New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-29


point could be, unless the people ia
vored 1t, or unless ] could get them TO
favor II. did not believe in putting
a bill through, even If | thought IL a
pretty good bill, unless / was either
convinced that the people wanted it. or
unless felt could convince them that
! wanted il.
The sentiments Of the Colonel were
expressed in letter he wrote at that
time TO Senator Plat and which had
rot been read in court. Defendant in
sisted upon its being put in evidence,
which was done. In substance the let
ter said that he tthe Governor) did
not think the bill politically expedient.
as It would take away any chance there
might be for defeating Tsmmany Hall
at the next election.
My own view" the letter ran, ais
that when Il Is not vitality a question
OF morals II is not right to pass a bill
when the people are against il. even if
they ought TO want il. | think this
bill would Solidify the Democrats and
ALLEVIATE osr supporters"
Q. There was seine correspondence
read concerning the termination Of the
term OF Office of Mr.. Payn, who held
the position Of Superintendent Of In
suranco? A. Yes.
Did you have any conversations
with Mr.. Platt upon that question?
Al did.
Conversations Pretty Acid"
@. Will you state any conversation
that you had with Senator Plat upon
that subject? AIR Platt, in sub
stance, insisted that Mr. Payn must be
reappointed, dwelling. in his insistence,
partly upon Mr.. Payn's political posi-
tion and partly upon the fact that his
relations with big fnRnciers and the
liking that they had for him We're such
that II was necessary that Mr.. Payn
should be reappointed, and we had a
good many conversations which became.
on his part pretty acid. was always
courteous and good tempered. | think
can say. He said that | would not be
eble to get Mr.. Payn out. | said that
enough Independent Republicans would
go with me, joined TO the Democrats, TO
be able to secure the confirmation of
Mr.. Payn's successor. Mr.. Platt said
to me that his arrangement with the
Democrats was iron-clad and that |
would not be able to appoint success
sor 10 Mr.. Payn. | told him finally
that ! would because ! would appoint
Nlt NUt'l the Lex lS4dN ult duJONii NNs
He said that he would be put back
when the Legislature came together,
and | said yes. and | would take him
ont again when the Legislature closed
and I would have him out about two
thirds OF the time.
Q.-What else did you tell him? A
I also told Mr. Platt that | did not in
tend to appoint any man who would be
Lo-.s1a +I,+ tho n I'D
view was Mr.. Hendricks. whom ! knew
Senator Platt liked, and whom he had
recommended to me for another posi-
ton to which | did not feel able 10
appoint him; but | believe | recited
to him the fact that Mr.. Hendricks was
a business man. a banker, and that ]
believed he would make an excellent
Superintendent Of Insurance. | also
mentioned a Mr.. Smith. and ! men
toned a third man, but I have forgot
ten who the third man was, and my
being willing to take any of them. We
had several conversations. Mr.. Plat
at first positively refused to yield. and
! had to say then l would have to have
/ the fight on it, showdown on it.
+ Finally. Mr.. Plat accepted Mr.. Hen
bricks and told me in substance that
he would notify Mr.. Hendricks that he
had accepted him or would accept him,
and that he would do his best to get
him to accept. And then he told me
that il was a very satisfactory con-
clusion, and that it was all right.
Q.-Now. that was an appointment
: that had to be confirmed by the Sen
ate? A.-Yes.
State Assessors Appointed.
OFF you remember il | would be
/ glad il you would tell the jury to what
/ the letter refers. OF course, il states
the death of State Assessor jerks. Is
: your memory sufficiently refreshed so
| that you can tell us about Priest and
/ Leaycraft and Hermance, who were re-
/ ferred to in this letter? Al can.
Q.-I will be very glad if YOU will do
| so. Al appointed wished to ap-
! point Mr.. Priest. | wished TO get two
countrymen and one man from the city.
/ / did not know personally any of the
countrymen. ! appointed from the city
a man named Leaycraft. whom ! knew
personally and whom | knew TO be a
/ very good man, a Republican, who
/ knew would be satisfactory to the or
Ganzation. A very straight man. From
/ Central New York took a man named
| Priest, who was recommended to me by
/ Andrew D. White, president of Cor
nell.
Q.-Have you finished? A.-No, sir
/ That filled two of the three names that
had to fill. For the third | suggested
/ the name of Isaac l.. Hunt.
! Q.-To whom did you suggest them
| A-To Mr.. Platt. Mr.. Hunt was from
Jefferson County. He had served in
| the Legislature with me and | knew
him personally. Mr.. Plat thought he
would be very good man. but for
some reason Mr.. Hunt would not &C
cept.
Q.-There was another letter here
about a young gentleman named Trow-
bridge, II you will look at that letter !
Al remember it.
Case OF Brock Trowbridge.
Q.-Tell the jury all you know about
that matter. Alt concerns New
York architect named Brock Trow-
bridge. | had known him for a number
of years fairly well socially and very
we'll as an architect. He came to me
and asked me to give him chance
to have his bid considered on its merits
by the Treasury Department. l think
it was at Washington on some public
building, some United States building
He stated that he had no political IN
fuence and that all he wanted was a
chance to bid and have his bid treated
on its merits. told him would send
his bid to Senator Plat, not knowing
what the custom of the Treasury De-
partment was. asking merely that he
be given a chance TO have his bid con-
sidered on its merits.
Trowbridge had nothing TO do
with YOUR administration Al think
-" ,ros O democrat I know moth