Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-02-26
Senate Committee
Opens Graft Probe


Il went there to find out il Senator
Fitzherbert was a CRATER.
did you not attempt to offer hin
money and he refused it?'
Mo-
Wisehart declared that in general his
affidavit showed hat Fitzherbert
agreed to accept money during the
meeting in Dover. Wisehart also said
that it seemed to him that while in
the Trenton House Senator Fitzherbert
seemed inclined to take charge of the
bills himself because of the increase
in price from $1,000 to $4,000.
Edwards asked: Did you not say
before the committee that Senator
~Fftzherbert would not have anything
to do with the matter IL he was Of
fered money!"
mo; | did not.
Wisehart declared that after two
visits to Fitzherbert he went to State
Treasurer voorhees, and told him of
his conversation, so that he would be
protected. in case anything happened.
Wisehart said he told Mr.. Voorhees,
just what he had said to Fitzherbert
and also that Mr.. Voorhees, now has
knowledge of that interview. In ex-
PLANTATION of his action Wisehart said
that he did not want Fitzherbert tn
turn the tables on him, and he wanted
to be on the safe side.
Il. 5. Katzenbach Heard.
Edward S. Katzenbaeh told the COM
mittee what Senator Fitzherbert said
at the hearing last week. He said:
"E-nator Fitzherbert said that, while
t-afir ai,,os t1oa haanat lip,ca1f ha tool
the message to the hacker of the bill,
and that he did not intend to take any
money, but that he might have been
indiscreet."
Mr.. Katzenbach also said that Fitz-
herbert declared that he had seen his
and that they wouldThe willing
to withdraw the bill Mr.. Edwards
Mr.. Katzenbach to repeat just
was said last week.
This was followed by a scrap be-
tween Katzenbach and Edwards.
did not wish to repeat
what he said. senator Fielder seemed
inclined OF think that K~atzenbach
ought to answer the question. The an
swer was then repeated. ~ II
After Mr.. Edwards had finished
cross-examining the witnesses Mr.
addressed the committee in
behalf of DR.. Ridner. He said: 50
Ridner's Lawyer Makes statement.
The following statement was made
before the committee by Mr.. New
Il desire to state on behalf of DR..
S. Ridner that he wishes the
fullest and widest investigation of his
connection with the introduction into,
the Legislature of the State of New
Jersey of the two bills known as Sen
ate bills 70 and ITO.
He has absolutely nothing to con-
ceal OF to be afraid of, and as there
has appeared in the press of the States
Of New Jersey many misleading state
ments concerning his connection with.
this transaction he desires to place
himself at the disposal of this honor
able, committee, to afford them every
aid that is in his power, SO that his
conduct in this matter may be thor
oughly indicated.
The purposes of the bills are not
Questioned; no one can afford to say
are not meritorious, as they We're.
only introduced for the purpose of
SdleS udiuilS nuildh HE, anu IL is We'll
10. know that like bills have been en-
into the laws by the Legislature
IF sister States, because, as it is well
the uses of acetylene gas Is
lnder certain circumstances extremely
dangerous.
The doctor most emphaticaIly states
hat he never had any conversation of
character stated in the public
press, whereby he had to receive a con-
IN order to be the means of
laNlng sucp Dill from the.
onsideratlon OF the Senate, and
that II any wrong was done
connection either with the ~lntroduc-
ION OF nus OIL or the with.
iraWal thereo1, 1t was done by some
'elson other than Dr. Rldner. M
WI auu maj at any tme ina the