New-York tribune., 1910-09-23
CITY CLUB WILL HELP
THE GRAFT HUNTERS
Seeks Explanation of Recent
State Legislation Affecting
New York City Only.
COUNSEL ALREADY ENGAGED
Defeat of Reform Bills Dealing
with Police and County En-
ployes Among Matters
for Investigation.

The City Club yesterday accepted As
semblyman Edwin A. Merritt's invita-
ton TO render what help it could in the
legislative graft probe and will send to
the chairman of the Investigating COM
mittee this morning its formal letter an
nouncing that it will do what it can
toward aiding the committee
It's attitude at present is that ii wants
TO point out TO the committee a few Al
banv matters that have come under its
observation and furnish enough substan-
tiation to justify the committee in max
ing a thorough investigation. At the
same time it intends to keep close tab
on the results Of its suggestions, and II
it discovers any apathy in the commit
tee it may offer to conduct full in
vestigation and turn the completed re-
suits over to the committee for action.
Yesterday the club retained Edwin A.
Watson. Of the law firm of TruaX &
Watson. of No. 141 Broadway, as coun-
sci. and it expects to send him to Al
bsnv TO pick up more complete evidence
on various points which were left un-
finished or only hinted at in the Aids
Conger trial.
AS one of the Conger counsel on that
occasion Mr.. Watson discovered among
other things the trail of the E,llingwood
g. Cunningham Legislative clearing
house" which figured so largely in the
sensations of both the Hotchkiss inves-
tigation and the present legislative
probe.
Robert S Binkerd. the secretary Of the
City Club, made it plain yesterday that
the organization did not desire an in
vestigation concerned mainly with men
and affairs Of the distant past In their
work in Albany the members have Jotted
down numerous matters within the last
few years which to their mind require
explanation. and it is with these mat
1ers rather than with laws and leg1sla-
tors of the last decade that they pur-
nose TO cooperate with the graft hunt
ers.
The opposition to the S0-cent gas law
and the legislative element which sup
ported the opposition TO the anu-race-
track betting bills are two of the first
offerings of the City Club. and in trac-
ton matters they believe they have well
grounded justification for Investigating
certain legislation of much later date
than that relating to the activities of G.
Tracy Rogers.
Particularly the members are inter-
ested in the legislation which affected
only New York City. and they mean TO
concentrate their fire on that line. The
cause Of the defeat of the bill increasing
the Office hours Of county employees and
the activities of the lobby in opposition
to police reforms are among these local
matters which viii probably be brought
before the legislative committee in the
near future.
In his letter TO the City Club Chair
man Merritt said practically all Of the
legislation affecting New York city vas
introduced by representatives from the
city districts and apparently suggested
by inference that the club could best re-
form those matters by working through
that representation directly.
Mr.. Binkerd. in his reply, calls atten-
ton 10 the activities of Senator GoodseH
and Assemblyman Bedell in the Trans
bill. which have already been made pub
lie as indicating that Mr.. Merritt is
wrong in his argument.
The club has evidence Of other occa-
sions where legislation affecting only
New York City was introduced by rep
resentatives from country districts said
Mr. Binkerd yesterday. and that is just
another of the peculiar conditions we
think the committee should investigate"
If Chairman Merritt accepts the fiat
offer of cooperation which the City Club
will acquaint him with to-day it is ex-
pected that they will be ready to offer
their first case within a week. The Gus
tomary opposition to the several bills
introduced to abolish the office of cor
porati inspector viii probably be pre-
sented. and they believe that in it they
will be able to show a typical case of
the legislative conditions which they
hope 10 improve.