New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-27
Conferences on Franchise Tax Law.

II
Al was discussing it at about that
time.
/ Conferences on Franchise Tax Law.
O-Do you now know where the dis
cussion took place. the first that you
had with Senator Platt, with reference
/ to the franchise tax law? Al do not
know.
Q.-Do you know who, If anybody,
was present Mt that first converse
/ ton? Al do not know.
| Q.-Have you now any way or meth
/ cd Of refreshing your recollection
( The Court-As TO whether Mr.. Barnes
was present? Al have not at pres
/ emit
{ (Mr. Barnum read letter, dated
February s, 1899, from Mr. Roosevelt
/ to Mr.. Platt)
Q.-Will you tell me, if you please,
who the Clarke was that was men
toned in the letter? Al think that
must have BEEN have forgotten the
first name.
@. John Proctor Clarke? !. John
/ Proctor Clarke, whom | appointed judge
afterward.
Q.-Do you remember whom you ap-
pointed TO the Tax Commission? A
/ ! remember | appointed Leecraft.
Q.--Leecraft and Priest? Al think
: Priest, sir.
Q.-Was their nomination Endorsed
! and approved of by Mr.. Platt? At
was.
Got Plat Consent to Nomination.
Q.-And you did not appoint either
one of them until after you had re-
ceived the Endorsement of Mr.. Plat, as
| understand it: is that so? A.-Until
after he had said he would not oppose
them yes,
/ Q.-Well. is that what Mr.. Plat
/ said-that he would not oppose them -
/ or did he request their appointment
Al could not tell you. ! do not be-
/ lieve he requested their appointment
in those two cases.
Q.-You said that he would not OPP
pose them. Do you remember that
/ that was his language? Al can't tell
you in his exact language. Sometimes
/ he would ask me to appoint man.
Q-Do you know whether you had
anv talk with Senator Plat with ref
/ erence 10 the Mr.. Varnum that you
appointed Surrogate? Al do not re
member. do not know whether ! had
any talk beyond that letter that you
have just read | cannot tell you
whether I had any talk beyond that
/ letter. ! don't know.
Q-Do you remember that John
| Proctor Clarke stumped the state for
you when you ran for Governor?
A.-Oh, we'll, he was great friend OF
mine.
/ Q-An was he candidate for the
place? A. He was, from that letter, !
can say.
Q.-independently of that letter, do
you remember whether he was a can
didate for the place? Al do not re-
member of his being a candidate for
this place. think it was the other
judgeship he was a candidate for.
Do YOU think he did not want
this place? Al do not know. | think
| wanted him TO have it.
Q.-And yet you were suggesting 70
Mr.. Plat the names Of several other
men, were you? The names Of num-
Der of other men-Jesup, Taft,
Thatcher and Judge O'Brien ? A.-Judge
Cohen, yes.
Fails to Remember O'Bricn.
O-Who was this man O'Brien that
YOU sneak of? A. think he was the
man | afterward made Minister to
Uruguay.
Q.,What was his first name? Al
do not know. Now, may be mistaken
in that.
Q. Where did he live at this time,
, in 1899? Al think he lived in New
! York. ! am not sure he was the
/ O'Brien | made Minister to Uruguay,
/ but that is my memory.
/ Q-Are you speaking of this O'Brien
mentioned in the letter or the O'Brien
| that went to Uruguay? A.-That Is
what say, sir. do not just remem-
her. | think they are the same person,
| but | am not sure.
Q.-You are speaking of the O'Brien
you sent to Uruguay? A. think they
are the same person, but | may be mis-
taken.
Q.-You say you don't know his first
name? Al don't know his first name
at all.
Q.-Do you know his occupation. A.
No, | do not know his occupation.
Q.-Do you know where he lived
Al think he lived in New York City
that is, if it is the O'Brien ! sent as
Minister to Uruguay believed he
lived in New York City, but what his
occupation is | cannot tell. know
him quite well, if he is that O'Brien.
Q.-Do you know the O'Brien that
was a candidate for a position at that
/ time that lived in Tioga County? A
/ ! do not know.
Q -Tioga County was the home of
! Senator Platt?
A.-Of Senator Platt.
| O'Brien Nothing but Name to Colonel.
Q.-Now, was this O'Brien that you
| spoke of in this letter-to refresh your
recollection you tell me whether
| or not he lived in TiOga County? Al
cannot tell you at all. II he did, | DO
not think he was the Mr. O'Brien-he
was the O'Brien | was talking OF that
was Minister TO Uruguay.
O.-What was the position you were
talking of appointing him to? Al do
not know at all. If it is not the O'Brlen
appointed to Uruguay | cannot tell
YOU But | remember that | appointed
! March, because March was an Italian
Q.-You did appoint March? Al
appointed March.
Letter read by Mr.. Barnum.)
Mr.. Barnum: Q.-Who was this
/ gentleman, Gelshennon? Al do not
| know.
O.-To what Office does this letter
purport to relate? Al do not know.
/ ! think | have made 10000 appoint
ments since then.
Do you remember that Mr.. Gel
shennon was proposed by Mr. Grady !
Al think so. ! remember Mr. Grady
proposed some one.
! Q.-That answers it. Who was the
/ Grady that this letter refers to? Sena-
tor Grady. A.-The leader of the DEM
| ocratic party in the Senate, Senator
| Grady.
Grady Only Boss's Lieutenant.
Q-At that time was Grady boss
| Al do not think that Grady was ever
more than a lieutenant of the boss.
Q.-Mr. WINS suggests that as you
/ say lieutenant | ask you whose lieu