New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-22
Begins Inquiry Into
Committees Bilt-
more Hotel Bill.
STATE SCANDAL
LID QUIVERING
Powerful Interests Trying
to Balk p. S. InveStiga-
ton, Says Senator.

Efforts 10 block the investigation by
the Thompson committee will lead TO
a statewide scandal. those conversant
with the situation declared last night.
Already charges of graft, bribery and
perjury have been hurled back and
forth. Prominent Legislators, public
officials and men high in financial
circles are involved. Yesterdays de
velopments were:
Senator George +. Thompson accused
the traction interests OF New York City
of being behind the movement to dis
credit his committee and stop its in
vestigation.
District Attorney Swami started a
John Doe investigation OF the Thomp-
son committees Bltmore Hotel bill.
Senator Thompson says he will aid him
in every way.
Senator Thompson returned TO the
attack on Thaddeus c. Sweet. Speaker
of the Assembly, accusing him, among
other things, OF trying 70 force him
70 employ a stenographer who would
have made $4,000 out of the investi-
cation.
A published report that Senator
Thompson had been offered 100000 TO
stop the investigation was not denied
bv the man who caused the reorganizs-
tion Of the Public Service Commission
in this city.
.'The Rccelerators are against me-
WAS the laughing comment made by
Senator Thompson yesterday at the
close OF the days investigation by his
committee.
Big Fight on Hand.
But throughout tho intervie" IN
which this significant statement was
made the Senator from Niagara MADE
il plain that his critics had more than
n mere fight on their hands
81 didn't know that this investiga-
,ion had been started by District Al
torney Swami" said Senator Thomp-
son. 81 was al his Office to-day to CON
fer about the criminal charges made
bv this committee against Robert Col
gate Wood, but nothing else was talked
about.
They tried to make this Biitmore
Hotel affair out on me. I'm the only
FOLLOW the corporations would like TO
90, The fact is that the sergeant-at-
erms Of the Senate, following the Gus
tom Of wears. made out the pro rata
annortionment. Last June, after the
vouchers we're in for the expenses OF
the committee, ordered that there
after the pro rata method be aban-
doned. and each man be charged with
what he actually incurred.
tAll this is done for the sole purpose
OF diverting attention from the main
issue. The main issue is: Shall this
committee continue its investigation
Here we have already removed three
Public Service Commissioners, and We
have only finished the prologue OF the
piece. II has been shown that the Pub
lie Service Commission has failed IN
it's duty in this district. And our work
won't be complete until We change the
fundamental conditions, and # we are
allowed to do this we will have done
our duty by the people and this com
munity but not until then.
Powerful Interests Hurt.
"I realize that our work-the work
we have lust started. and which we
cannot complete without an additional
appropriation interferes with in
terests here that are powerful. The
proof Of that is that this backfre did
not start for ten months"
At this point Senator Thompson
pounded the table before him and said:
THE public service corporations are
much stronger than the Public Service
Commission, and now | am getting an
idea what the Public Service Commits
Continued OF page 2. column
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