New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-15
CASH TRAIL ERASED
BEFORE GRAFT HUNT
Street Railways Association No
Believer in Records. Beardsley
Says-Ledger Cut.
GoODSELL'S MEMORY FAILS
He Wasn't Curious About $685.
600 Deal IN Trans, and
Couldn't Recollect Tender
of $4,000.

the leSisla tive graft hunting COlnLIli-Ie7
indicate that considerable trouble IS
waiting inst around the corner for Will
lam ". Cole. formerly secretary and
treasurer of the Street Railways As
ISOLATION. and H NJ Beardsley. his sue
cessor. There seemed 10 Nj Linn Bruce
the committees counsel. 20 be wide DIS
crepancies between their testimony az
to what happened 10 some records or
that organization which he greatly de-
sfres to see. Also Mr.. Beardsley in par
ticuIar spent an uncomfortable half
hour because he hadn't produced copies
of the associations letters when sub
pCenaed. but instead had turned them
over to Mr.. Cole.
This association. Judge Bruce learned
from Mr.. Beardsley. didn't believe IN
keeping records. Mr.. Beardsley de-
stroyed or had destroyed its checkbooks
as soon as they were used The vouch-
ers were incomplete" The annual
statements OF the association did not
show disbursements which were found
of record in some other fashion A
ledger which at one time had been kept
volved TOO much bookkeeping" But
even that failed to record certain as
sessments levied on the members
Mr.. Beardsley declared positively that
the association had had nothing TO do
with the Legislature or legislators since
he became an officer OF it He was posi-
tive it had not paid money TO any legis-
latOr or officer or employee OF the Legs
lature for anything Neither had any
money been paid for information about
legislation he said
Then Judge Bruce produced docu-
ments showing that State Committee
man Charles H Belts, OF Lyons. Wayne
County. had obtained $3.50 from the
association for information" IN 1908
Also. in 1909. Belts was getting money
from the association. and. from inquiries
he directed TO it's president. seemingly
was lobbying for IL Likewise. in 1909.
the association paid $3.50 70 Ellis J.
Staley. of Albany, for information
At the same time il was taking the
legislative bill service from the rival
concerns backed by Reuben L Fox. for
merry secretary OF the Republican State
Committee. and Belts
Belts an Albany "Hsnser-on-'
Belts has been '~hanger-on'' al Al
bany for years He vas friend and po-
liticaI associate of Senator Rafnes and
Assenoblvrnan Burnett He has repre-
scented their district in the state commit
tee for several years At one time he
was clerk 10 the Revision Committee IN
the Assembly. but for several years has
had no official place at the Capitol He
is the one VINO got the privilege from
the state for printing the celebrated
highway manuals which were made
official" These sold for So a copy.
though they were supposed TO cost him
only a few cents From that affair ne
got the name Highway Manual Belts"
which has stuck to him He voted for
Roosevelt in the recent state committee
meeting. though his synpathies notori-
ously are with the 'oId guard" element
of the Republican party Barnes and
Woodruff are counting on his support
in their fight in the coming state Conven-
ton.
STalaV
men put into politics by William
Barnes. tr. He Uas an ssemblyr1an IN
1905 In 1909 ne was an attorney for
the Forest. Fish and Game Department.
which place he still holds
Cole. formerly treasurer OF the Street.
Railways Association. when a witness
be-,re the COMMITTEES last week said he
IA -
furnish light on why the organization
should have sent some 10000 TO the
& Cunningham firm IN 1903
To take care of obligations Of G
Tracy Rogers. the traction 1obbyis--
When Judge Bruce asked him about II
yesterday MI Cole said he hadn't been
a Ie TO find il. He volunteered, though.
that he had brought the letter book.
which would do just as we'll Then hs
handed TO Judge Bruce a mass Of tissue
sheets cut out OF a letter press copying
book. The inquisitor went through the
mass hurriedly-
Many Pages Missing
There are many pages missing. ne
snapped. Where are they
Mr. Beardsley has the rest Of the
book" said Mr. Cole
Call Beardsley." directed Judge
Bruce.
Beardsley appeared, was sworn and
fooIz his seat He is slim. smooth faced
partly bald tirnid in manner and. like
most of the other witnesses so far sum
uoned. has weak voice. He denied AT
1rst that he had the rest of the book.
Mr.. Cole says you gave him these let
ter copies" Judge Bruce said You
we're subpenaed 10 produce everything
you had bearing on the affairs of the
Street Railways Association. Why didn't
you bring these letters here instead Of
running with them to Mr. CoIe2"
Beardsley, wriggling in his chair, said
nothing Judge Bruce wanted To know
here the missing pages were. Finally
Beardsley said that when these letters
were written he and Cole were connect
I'd with the EImira railway concern.
The Street Railways Association had no
letter book. and its CORE
spondence was copied in the Elrnirs
compauy's book The missing pages 1r,.
parts Of pages contained that concerns