New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-02-25
RIGGS ANSWERS ATTACKS
M. C. Fleming Gives Different
Version of N. Y. Life Story.
KINGS LEADERS OPPOSE HIM
Executive Committee, by % to s,
Urges Senators to Vote
Against Confirmation.

Edward G. Riggs whose confirmation as
member of the Public Service Commits
sion. TO which he has been appointed by
Governor Dix, is being opposed by the
Tammany and Kings County Democratic
organizations, issued long statement yes
terday defending himself against various
attacks that have been made upon him.
Some little space was devoted to his as
ISOLATION with the New York Life Insur-
ance Company. which was brought out in
the investigation OF the Armstrong commit
tee. in 1905. He said that for the ten years
prior to that time he had received $3.50
for services in planning and writing adj
vertising matter for the company, and that
counsel for the committee went over the
vouchers and said they did not want TO
look into the matter, as il seemed TO be
all right. He heard the night before the
last day OF the investigation that the COM
mittee were cooking up "A dose for Riggs"
He tried 70 get to the committee that
night, but was unable to do so. The next
day he called up Mr.. Hughes, chief counsel,
on the telephone and asked TO have a hear
ing before the committee. lie was told TO
have representative at the hearing, and
If his matter was gone into they would call
him. lie sent Mr.. Maloney.
MIR. Maloney informed me later in the
morning. he said, that both Mr. Hughes
and Mr.. Fleming stated that the commit
tee would not take UP the matter, and a
similar message was conveyed 10 me
at $50 in the afternoon, after receipt Of
which I went about my business" Mr..
Riggs declared that soon after 4 o'clock
III ~ ha
was wanted, hut he was not there, and the
committee soon after adjourned.
Matthew c. Fleming. assistant counsel
to the Armstrong committee. to whom Mr..
Riggs refers, said last night he certainly
did not send word TO Mr.. Riggs on the
last day OF the investigation that he would
not be wanted.
1T was l and not Mr.. Hughes to whom
Mr.. Riggs talked over the telephone on
the last morning OF the investigation"
said Mr.. Fleming last night. ale used
what | considered rather threatening Ian
guage in regard to the possibility that we
might bring out his connection with the
New York Life. He said he wanted to
testify II we decided to bring the matter
up. I told him we would let him know If
we wanted him. Later in the morning the
whole committee decided 10 bring the facts
out, and l remember we tried TO get hold
Of Mr.. Riggs TO place him on the stand,
but we were unable TO do sc"
The Democratic Senators from Kings
County were urged to vote against the ap-
pointment OF Edward G. Riggs as Public
Service Commissioner from the list District
to succeed William McCarroll In a resolu-
ton which was passed yesterday afternoon
at a special meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Kings County organization.
A resolution and preamble was drawn up
by County Leader John IL McCooey. who
IS candidate for the commlssionership
himself after a conference on Friday night
with representatives OF Charles +. Murphy.
of Tammany Hall. 1t was considered too
strong when the meeting heard IL read, and
a new resolution and preamble was exc
cuted by committee consisting of Mr.. Nc
Cooey, James d. Bell, r. II. Quinn, 7. II.
Farrell J. p. Slnnott and w +. Delaney.
This was later introduced by Mr. McCooey.
After an extended argument the resolu-
ton was adopted by vote OF q to 8.
Those who opposed the resolution on the
ground that the organization should not
put itself on record in the matter and that
the Senators should be left to thrash the
question out by themselves. were James
Kane, NJ. Z. Butler, NJ. ]. Cummings. w.
]. Heffernan and T. f. Wogan. The Brook
Ign Senators will hold meeting tomorrow
morning before going to Albany. and con-
fer upon the stand they will take
The preamble OF the resolution set forth
that the activities of "the said Riggs" have
at no time been exercised in or for Brook
Ign, that he has made no study OF the con-
ditions prevailing in Brooklyn, in so far as
is known. that he has exhibited no evidence
that he is qualified for the job and that
the non-partisan civic organizations of the
borough are opposed to him.