Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-18
MONEY DIDN'T COME;
LAWMAKERS GOT BUSY
When Bridge Interests Refused to
Pay Amount Asked Bills Were Put
Through Knocking Out 90 Per Cent.
of Business in State-Bsss Laid
for Future Investigation.

(By Associated TTeSs-)
ALBANY. y. Y. Feb. ifs. Fred
Nixon was the third name that soma
tor Ben Conger says Hiram G. Nice
wrote on one of the envelopes In
which they carried $4,000 to the state
capitol nine years ago TO buy pro-
lection fer the bridge companies. The
name of the former speaker OF the
assembly announced today by Conger
on the stand completes the trlO.
Speaker NiXCn's envelope, according
to Conger, like Senator lothian p.
Aids. held $1,000. The remainder
of the fund $4,000. was in the envel-
ore given TO Nixon's lieute nant. As
semblyman Jean Larue Burnett.
These were the revelations that
marked the closing minutes of the
States investigation of the bribery
charges tbs afternoon. Put such dis
closures had been so far discounted
by rumor and expectation that the
announcement of Nixon name and
the thrilling legal skirmishes leading
up to it were only an incident in an
afternoon full of surprises.
Others to Come.
Nixon and Burnett are dead and
Aids. the only living member CT the
trio. his accuser probably has told
the worst he can have to say But
there are other graft Investigations
to come and today's proceedings yield
ed a rich harvest OF evidence on
which TO base them.
According to Conger. from 1901 to
1905, a systematic campaign was con-
Quoted at Albany against the treas
.ury, of the fridge companies. For
three Yeas the companies paid trib-
ute = In 1905 notice came from Abb
nv thatln. would be to their interests
TO forward to the capital $40. OB0gThen
the nien. who con;rolissi the bridge
ceAipaaies met in ( Syracuse and
sagfeed snet. TO pay. sAs. Conger ex-
.plfesse it : we decided 'we5 woGid not
.hes bsack mailed aHyFlonefr."
: 81 Ssally, b. ! foafs i,Ieeediag years
ri 10 tes to The sB4sagesis&er-
ss,S had s.NEeen5 intrpduoed SIeguidriy,
fslssf q ). alwat s. fatied ktoS fsss Hat
III, fals5 Il e lagisisf fes IA Sseh eas man
va, .act .zwiiic splscesis onS the jstatutf
.Bstsg ks;sa .paovsssoui sissiust; whietilfiie
bridge combination had y Ioag con
tended Is a result. of sthiss law 60
per cent ofshe bridge companfe.; were
forced cut Ct business in New York
state.
Wanted Revenge.
Aids accuser was on the stand all
dav aud this was his stciy. lie told
il under CROSSE xaminatiOa. and Aids
attorney seemed quite ready to let
him tell Il; Their purpose. apparent
Il. was { brand COnScr as giver
Of bribcs- as a represe NATIVE Of the
bridge interests in the legislature and
to show that he was actuatcd in
ringing against Aids the charges.
the senate is now Investigating by a
desire for revenge for Aids hostility
to the business interests where Con
Ger mad invested money.
Conxcr followed their lead with a
readiness that can be explained By
desire to convince his colleagues
that he would Mt have handled bribe
money unless he and his business as
SOciafcs had i-cn held rp" BY icgis-
latcrs. and that the bridge interests
in the past had 20 choose between
blackmsil and ruin.
:. Fred Nixon probably held m re-
rowcr than any other member Of the
assembly that occupied the speaker
chair. TIr first entered the lower
house in 1857 and was clectcd speak
or In 1899. iic ruled the assembly
rontinu, usly mp 20 the time 81 his
death in the fall ~ 1905.
The name RI Col George ". Dunn.
chairman Of The Republican state CON-
mifirc in 1897 vas irorghi dchaiic-
Is into The evidence todav. thus max
ing MIN available as witness ~
frfurc Investigations. Conxcr said
that be- called on Dunn a. his of'no
hcrc and made contribution Tor
both him.c.f and De bridge compa
nirs
H.. diI not say hos much Il vas