The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-22
BARNES ALLEGED
SCHEME OF CRAFT

SVaAnuro FROM VlfBt rage.
witness for the defense after the cross
examination OF the Colonel was con-
cluded.
Conference Delays Opening Of Court
There was some delay in opening
court to-day because of q conference
between attorneys and Justice Andrews
in the latter S chambers. When the con-
ference was over court was opened. A
copy of the report of the Bayne COM
mittee, which investigated Albany CONN.,
ty affairs, insofar as it related to print
ing, was admitted to the record. This
had to do with contracts for State
printing let to the Albany "Journal, -
Mr. Barnes paper, and other concerns,
and the assignment of certain of these
contracts.
Excerpts from the report were then
read. The first part had to do with
gambling, disorderly houses and the
payment of money to various officials
for doing various things. The report
OF the committee was made in 1911.
Barnes Interest in "Journaln
The majority of the stock of the
journal" Company, the report point
ed out, was owned by William Barnes,
that contracts let to the "Journal1
Company were 'farmed out to the
" Argus" Company, which paid the
journal" Company fifteen per cent.
The report stated that William
Barnes controlled printing in Albany,
practically was the owner of one com
pany, owned one.fourth of another
company and collected tribute from
the third company. The report de-
ciared that an employe of the "Argus'
company testified before the commit.
tee that the company gave UP Is per
cent. in order to secure printing busi-
ness. NA
1t was stated that the ''Argus" COM
pany bid lower than other competitors
for State work, but was unable to get
the business because it was "outside
the ring" 1t was said further that
public documents supposed to have
been printed by the Journal" CON-
pany and bearing that concerns i'm
print actually were printed by the
Argus company.
Padding of Public Printing
Padding of public printing for the
benefit of the Journal company" was
described by the report. Another part.
read:
Duplicate payments for public
printing made to the Journal COM
pany."
One excerpt was:
1.-THE most conspicuous beneficiary
of graft, public extravaganza and
raiding of the municipal treasury, we
find from the evidence to be William
Barnes himself as the owner Of the
majority of the stock of the "Journal
company. How much more than the
majority of ITS stock he owned he re-
fused to disclose"
Another excerpt read:
Barnes Dictated Printing Awards
"Mr. Barnes dictated where the
printing goes and the "Argus" gives
up to the "Journal" in order to obtain
printing"
The par value of Mr.. Barnes stock
in the Lyon concern was $4,000, the
report stated, with the comment that
Mr.. Barnes would not say how he got
it.
Articles which appeared in the New
York magazines and newspapers about
Albany politics were then admitted to
the record. The terms "machine poll
ties, - "boss Barnes and "boss
Plat" appeared repeatedly in these
articles.
Colonel's Offending Statement
"The MurphyBarnes conspiracy"
was also mentioned in the articles. Aft
er the articles were read Colonel Roose-
velt resumed the stand. In reply to
questions by Mr.. Bowers he said:
81 received a letter from Mr.. Barnes
about the State printing house after I
had recommended one. Mr.. Barnes
called upon me later and said that
such printing house would be in line
with socialistic propaganda which
would interfere with enterprise in pri-
vate business.
Colonel Roosevelt then explained how
he gave out the. offending statement:
81 dictated the statement and gave
it to Mr.. McGrath, my secretary, and
told him to give it to newspaper corre-
spondents at Oyster Bay. l desired the
statement to be published in full
throughout New York State. L believed
it would receive some publicity outside
the State.
81 wanted to reach the voters. l
knew of no other means except the
newspapers.
Cross Examination Begun
The cross ssexamination then began.
Mr.. Iyins began asking Colonel
Roosevelt about his early life.
"Did you ever study the constitu.
tions"
~ did while 1 was studying law in
Columbia. Later, however, 1 became an
author
"Have you always been an au-
thor7'
81 have been a naturalist, an author
and public official. Sometimes L have
followed all three pursuits simultane-
ously.'
The crowd in the court room laughed.
What district were you elected to
the Assembly froms"
The Twenty -frst.'
Beat Hesse, Boss
"Mr. Hesse, boss, was the leader
WASH t he's"
Yes. We beat Hesse,' replied the
Colonel with smile. ~
when you read the constitution Nof
the State did you see anything about
eligibility for the Governorshipa"