The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-21
PAID $500 FOR TWO
NEWSSTAND LICENSES
Election District Captain Who
Got the Cash Admits II
Under Oath.
DONE IN BECKER'S DISTRICT
Payer and Receiver Of Graft
Say Alderman Knew
Nothing Of II.


B. Fosdlck, who yesterday began an in
vestigation of the charges that Alder
/ men had accepted graft for licenses to
new sdealers, without difficulty got in
formation that $500 Is the regular price
for the more prosperous stands also the
| sworn testimony of an election district
captain that he had taken $500 for
news stand license
Benjamin F.. Strauss of 200 West
Ninety y-second street was the witness
who made the frank admission that he
had taken graft. He Is the Republican
captain Of the Twenty ninth election
district of the Fifteenth Assembly dis
| trice, which Is the one from which
Alderman Niles r. Becker was elected.
Strauss took the money from Il. Seliko-
| witz, newsdealer. who with his partner
runs stands under the east and west
| stairways of the new elevated station
soon TO be opened at Eighty sixth street
and Columbus avenue. Strauss said,
| about the graft
Alderman Becker himself was instru-
! mental in getting the testimony before
Commissioner Fosdick. With his coun-
sci, Lemuel Ely Quigg; Benjamin f.
Thomas, Strauss and Selikowitz ie APP
peared at Commissioner Fosdick's office
at $50 Broadway yesterday morning.
Mr. Quigg first asked Commissioner
Fosdck that the hearing be put Off until
after the Board of Aldermen had been
| called together al special meeting 10
appoint a committee to investigate the
news stand charges. Alderman Becker
himself has demanded this Aldermanic
investigation into his conduct. Commits
sioner Fosdick said his investigation
would have TO be carried on separately
and denied the request.
Chief Accountant Harry N. Rice was
appointed by Commissioner Fosdick to
take the testimony. Alderman Becker
wanted it understood that the witnesses
had come without being subppnaed and
that he himself knew nothing about the
testimony which was to be given
Selikowitz. the first witness, said that
he and his partner when they wanted 10
,,pen their stands at the Eighty sixth
street station had been told that Strauss
was the man to see They understood
that $500 stand was the regular rate
ana tDAI was tHc ruth IpiNA WV w WV ~.
trict captain. After the money was paid
they got the licenses with Alderman
Becker's signature on them.
Strauss followed Selikowitz. He ad-
mitted after he had been pressed that he
had received the sum mentioned by the
newsdealer.
alderman Becker knew nothing about
it, he said -He had no idea that had
received the money"
FOR what purpose did you take the
money!" Strauss was asked.
1T was for personal services in the mat
ter" 4" was the reply.
The investigator urged him to tell the
nature OF the service. but his memory
failed him there and he was unable to tell
lust what il was. He said that since the
fuss had begun about the graft from
new sstands he had returned SleO to Sell
kowitz and that he would refund more
later.
Mr. Rice said yesterday afternoon that
the ase would he put into the hands OF
District Attorney Whitman and that he
would be the one to make the charge OF
taking money under false pretences. Mr..
Rice was not sure. though. that Strauss
, could be convicted. for he thought there
;; was a technical loophole through which
he could ESCAPE. -.
Mr. Fosdick is after two more wit
nesses whom he has not vet been able TO
, find. As soon a. they have been sub
ptfndtIt tiN-s wiz ~
Chief Accountant Rice. and it is under
> stood that they will corroborate the
. stories that already have been told. .
Mr.. Fosdick said that little of value
. had been obtained from the other wit
i ness whom the Alderman had brought
, with him MIR Becker wanted to 20 or
i the stand himself. but the Commissioned
. would not let him until he had heard al
| the other witnesses in the case.
I Il heard that Mr.. Fosdick had sub
ppnaed two witnesses" said Alderman
y Becker after the testimony had been
. given. "and knew that they could moi
= know anything about the case so brought
n the election district captain and tbs
4 dealer. They told the facts about the
{ case. wanted to go on the stand mysel
; but was not permitted to do so.
4 when | went to the captain on frs
hearing the story of the collect ion of thu
: money for these stands and asked hin
v about it was amazed TO hear him say
. that he had collected ssOO for the two
i i ordered him to pay the money back anc
i said whole lot more that couldn't b,
q printed Both he and the dealer say tina
$ part Of the money has since been re
t turned"
,.cvcrCM" AGENT AppEcTEn