New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-17

Likewise Contributed Freely 10
Both Political Machines
When Asked.
EVERYBODY GOT HIS PLUM"
Handed Out Cash in the Interest
II Uniformity He Tells Graft
Hunters-Hackley's Mem
Dry Still Defective.

According 60 the testimony which the
/ legisis tive graft hunters spread on the
records Yesterday It must have been
glorious to have been a politician back
in the good old days" which the odd
guard laments now-the years from
1892 to 1909 Almost any politician
might have gone along singing. with
Algy. Every body's awfully good to
me- Money flowed in from the strang-
est and most unexpected sources.
II. H Vreeland president for years Of
the Metropolitan Street Railway sys
TEN. yesterday told some interesting
tales from his experience concerning
politicians and political contributions.
All any politician or political party
need to do if money was wanted. it
seemed. was to mention the fact to d
! railroad company or a railroad man !
| The money was Forthcoming a once.
/ Generosity was the notable character
istiC of these open-handed railway peo- /
! pie They gave through the street Rail /
ways Association. they gave through G. /
Tracy Rogers, they gave through others !
yet unnamed. They just gave. gave. /
gave the livelong day. Political faith /
made little difference, though political
Importance may have done so. Still, !
Mr. vreeand declared. amid much /
laughter About everybody who ran /
for office got his plum.
Disinterested Generosity.
/ And this generosity was SO disinter-
| ested. roo. There was no idea of getting /
any return, any auid pro quo Not , /
/ bit of II The railroad interests. II /
seems have been struggling along for |
| years. sadly and cruelty maigned con |
Germs. with individuals at their heads !
suffering patiently the gibes Of 4 heart |
! less and unjust public.
All those railroad people wanted was
mere ordinary uniformity in legislation. |
No favor-no liuitless franchises-no |
charter renewal hills-no route extension /
and special fare measures-nO. stree.
Just plain uniformity of legislation Mr.. |
Vreeland's word for il is on the record /
And because they loved their politicians
so. Of all grades and shades of belief, |
they couldn't help giving money to them. |
For instance in 1902-'02. the Metro |
poIitan paid about $4,000 TO the Repub- !
Ifcans The organization, through some !
body or a group Of somebodies, had in |
timated that Republtcanisn needed |
financial assistance So the Metropol |
tan FASTENED to assist.
Likewise. this same individual or /
group of individuals indicated that De-
mocraCy would grow decadent if the |
crganiza ton were not rescued from i'm
pending financial strngency. So the
NJ <
tent of 1000 or $4,000.
Mr.. Vreeland wasn't sure that the
METROPOLITAN didn't contribute to the
Prohibitionists He might have he said.
as he was one. Surely, about every
party and every politician got whatever
was coming.
Mr.. VreeIand 4 Bit SaIky.
When it came to the details Of some
of these transactions, though. Mr.. Vree-
land turned bit balky, like one of the
horses which still propel some of the
Metropolitan's streetCars. Judge Bruce,
counsel to the graft hunters. brought out
that the railway man had an account at
the New Amsterdam Bank. Mr.. Vree-
land was positive he never drew any
political checks on that account.
Judge Bruce pressed him for informa-
ton regarding the check for 5000. out
Of which Lou Bedell had $3.50 cred
tied to him on the books of ElIingwood
& Cunningham. the Legislative clearing
house: Lou JIoodseH $500 and G.
Tracy. Rogers 1926. Mr. Vreeand waxed
wroth and declared this was money lent
TO Rogers-he was in the habit of lend
ing Rogers money. and he didn't ask
him what he wanted it for. either. Judge
Bruce gently intimated that the records
looked as if the check had been drawn
to Ellinswood & Cunningham.
Vreeland retorted emphaticaIIy that
he'd never believe that until he saw it.
and challenged Judge Bruce to produce
the check. Judge Bruce asked Vreeland
if he didn't get the cancelled check from
his bank as a voucher. Freeland a few
moments before mad admitted destroy
ing most of his cancelled checks There
upon ne undertook to read a lecture,
with much simulated Indignation. to
Judge Bruce for attempting to accuse
him of destroying evidence.
Accustomed to the Defensive.
yreeland who has been on the de-
fensive so much that he knows very we'll |
how TO handle himself before the graft
hunters came stalking into the alder
manic chamber with John B. Stanch-
field his counsel Earlier in the day
Judge Bruce had said that he'd subpoena
Vreeland If he could be found.
The railroad man put on the
stand almost as soon as he presented
himself His tone breathed defiance and II
some contempt from the first-much like
his general attitude toward the Public
Service Commission whenever he ap-
peared before that body-a sort Of what
business is it of yours" air.
The former president of the Metro
politan said it was representative Of |
that system that he took a place in the
Street Railways Association. He was a
member of the executive committee of
that organization from 1895. When he
first became member q Tracy Rogers
was nreeident and H A Robinson was !