New-York tribune., 1912-02-21
Fitzherbert'S Admissions Cause
Dismay in Ranks of Demo-
Gratis at Trenton.
IS WILSON SUPPORTER
Bold sandbag on Acetylene Gas
Concern for $5,000-order
for Investigation Follows
Committee Hearing.
nv Telegraph to Tho Trlrun")


Gas Company, of New York. at hear
ing on the measures before the Judi''a'Y
Committee this afternoon. Mr.. osttS
charges involved Senator Richard J.
Fnzherbert. a Democrat, OF MOTIFS
County. the introducer of the bills ana
en- serious did the Senators consider MS
ouepations that at an executive session
tououing the hearing the committee was
empowered 10 conduct an investigations
Senator Fitzherbert was not at tAe
executive session. he having LEFT Tor MS
home at Dover on the advice OF senator
Fielder. who told him to think it "Ne'
and hire the best counsel he could get
While the excitement following MY
Ostbv's charges was at its height eN-
ATTORNEY General Robert H. McEarter
filed charges in the supreme Court ASK
ing for the disbarment of Senator Will
lam c. Gebhardt, of Hunterdon, also
Denocrat. in connection with the selec-
lion of a Jury panel in his county
The bills on which the hearing was
hold prohibited the use Of acetylene gas
IN railroad trains and also prohibited
the manufacture Of such gas within a
thousand feet Of any dwelling, roadway
railroad track or railroad terminal Sen
ator Edge. the majority leader; Senator
Fielder the minority leader, and Sen
ator Read compose the Judiciary Com
noittee and when Senator FitzherbeTt
was asked about his bills he said he in
troduced the first bill by request without
looking seriously at it. His CUSTOM ne
said, was to put in any bill HANDED 10
him and then examine it afterward. Tho
second bill. however, does not bear the
words "by request" and the Senate COM
mittee considered this the more seri-
Gus of the two.
What is the occasion for the hrst
bll?" asked Senator Read.
Confronted BY Gas Man.
1T is said these lights are dangerous -
Fitzherbert replied. Because in case Of
accident the gas may ignite the wreck
age"
What roads use these lights?" asked
Senator Edge.
The Lackawanna" was the answer.
II was here that Mr.. OstDy, appearing
for the opponents Of the measure, told
OF a conversation he said he had with
DR.. Ridner, of Succasunna, who, he sald'
had told him on December - last that
these bills would be introduced and that
their introduction could be stopped.
Il tried time after time 10 get Dr.
Ridner TO fix the price" said Mr.. Ostoy,
Oh. l.. bon, ,,ttiug mo off and then
finally said he would do it for Sl,oU
The first $500 was TO go to him, he said,
and the 81 800 where it would do the
most good He gave me the idea that
he had power TO keep. the bill in commit
tee as long as he wanted. On February
l3 he notified me that the bill would be
reported and nothing l could do would
prevent it's passage"
Here Mr. Ostby read from type
written statement which he said was
record of the conversation between him
and Ridner at No. 50 Broadway, New
York, as taken down by stenographers
concealed in an adjoining room. He said
he had made up his mind to get rid of
Ridner
Senator Fitzherbert said he considered
acetylene gas was equivalent TO dyna-
mite, but was interrupted by Senator
Fielder, who said:
I'VE do not care about the merits or
eemerits Of the bill What can YOU say
about their introduction"
Mr.. Fitzherbert said he did not care TO
say.
In reply to a question Senator Fitz-
herbert said he remembered a conversa-
tion with man named Wisehart last
week. who aftcrward proved to be re-
porter for New York newspaper.
Wisehart was at the hearing. and he
gave the following account of his meet
in with Senator Fitzherbcrt:
Five Thousand Dollars Fixed as Price.
Il saw Senator Fitzherbert last Satur-
day and told him / was friend of
ostby's, and that / was out 10 talk over
Ridner and his position on the bills. He
told me Ridner was a good fellow and
that he knew him at Trenton; that ne
was one Of the slickest fellows there, and
could get about what he wanted at the
Legislature. He said that he himself in
tended TO do with the bills just what the
ntroducers wished. He said one Of the
mtroducers of the bills could be reached
with money. He asked me why didn't
give the money TO Ridner, and replied
That Ostby did not know Ridner.
lie said: 'Pshaw! He'd better have
given II TO him. for he can get anything
10 Trenton | asked him if | should
bring 5000 to Trenton could I get the
blils killed He said he thought could.
SAID: The understanding, then is that
II come down with 5000 the bin will
De killed Youll Withdraw the bill and
use your influence to have il with
ofawn.' He said he would
Mr. WiselIart asserted that Senator
fltzherbert at that time agreed TO GX
me thing mp for $1,000 IF you get this
$"'VO will you agree to put the thing
out Of the way? lie said yes.
1t isn't true" cried Senator Fitzher-
bert
= affirm that 81 is true" said Wise.
hart
Alr. Ostby then gave details of a CON
Versation between himself. Wisehart ana
Fitzherbert IN the Trenton House last
night Senator Fitzherbert then gave
his version of the conversation with
Wisehart in Dover. as follows;
lie asked me If the bin could DO