New-York tribune., 1910-09-23

/ ctation-)
who took money for such a purpose in
all ny existence
AssemblvTnan Foley wanted TO know
why Rogers did business with Archie
Baxter and Assenblyman BedelL Rogers
said he never gave Baxter a cent and
he wanted Beden elected because he was
Ii good. fair individual The traction
t-7au said he didn't account TO the exec
,,-ive committee Of the association for
the zvav in which he contributed toward
I the welfare Of his honest friends.
Always Gave Cash.
F4e gave cash-aiways cash-to polit-
jral committees SIS well as TO legislative
candidates. His gifts to the Democratic
Estate Committee were nothing large"
though. Some Of the men toward whose
1 election ne contributed served on the
Railroads committees when elected
Really. though. he couldn't remember
who tbev were. even when Judge Bruce
tried 70 refresh his memory with lists
of the committees for several years
Rogers couldn't remember a single name
Finally. with d bored air, he remarked;
"Oh. want 70 forget II"
he would not tell Judge Bruce why.
but it was evident to anybody with
sense Of delicacy that he felt II wasn't
lu-oper for him TO be telling Of Tavors
be,s done FOR his friends. He turned II
ion in this jocular way:
What's the use Of irving 70 remen-
/ tero II I said 7 gave some Of these rei-
l1ov-E money they'd come here and oeny
( st. That. nanifestly, was his little
I 5olye Al the expense Of his friends.
/ Judge Bruce then tried another tack
he asked IF Rogers ever contributed TO
the county committees of his friends
and called the roll of counties for him
/ Again Roge-s's sense Of delicacy pre-
vented him from remembering, or tell
ing AZ least. He said that II Juoge
R-1,ce refreshed his memory he might
. be able 10 say
That's the way with you" retortec
Judge Bruce. You are always Wiling
n admit things when indisputable proof
is shown 10 you"
$500 for MaIby's Campaign.
! Then he produced a letter written by
| EllinEwood & Cunningham 70 George
! izfaIbv on November L 1900, incloslng
$500 70 aid Malby's campaign Rogers
IunviIlingIv admitted that the $500 check
was his. Suddenly the lawyer asked
/ Rogers;
/ which was the predominant influence
iacruatiug the making OF these conT1ou-
tions-care for the good Of the people
or the good Of the railroads."
/ There's only one answer TO that
/ chuckled Rogers
/ We'll. what is it?"
The railroads..
Did the good Of the people and the
good Of the railroads ever conflict?
asked Senator Robert Wagner
Yes: sometimes" admitted Rogers
reAecttvely.
Rogers said he didn't know whether
/ steam railroads or other public service
/ corporations contributed TO legislators;
ne wasn't interested in them. and paid
no attention. Before he left the witness
stand Judge Bruce with much mystery
showed him & name written on a piece
( OF paper
Rogers SAID the owner Of # once lent
him s5o.O00, in 1902. which later was re-
raid. The transaction had nothing TO
90 with politics. he said. He said the
same thing about a contracting firm
which had advanced money TO him
Neither the name OF the firm nor the
amount was divulged- Judge Bruce ac-
cepted Rogers's statements that there
was nothing concerning politics in the
transactions
Mr.. Cunningham Foraeffui.
In the afternoon James ". Cunning
ham. formerly Rogers's partner in the
Legislative clearing house." now con-
nected with the brokerage firm of Sim
mons & slade. took the stand He in
sisted that ne was willing To tell the
graft hunters all he knew. but he seemed
10 be afflicted with the regulation wit
ness stand brand of memory. Most OF
the things Judge Bruce wanted 20 know
Mr.. Cunningham never had known, or
else had forgotten absolutely, beyond
hope Of recollection
one Of the things Judge Bruce asked
him was about the mysterious disap-
pearsnce OF about fifty thousand can
celled checks. check books. letterpress
copy books, bIotters and deposit books
which he had been subponaed 10 pro-
duce. hut hadn't produced He said he
didn't know about them. but imagined
they might have been lost on the various
times when the firm moved. or retained
By some OF Ithe lawyers who conducted
cases for the concern when # was hav-
ing financial troubles
he resented very hotly any assumption
thar anybody would have an interest IN