New-York tribune., 1910-02-19
HINT GRAFT IN 1907
Continued from first gage.

vlded by hlm-the question did not go
50 far as to ask to whom part went il
the $4,000 was dividcd-brought on the
nvoiiest battle of the lawyers so far In
the case.
LAWYERS IN LIVELY BATTLE.
James w. Osborne. chief of the Congo
legal staff protested vehcmently that the
question had no bearing on the issue.
1T doesn't tend to prove or disprove
that Senator Conger is telling the truth
said he. THE only thing it can do Is to
satisfy the nrurient curiosity of some
body who wants to know something det-
rimental about somebody else. If John
Jcnes or Bill Smith was paid $500 il
won't tend in any way to prove or dis
prove the guilt OF this respondent Aids.
And it certainly cannot affect the credi-
blity of Conger, because Conger has ad-
mitted in the most frank way that he
was engaged in a schcme-whether IN
duced To do 1t by blackmail or other
wise-to pay money to influence logisla-
ton"
Mr.. Osborne at various times has
characterized himself a counsel for the
people, in this case. His utterances on
this occasion certainly bore out that no.
ton of his duties. He declared this case
TO be the most momentous trial in this
state in thirty years and urged that 1T
would be a great misfortune To the cause
os Justice to enlarge it beyond the spe-
cific issue of AIldss guilt or innocence.
| He thought the answering of Senator
| Wainwright's question, by tending to
bring in some matter which might per-
| haps affect the attitude of I,nhe Sena-
tor might have that effect.
SCHULZ DIsAGREEs.
! Senator Schulz. though, did not agree
! with him.
! while it is true that Senator Aids is
! or trial here ne said, 'it is not only
Senator Aids but it is the Legislature
| of the State of New York. If the wit
| ness docs know what was done with
| that fund we should have the informa-
! tion--not to whom it was paid. but the
| fact that he does know-so that TINS
| Senate can take action to empower this
| committee to inquire whom 1T was pa'd
! to. 1t does not make bit of difference
| whether it takes a month or year
| There is not anything more important TO
| the people of this state to-day than TO
| know whether corruption existed IN tne
Senate, and if it did whence 1t emanated
| and how it was stopped and how 1t can
be prevented in the future.
This gave to the Aids lawyers an op-
nortunity to demand a broader investi-
/ trih
| demand on their part to hope that
certain politicians, if they believe gen
erai INQUIRY into legislative conditions
! imminent. may be willing to come to
Senator Alldss aid and bring polltlca
! prcssIre on the Legislature to put on
| the soft pedal on the Aids case and all
| the rest Mr. Littleton, in urging Sena-
| tor Davis to compel the witness to an
sver the Wainwright question. said
general accusation had been made oy
| the Conger side, only one-siXth OF Which
they we're attempting to prove-the de-
| livery of 81 900 to Senator Aids.
eff they can name one live human be
Ing outside of the Senator to whom they
paid money!" he said, I'VE purpose 10
| summon him before this committee TO
| disprove the charge. because we ciaith
| that II it is disproved as 70 five -slAths OF
tho transaction it demonstrates that TINS
J statement is not true"
Senator Wainwright maintained hotiy
! that this question was not asked 10 sa'
| isfy anybody's prurient curiosity, nut TO
| elicit facts which the people or this
state demand shall be made known.
| B,,t whom adjournment for the day was
taken his question had not been ruled
| on bv Chairman Davis. HIS decisloi
will he given on Tuesday morning "heh
| the investigation is resumed
cnoculation regarding the course OF
| ,h, defence next week is to the erect that
| al, attempt may be made TO prove that
| Rnrnett was the only person to receive
| the bridge company's money and that the
friends of Nixon and Aids may say that
they took no money because the whole
AFFAIR had been fixed up beforehand with
Burnett as the middleman. between the
bridge companies and the men VINO car
ried out their wishes in the Legislature.
Senator Grady voiced this idea when he
said to-day:
"Sunpose that this witness is obliged
to saw that at the time this agreement
| ras reached with Burnett for the $4,000
If anv such agreement was ever made
| or ntemplated-Burnett had promised
| to suppress this legislation Then II
| would have been the most natural thins
| in the world for this witness when he
was held up. either by Senator Aids or
| Speaker Nixon. to say, Why, We set
i tlcd that matter with Burnett.