The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-27
Reply Of Roosevelt to a Re-
quest for Action Favorable
to the New York Central
PLATT'S TELEGRAM
AND REPLY READ
When Roosevelt Took Stand
for Sixth Day as Wit
ness in Libel Suit

Syracuse, N. Y, April 27.A tele
gram in which former United States
Senator Thomas C. Platt urged Theodore
Roosevelt to sign a bill exempting from
the franchise tax bill the grade crossings
| of steam railroads and which said that
"our friends of the New York Central
and Senator Depew were anxious about,
was read in supreme court to-day. Col
onel Roosevelt was on the stand. it being
his sixth day as witness in the trial
of the libel suit of William Barnes, ir.,
against him. In his reply Colonel Roose-
Welt wrote Platt that he had received
the telegram too late
A series OF private letters that passed
between Barnes and Roosevelt were in
troduced into the records. These covered
the period between 1904 and 1910. They
Were TO be read at the afternoon session.
The reading OF the correspondence be-
tween Colonel Roosevelt and former Sen
ator Platt. in which the colonel freely
discussed all manner OF legislation and
political and administrative affairs. was
completed to-day.
On cross-exabination, Roosevelt had
admitted that be took the advice of Sen
ator Platt in many matters. among them
that of appointing Democrat TO the
Office of tax commissioner TO please
Grady who the colonel described ms
lieutenant boss" Of Richard Croeker,
then leader Of Tammany Hall
The testimony resulted from ques-
tions asked after letters of series that
passed between Colonel Roosevelt and
Senator Platt had been read to the Jury.
In these letters both writers discussed
all manner of political and legislative
affairs. In one Colonel Roosevelt asked
the senator's advice about making
speeches. In another Senator platt told
the colonel he had received copy Of
a bin introduced by Grady, in which the
senator said he considered it inadeisable
to give Tammany from 5000, 900 TO
sl2006p00 on an appropriation to OK
pend upon the water front of New York, |
IS "it would simply be putting an un-
necessary club in the hands Of those
people with which to knock our brains
)ut."
With another letter the colonel sent /
he senator a proof of his message 10
he legislature, which dealt with pub /
ic utilities. the franchise tax, the trusts. |
Industrial conditions and labor. The part |
iealing with the trusts. the colonel I
rrote, had been submitted 10 several /
experts including Flihu Root, Presi.
lent Hsdley Of Vale. Professor jerks Of /
'ornell and James A. Dill who was de-
cribcd in the letter as big corporation
awyer'"
In the last letter read. which was
lated in 1901, Colonel Roosevelt told
he senator that he did not want TO be
ice president OF the United States. as
was not an Office in which he could
10 anything for the public good. The
olonel said he should like 10 he governor
or another term. and that sin spite nj
II the work and worry and very large
v because OF your constant courtesy
nd consideration. my dear senator.
ave thoroughly enioved being Cover.
or" The colonel added that not be-
ng a moneymaker, he felt in honor
omnd 10 leave his children the equiva
mt in a way ~ substantial sum NJ
ctual achievement in politics OF letters