New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-06
BELMONT REAFF|RMS
DESIRE TO TESTIFY
Writes M. L. Bruce Regulating
Charges of Corruption in
Racing Matters.
FRANK K. STURGIS C0NCURS
Racing Only an Episode, Belmont
Says-Does Not Believe His
Associates Party to Use Of
Improper influence.

DtliitII sent d EGlltl u "
Linn Bruce, chief counsel of the legis-
lative investigating committee, last
night regarding racing legislation.
BY it he not only confirmed the inter-
view with himself and one of his init
mate friends as exclusively published in
The Tribune yesterday. but he followed
the Tribune statement so closely that
several para graphs are Identical Where
the phraseology of the letter is slightly
| changed the spirit of the published IN
teryiews is maintained intact.
The letter TO Mr.. Bruce was not signed
by Mr. Belmont until after he had con-
ferred at length with Frank h Sturgls-
Another result of this conference was
the production of a letter addressed TO
Mr.. Bruce, signed by Mr.. Sturgis, which
wss as follows:
Since my appearance before your com
r,iItee on Fri1ay last I have learned that
! was in error in stating that Judge Coyne
was recommended to the racing interests
by the present Speaker. J. ". W adSWortH
II Tn recommendation really came from
his father
portions Of my testimony appear 70 nave
been misunderstood, and / nave reaC d
letter which viii be sent 10 you rom MI
In his letter TO Mr.. Bruce Nr. Belmont
says:
The claim is made, as I understand il.
that money was used TO brlDe the neInDeIS ;
Of the Legislature Of 1898 10 vote against
the Hart-Agnew law. on tins assumption
let Us look al the facts. The evidence pc
fore YOUR committee shows the existence
OF some eight racing associations III the Ter
ri1ory of greater New York and vicinity,
with hut one of which, the eStchester
Paring Associarion have l any connection.
leo, cha l1-3n
of Stewards of the Jockey Club since It's
organiza ton. fifteen years ago or some
fourteen years running pack 10 IiiG the
racing interests have always been lnNoINeet
in numerous and expensive Iilea@uollS @ 1IIs 81
ing for the expenditure OF very Iafge @ suIIlo
of money and the retention Of a small army
| NJ Interest in racing as a sport has
,-nrnnte1j me 10 maintain a general and not
q snecisI supervision Of the amounts o.
monev that We're being expended by daee tne
aesociafions II would seem mat IN 4T'i
r-nTrsrd of $4,000 was paid 70 Judge toEne
For services rendered by him pe1ore lhs
Legislature ard elsewhere IN pehah ol
sTIIis TIs money was paid him before the Leg
isIature OF 1908 which passed Iae ID rH "
cripnling racing came into existence. 10 .
MS sum most if not all of the associaIlonS
contrf3uted The figures. while large; t,,
y,cs-I Claimed by him TO be reasonable III
,,e light of the work performed.
Mr.. Belmont reviews the career OF
Judge Coyne. before and after his legal
connection with racing Interests ADOPT
ing the language Of the Tribune inter
view. and then says:
Il would seem that in 1907 upward t OF
s.6 600 was paid to Judge CoXne tor ser ser 10 Ia
aieev-bere in behalf Of racing lntereSts- .ri
Tfie none was paid him before the Iesls-
IatIIre of 1908. which passeo lIIe Id" Up
ming racing. came into existence. ,,
pms ,aoS tbe Hart-Agnew law having Deen
rasee5 while I was in Europe, undertooh
- nav return. after consultation Win my
q. esan;a+as ~. the disbursement Of such por-
ZION of the fund Of $4,000 teStlIleu 10 II III
fore YOUR committee. IN pupiIcLlA A dIlu 80 80
-or,.;cas as | might he able TO arrange, ana
- iter,s Of moneys paid out from Such
End have been correctly given you.
The apparent en25e & IN 1esfiInonv sim of NIr
S+urejs as 10 shoulder upon me tne ourut @ :
n rbe distribution and admlnlstra'@iol @ 81 -.
.be many thousands of dollars PAN OUT Ds
-n-;1g int rests in the last few years
through their publicity bureaus ana ano, IN IN
1auvers' services Is most unfair anu i"
conflict With the actual facts-
stating that he Will gladly aid the
committee further if it will signify that
.,,c,, thing is possible by telephoning
- hts office. at No % Nassau street
Daferrire to the fact that banking and
-.;1-oa6 interests occupy the bulk OF ms
- md that racing with him has been
an enisode merely, Mr. Belmont says:
,,, raneat what I stated to your COM
lic.ha+ +he sweeping allega ton OF a
norr,Jt use of money TO influence eglsia he
t@plI @ - - matter of which il ought 70 be
tloh Na7 Us ignorant. I cannot make
~ pr e,nnhafic the statement that nave
neyer o1 directly or indirectly III person or
through any corporate or m .11ise The
,z9e,,5jfI1re of single dollar TO Improperly
,neHence legislative action, nor nave peei1
asked TO DO so
# is expected that Mr.. Belmont VIII
he summoned 10 appear before the COM
Tomorrow.