say last "eeA
who told him about the demand Tor si''
oVv which he says was made by SOME
S2pdy here. He named the man TO-DAY DIS
Frederick W. Sage. formerly of koches
ter
Mr. Sage told the representatives o.
the various bridge companies VINO tore
gathered in the Yates Hotel hVe Yeas
ago that $1,000 would be needed TO pre-
vent tie passage that year OF highway
legislation similar to the bills when theS
had fought in so "practicaf' a fash'on
in other years. Senator Consei
that Mr. Sage did not mention the rdiie
Of any legislator in connection Win the
demand
There was decided difference OF opin-
ion among the bridge men about the ao-
visa bility of raising Doodle luna. Inns
was discussed in the general meetihs'
and a determination was reached not u
attempt any bribery that year But
later committee was chosen To take
up that question again. on "hich, ac-
cordins to Senator Conger. We're Messrs'
Stocklev of the Rochester Bridge COM
panv: Watt. of the United CONSTRUCTION
Company. and George Sickmon. of the
Syracuse Bridge Company.
ma iority of that committee, Senator
Conser saws. decided to raise the Doodle
fund. perhaps because Mr.. sage saio
that q very severe bill was about to be
introduced Steps were taken TO raise
the $4,000 fund. 1t was raised parity
and Senator Conger thinks that ne
belned to raise part of it. although he
contributed no money nor did any or ms
bridge companies. And later Senator
Conger says he became sick OF pelng
blackmailed that way year after year
and decided to have nothing further to
do with this scheme.
VISIT TO COLONEL DUNN.
What money was raised was placed IN
tho hands of John Newell. of the Canton
Bridge Company. Conger concern.
Newell has his Offices in this city, OUT
while the Yale bill, which eventually pc
came a law. was pending this money
held bv Newell as trustee, was returned
- ito e,ivers No reason for this was
.i,,e, hevond a decision on the part Of
the companies not to pay any more
money.
sanator Conser's story of his visit TO
Colonel George W. Dunn in 1913 was
distinctly interesting and to politicians
even sensational. Last week ne toio u
calling on Colonel Dunn at MS ONCE III.
Of
the Railroad Commission mere anu VI
WAXING q contribution partly for NM
.,tf ,nd nartly for certain bridge colh-
panies. o-
The contribution made the next year
moe marked bv many peculiar clrcuih-
s+.rc.s IT was made in March, "hii0
~, 1.oisIature was in stesion. 1t was
o.fd n Colonel Dunn at The state coIn-
mittee headquarters in the o'u
Avenue Hotel in Ne" loIA' "nu
Medium Of payment was DIS ai'nous,'
70 cot this currency Conger mao 10
dr.ft at-the First National Balm
.1so no receipt was given Tor IL.
r,,is +und IF 1908 was accumulated III
+,A hands of Eugene A. Landon' MAJ"
.,er IF the Groton Bridge Comp ny
DIV, of II came in checks TO MI. La"-
.,d nart in checks to Senator Coh-
,,,+il total of 5000 had peen
,a This fund was made up by the
,r.;..d construction Company, the Roch-
ester Bridge Company, the feiiii ID
C,onnanv, the Canton br1ose So''ipaAs'
tho ODeso Bridge Company ana the 0fo-
90, Bridge Company, according TO sen
a+or coneer. and there may nave peeh
others. 80;
Co,yer testified that he took TINS
money to Colonel Dunn, IN Ne" 1orh'
and repeated to him virtually what Iie
had said in the fall of l9o--that 'iie
officers of the bridge companies were not
onnosed to good legislation but opJecteu
a. beinp bIackmailed and held up ny
neople in the Legislature Ihey were
GOOD Republicans and were USED 10 con-
,r;brtins TO the campaign fund OF the
rartv. and at this time were Wiling "
make very liberal contribution II this
Matchmaking business could be taken up
oe an organization matter and the black
mailing prevented.
Colono1 Dunn. according to Senator
Coneer. said he would do what he could
to see that strike" Legislation was
stopped, and inasmuch as the treasury
always was low the contribution would
be always acceptable if it were made
then instead of later in the fall.
Senator Conger said that the 1902 con-
tribution made by the bridge companies
and himself was larger than any con-
,ribution made in previous years, though
not SO large as the one in 1905. The
nojnt was brought out that this high
way legislation never was passed while
Colonel Dunn remained chairman of the
RepubIicar State Committee.
Deacon Hiram Moe was recalled to the
stand late in the afternoon, and identi-
led the stub of the $500 check and
certain writing on the check. He de-
clared that after his return from AL
bany on Apr! "A, 1901, he had written
on the stub of thai check Albany mat
ter, bridge company That check stub
was passed around TO practically every
member OF the Senate. and seemed 10 be
regarded by them as evidence of the
Highest importance.