New-York tribune., 1911-04-19
GRILL REFORM LOBBYIST
Rev. Mr.. 0. R. Miller Told Story
of Baseball Corruption Fund.
NO MERCY FROM SENATORS
Legislature Refuses to lnvesti-
gate Allegations of Improper
Influences.
fBy Telegraph 70 The Triburs.I

Albany April 1s-Widely varying nouons
or the advisabIlity Of investigating charges
rejecting on legislative honor were mani
tested to-day by the Democratic majority
The Assembly In the morning overwheim'
lngly refused 10 sanction a proposition ''
investigate allegations OF improper IN
huence on legislators to elect william f
Sheehan United States Senator.
In the afternoon the Democrats OF the
Senate Committee on Privileges and Eiec'
tions heckled and quizzed and browbeat
professional reformer. who had voiced
report that $1,000 had been raised TO help
the passage OF legislation permitting sun
day baseball.
The Rev. O. 4. Miller. registered lobbyist
OF the New York Civic League, editor OF
THE Reform Bulletin" in which he tackles
questions OF moral reform in the Lesisla'
ture and solicits contributions for tht
cause. was the object OF the committees
attentions. He told the Methodist Confer
ence at Saratoga OH April that he had
heard the big baseball clubs had raised
$4,000 to pass a Sunday baseball Dill. lie
mentioned this once or twice In his weekly
bulletin, and pleaded for contributions OIL
81 900 to fight this and other legislation.
Miller did not make very good showing
Gs n witness. He said he was ordained a
Methodist clergyman In Boston In 1892, had
charges In various places in Massachusetts
for some ten years. then went to washington
where he lived until 1905. Then he became
connected with the reform bureau and last
fall came 10 Albany as the state superin-
tendent Of the New York Civic League.
In that body. incorporated In this state.
some OF the directors are Canon Chase and
Darwin r. James. ir. OF Brooklyn: F. w.
Adams. Of Schenectady: tho Rev. George
Il. Mayer, OF Troy: Professor Charles
Thaddeus Terry, OF Columbia; the Rev. W.
s. Winans. of Brooklyn. and Dr. George
W. Peck. of Buffalo.
Miller admitted making in subsistence tn~
statement about tho $4,000 fund He said
ne got the information from man named
Gould-he wasn't sure OF his first name
connected In some way with an Albany
newspaper He admitted that he heard
this at a time when he knew the man In
the most casual way: that ho hadn't tried
TO investigate or verify the story: that he
hadn't mentioned the charge to any leg
islator, the District Attorney OF the county
or the Attorney General. lie said he sus-
pected the fund was 10 he used in some Inn
proper fashion He tried to show that he
at no time made any direct charges az 20
the existence Of such O. fund or It's use, real
or suspected
Answering questions by Senator McClel-
land as to whether his conduct gibed with
that TO be expected OF a Christian clergy
man, the witness said be had told the con-
ference about this report go put the people
on their guard. He said his organization
did It's work by letters and circulars. rous-
ing the people against what II considered
bad legislation.
"Wel, YOU were grabbing ont for $500
yourself. weren't you?" asked senator Nc
Cfelland. at one stage Of the proceedings
alluding TO MilIcr's appeals for con.ribu-
tions.
Miller said under his arrangement Will
the Civic League he was 10 get s200 q
year salary. hut he was bebind because
all bills he'd to be paid before he got his
salary. and the contributions weren't raised
"as easily as the gamblers or baseball
men" raised theirs.
After the night session the committee
went into executive meeting. II will re-
port 20 the Senate tomorrow. II ia un.
derstood tie report will he that Mlller's
statement had no foundation IN fact and
that punitive action Will be left 10 ,he
Senate That body has power 20 infiIc'
punishment for contempt almost as 3,
chooses. up TO imprisonment for tho rest
OF the legislative session.