Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-06
BELMONT DENIES
USE OF MONEY
At ALBANY
Never Contributed Single DOL
lar for Purpose Of Influencing
Legislation, Declares Jockey
Club President,

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased NireI
New York, Dec. 81 cannot make
too emphatic the statement have
never directly or indirectly. in personi
or through any corporation or M
dividuals. contributed. authorized or
advised the expenditure of single
dollar improperly to Influence legisla-
tive action, nor have ! been asked to
do so
August Belmont, chairman OF the
Jockey cub, makes this statement IN
a letter to NJ. Linn Bruce. chief ooun
sel for the legislative Investigating
committee before which he was q wit
ness last week.
The letter was made public tonight
with brief letter from f. Is. Stursis.
treasurer Of the Jockey Club, saying
that he himself was in error when he
testified recently that James w.
Wadsworth, Jr.. speaker of the state
assembly recommended as counsel FOR
the racing interests +. T. CoNne of
Livingston county. This recommenda-
ton. he adds came from the elder
Wadsworth, state commissioner of
racing.
Mr.. Belmonts letter says in part:
'"Thc great bulk of my time is de-
voted to the management of my bank
ing and railroad interests and ! now
repeat what | stated to your committee
that the sweeping allegations of a COR
rupt use of money to influence legis-
lation was matter of which ii ought
10 be presumed | was ignorant
THE claim is made, as | understand
it. that money used TO bribe the mem
bers of the legislature of 1908 to vote
against the HartAgnew law. ON this
assumption let us look at the facts.
The evidence before your committee
shows the existence Of some eight rae
ing associations in the territory of
Greater New York and vicinity with
but one of which, the Westchester
Racing Association, have l any con-
nection.
II also have been chairman of the
board Of stewards of the Jockey Club
since it's organization Is years ago.
For some / 4 years running back to the
time of the passage of the Percy
Gray law the racing interests have al
WAYS been involved in numerous and
expensive litigations calling FOR the
expenditure Of very large sums or
money and the retention of smah
army Of lawyers,
"MN interest in racing as a sport has
prompted me to maintain general
and not a special supervision of the
amount of money that was being eN-
pended by the associations. 1t would
seem that in lJOf upward % AfV'NvV
was paid TO Judge Coync for services
rendered BY him before the legislature
and elsewhere in behalf OF .acing IN
terests.
"This money was paid him by the
legislature of 1908, which passed the
law Gripping racing. To this most II
not all of the associations contributed
mo suggestion was ever made TO me
that his bills covered any proper dls,
bursements. or that our moneys had
been in 1907 or in any other year, uScd
in improperly influencing the leSis-
| lature.
ON 1908 the HartAgnew law nav
ing been passed while | was in Europe
undertook on my return. aitef con-
sultation with my associates the uis-
hurscment of such portion OF the
S4O. 600 testified to before your com
fnittec in publicity and legal services
az | might be able TO arrange, ana the
items Of moneys paid out from such
find have been correctly given you.
II i'm no way shirk nay share OF tn1
rrsponsibility but that the pupilc
should be persuaded into bchei pl
Juggling with figures that ! have so
filed my name. by STOPPING 10 cover
up under the guise of lawyers bilis
ana newspaper expenditure. the brlb-
ing of members Of the legislature. IS
n position in which no fair mlhHeu
man would wish to place me