Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-16
As Probe Is Pressed In
to New York Bribery Case.
Congsr, Aeeuser Of Aids,
SquITms Under Questioning.
Finally Admits That Ms Company
Raised "Corruptlon" Fund.

Albany, y. Y, Feb. 15.-The lid was
pried off the legislative bribery scan
dial today and the Whit that escaped
justified all suspicious regarding the
unsavory nature of what it covered.
At the same time plans were laid for
wi1er investigation to follow the pres
ent inquiry now being con1Octed by
the Senate into Senator Benin Conger's
charge that Senator Joetham T.
Aids took $1,000 bribe from an agent
OF the American Bridge Co.
The days disclosures were import
ant principally because they laid the
basis for future attempts to write the
history of legislative corruption III
New York state during the past nine
wears and perhaps for longer period
When Senator Conger'S attorneys an
nounced that they were through WIFI
his direct examination late this after
noon Aids accuser was taken in hand
nv Senator Newcomb of New YORK,
and forced to confess that the compl-
nation of bridge building concerns
known as the American Bridge Co..
had raised a corruption fund IN l9oz'
1909 and 1905. Conger struggled nara
and refused to answer some OF New
cornbs Questions until directed to re-
ply by tie presiding officer. Under such
commission the GrOton senator ad-
mitted that the bridge companies IN
1903 turned their legislative bribery
fund over to the Groton Bridge Co,
in which the witness and his brother,
Frank. were interested. He was not
messed to tell the uses to which THIS
Int offpr the merclleSS
rrilling Congor had received from his
Republican colleagues, grim smile
flashed across his harrassed face as ne
volunteered this information:
There was a contribution to the
state chairman Of the Republican or
ganiZation in 1907
Conger was questioned no more
along this line for Senator Newcomb
declared that the purpose OF ms III
terrogation was not to carry the III
yestigation outside the limits or the
charge against Aids, but to get on the
record evidence for use when the IN
m,.rv Is carried further after the Allds
charges are disposed of.
The method by which this shall be ac-
complished is still undecided Inc only
noint that the days developments maze
clear In that the Republican adnlnistfa-
ton has concluded that the public de-
mand for a sweeping investigation Is 100
insistent to ignore. This morning 9eha-
tor Wainwright introduced in the upper
house resolution providing for an IN
yestigation practically without limit as to
time or place within the state. and asked
an appropriation Of $4,000 for the eX-
penses of a probing committee of three
senator's and five assemblymen
This resolution was referred to the II
nance committee.
While much still depends upon future
revelations of the Aids investigation and
the state of popular sentiment at It's con-
cluslon, the plan of the Republican lead
ers tonight seems to promise an extension
of the present investigation to cover al
legations of corruption in regard to high
way legislation only
Senator Benin Conger of Groton was on
the stands all day today except for two
brief respites when his counsel called an
officer of the National Bank of Syracuse
and an Auburn hotel clerk to corroborate
certain. points In the testimony of Conger
and Hiram f. Moe. Senator Newcomb
took the witness in hand and had read
that part of the testimony in which At
tofreyt Osborn conceded that the bridge
companies met in 1908 and raised a cor
ruption fund Then turning to Conger.
who sat nervously playing with a hand |
kerchief, he demanded;
Have you personal knowledge of the
accumulation of fund in 1903 to influence
the course of highway legislation in the
state of. New York;
Eyes. sir, have" answered Conger
without hesitation.
Senator Conger declared that he had no
personal knowledge of how this corrup-
tion fund was disburseu.
did the representatives of the bridge
companies meet in any place in 1903 and
accumulate this fund.-" pursued New
comb.
Not to my knowledge. sir"
did they meet"
II do not think So"
IF there was no meeting in 1905" New
comb asked now was the corruption |
fund accumulated,
Conger hesitated long while before he |
replied. lie moistened his lips and made
one or two false starts. and then he said |
1T was paid to Il certain party
This did not satisfy Newcomb and again |
he asked the Chair to direct Conger to
answer. After an unsuccessful appeal |
from the question Conger replied:
1T was not a partys it was a corpora
ton"
"Who was the corporation"
''rhe Groton Bridge Co"
(soDyer said be coul3 nat
the officers of the company were in 19W;
or who handled the money.
Newcomb pressed his questions regard |
ing corruption funds in other years. but
the witness said he could not remember
any other such fund except in 1902 and
1905