New-York tribune., 1910-02-03
ALLDS REPLY READY
GENERAL DENIAL OF
CONGER CHARGES.
Expected To Be Filed 5cith
Clerk Of the Senate To-Day
-Lauyers Confer.
IBr relesraph 70 The Tribune-l ]

Albany Feb. AT a conference to-
night of the counsel engaged by Senator
Lothian P Aids charged by Senator
Benn Conger with receiving a bribe of
81 900 to kill certain legislation, the an
swer of Senator Aids was prepared. 1t
is a general denial of the Conger charges.
It is understood. that this will be filed
with the clerk of the Senate tomorrow
and then will be made public.
Those at the conference tonight were
Martin W Littleton, Lewis Z. Carr
Danforth L. Ainsworth and Lewis Z.
Griffith None of them would say a
word for publication regarding the Allds
end OF the controversy, and Senator
Aids. still protesting his innocence of
any improper conduct, also declined to
talk for publication
The Senate inquiry, the issue having
been joined by the fling of the Aids
answer, will begin next Tuesday morn
ing at II O'Clock. II viii be interrupted
on Wednesday by the election by both
houses in joint session of a regent of
the State University, but will be con-
tinued on Wednesday afternoon How
long it viii take is question which IS
puzzling most of the Senator's here, who
desire a short session of the Legislature
this year
Aids was saying last week that the
whole thing would not take more than
two days commented Senator Agnew
TODAY Yet he has taken more than
two DAYS to prepare his answer. When
the lawyers get to going no mere clVlhan
cares think how long they will take. 1t
looks to me as if it would be matter
of three or four weeks at any rate.
Lawyers take a lot Of time to turn
around in. and Of course this thing has
got to be thoroughly investigated.
Prelirninarfes for the inquiry will be
arrangedsby the clerk and sergeant at
arms of the Senate Subpoena blanks
have been printed. Desks for the op-
posing lawyers and their clerks will have
to be arranged in the well Of the Senate
chamber. At present Senator Allds's
lawyers are wO king at a hotel here,
with frequent consultations with him at
his Office, in the Capitol, where he is
transacting business daily Senator Con
gers legal department is quartered in
Troy, possibly TO preserve the traditional
antipathy between Troy and Albany.
All sorts Of sensa tional rumors have
gene the rounds here to-day concern
ing the identity of the man who, accord
ing to Senator Conger. paid the $1,000
bribe 10 Aids One story had ii that the
progress of the inquiry would reveal him
as a business associate Of Mr.. Conger-
Another rumor was that the people who
furnished the bribe money. suspicious of
the regular o-betveens in such legiS-
lative transactions, had a bank official
from an upstate city come to the Capitol
with certain money neatly placed in
envelopes. which were distributed where
they would do the most good Still an
other story was that this man, who, Of
course, would be most important 10
prove Senator Conger's allegations, IS
dead. and so the Conger charges would
fall TO the ground.
Senator Conger and his lawyers are
keeping very still about anything of that
sort. but they are busy and seem in ex
cellent spirits They are perfectly will
ing to accept Martin Littleton's char
acterization of this affair "a fight"
They indicate fairly broadly that they
arc rather fond of fights and are look
ing forward to the real beginning Of this
one with much JOY.