New-York tribune., 1910-10-07
RA|NES AND BURNETT
NAMED IN GRAFT HUNT
Beet Sugar Lobbyist Tells on
Stand He Gave Them
$4,000 Each.
SAYS c. n. BELTS GOT $500
In "sppreciation" of Aid Given
Bounty Bills - Zimmeriin
Handled $4,000, Says
Another Witness.

net
legislative graft money from the beet sugar
industries Of the state in connection WIN
Tho so-caIled sugar bounty bills Of 1913 IN
she Testimony of Henry +. Zin1merlin be-
fore the legislative graft hunting commit
tee yesterday.
Fet-s was then the chief clerk IN the re-
vision depar1ment Of the Assembly, ailo'
according 10 Zimmerlin's testimony look
ssno from him as the representative OF the
LYONS Beet Sugar Refining Company sup
rosedly for his work in connection WIN
the passage of the sugar bounty Dill OF
that year
Senator John Ratnes. said Lmmerlins
took e 600 for his share Of the same work
and lean Burnett got the same amount
ss t,7e Senator. hut with vague under
standing that 81 5oG OF that amount was for
distribution TO o,-ers.
The others were not named by the Wit
ness and he svore repeatedly thai he was
absolutely unable TO recall any one TO
whom Burnett wasbGo pass along any part
Of ,he extra $3.50.
Zirnrnerlin was the legislative agent OF
tie beet sugar people for term OF years
running from 1Se7 TO 1905 After mat time
he served as xice-prcsiGent and later presi-
zen, Of the LYONS company. which went
into bankruptcy in the spring Of this year.
lucrantlv. the passing OF the three sums or
money. and from his testimony il appeared
rhs- the actual handing over OF the money
was accomplished IN the most oFen and
seemingly casual manner possible
Couldn't Recall the Date.
The lobbyist Of the sugar interests could
Tot exactly fix The date when he handed
over s. 800 as a mark Of the appreciation
~ the work Of the legislators and the re-
vision clerk. but he insisted time and again
thai no payrnent was made until after the
massage or the bill
FEe had the money with him, IN hlS POCKET
IN Albany before the Legislature adjourned
in 1sa5 Zinmerlin said. but il was not until
after the bill was PASSED that he delivered
any Of il. lie did not even mention the
roesibilitv Of such a reward 10 any leGis-
rsto- before the biu was passed, he said,
hut ne cid admit that before the passage
Of the hill. at p time, in fact when the
bounty which the sugar interests were IN
such dire need Of was sleeping" in COM
-,,i+-ee he had mentioned to Frederick
.Steicer-v aid. the president Of the Lyons
Rect Sugar Refining Company, that the
cor7panv ought TO show its appreciation
II the bin passed" and he added that he
,old the president of the company that the
Senator" referring 10 Senator Raines.
ought To get AT least 5000 and that the
As@erblvman.'' referring to Burnett
''ought 70 get about $500.
n linn Bruce counsel for the commit
zee reviewed The history Of the sugar
1,o1Jrfv legislation from 1897 down to 1905
The latter year. he pointed out. was
critical wear FOR the beet sugar industry
OF the state. for In that year the state
policy of giving bounty 10 the nanufact-
u-ers Of beet sugar was about 10 he
s+nrped BY apparently switching the
bounty from the manufacturing retiner TO
the farmer grower Of the beets the sugar
interests had been able TO have bill intro
duoei continuing the bounty TO the indus
rry: bur the session was drawing To
close. adjournment u-es At hand and still
the hflf ''slunbeTed" in committee
Tells Of Raines Payment.
IT usna critical time for the beet sugar
industry." Judge Bruce fired at the Wit
ness. -NoU- think il over. Mr.. Zimmerlin;
q ddn-t you teI some one there that the
appreciation vas waiting for them
y rnigFn have said 70 Senator Raines,
he replied slowly. that the company ought
70 SHOW its appreciation II the hill was
T7sssod. but 7 can't recall. II J did. IL vas
p-obs bly, At the Capitol
Did vo1 pay money 20 Senator Raincz9-'
re asked Zinnrnerlin-
~ did replied the witness
where
Tn 2 committee room
''V-berr7''
Some time between MAY ! and Nav :.
1ea5. after the passage Of the bill"
Zin7-1erlsr1 could not recall the time Of
dav. nor the exact day. but he described
the actual passage Of the money fol
lows.
7 stepped into the room and found him
alone. and ] said Here Senator: here's
small contribution from the company in
appreciation of the service you have rem
dered us He thanked me. and that was
all"
How much did you hand him."
Three thousand dollars. / paid him in
currency
Judge Bruce took UP the Burnett money.
Zimmerlin said that payment was made
later but within day or 50 Of the time
when he rad Ratnos
Where did you pay Burnett2'
At Albany. in the Assembly parlor, in
the northeast corner Of the Capitol"
He could not recall whether it was be-
fore o. after the adjournment Of the I>egis-
Iature The circumstances were practically
the same as in the Raines case. Zimmerlin
said.
Saws He Gave Burnett $4,000.
Il said 20 Burnett. Here is a slight DO
nation from the company for your ser
vices and with that ] handed him $50" "
Then the counsel for the committee, still
following up the matter. brought out from
the witness what he had apparently been
trying 10 hold back up 20 that moment
Are YOU sure you gave Burnett S.Je02"
and Judge Bruce thUmbed over some
papers in his hand. rs IL consulting notes
thereon.
ZimIYlerlin stopped The answer that was
ar,parentiy on his lips and looked fun at
his nqUistor-
II gave him $3.50 for himself he said.
haItinely. and I told him $500 for
him and the other $500 was TO use as he
saw 1T"
oh. you gave him 5000. too?' queried
Nr Bruce.
Yes 81, ,5oD for himself and the other 10
use as he saw TT repeated ZimmeTlin
Did he say the bill was I'm the Com
r1liriee On Rules and that they should be
taken care of" suggested Judge Bruce.
No
We'll. Nhs; n your mind who did
you hsve IN mind in giving the additional
81 500 10 Bgrnetf2
No one A. ell .ne -f4d Zimmerlin. it
Ia Nj he