New-York tribune., 1916-01-18
Baldwin To Be Hailed Be-
fore Senate and Made to
Produce Checks.
.PEOPLE.WANT VOTE
ON CONSTITUTION
Replies Are Against Convention,
Bennett Whitridge
Must Explain Charges.
gFrun Star Correspondent q rrs rribun. !

tFrun . Star Corre-rcndent ~ rta Tribune
Albany, Jan. 17.-Arthur J. Baldwin,
personal counsel for Charles T. Muir
ply, will be hailed before the bar of
the Senate because Of his refusal 10
produce his checks and eheckbooks be
fore the Thompson legislative commit
tee, Senator Thompson said tonight
The chairman OF the investigating com
mitteo said he was determined TO find
out what became of the check for
$4,000 which Baldwin received from
the General Switch and Signal Com
pany. OF Rochester. for speed control
patents.
Mr.. Baldwin declined to produce his
checks and checkbooks when ordered to
do so by tho committee. so Senator
Thompson told Deputy Attorney Gen
eral Lewis, counsel for the committee,
10 prepare the papers necessary TO
bring Mr.. Baldwin before the bar OF
the Senate and compel the production
OF the papers.
Senator Thompson also said tonight
that he would insist on +. ". Whit
ridge, president Of the Third Avenue
Railroad Company, either giving the
full name of the Senator "C' he re-
ferred 10 in his letter or withdrawing
his accusations. Mr.. Whitridge will be
witness before the committee on
Thursday.
The Senate Finance Committee did
not report the names Of NJ. Straus or
Mr. Hodge tonight. although their ap-
pointments as Public Service Commits
sioners were sent TO the Senate a week
ago. Senator Page, chairman Of the
committee, said he would not report
the nominations until Senator Thomp-
son had given his consent. Later on
Senator Thompson said he would not
object 20 the confirmation Of Dir.
Straus, but would insist on M Hodge
appearing before the committee and
swearing 10 certain questions.
Senator William VI. Bennett. who has
introduced constitutional amendments
embodying most Of the proposals adopt
ed by the Constitutional Convention
last summer, put in resolution to
night providing that joint Senate and
Assembly committee be appointed 10
consider these and all other proposed
basic law changes.
81 have had delivered to the $4,000
voters in my Senate district" said Sen
ator Bennett, "a circular letter contain
ing the more important Of the proposed
amendments and asking my constitu-
/ ents to let me know their views on the
subject. SO far ! have received over
1000 replies. They are practically
unanimous in voting against another
constitutional convention and in favor
of having the Legislature submit a new
constitution 10 the voters"
The Society 10 Lower Rents and Re-
duce Taxes on Homes of New York IS
behind two bills introduced tonight by
Assemblyman Leon Bleecker. One pro-
vides for referendum on gradually
reducing the tax rate on buildings In
New York TO ! per cent Of the tax rate
on land values by nine annual consecu-
tive reductions of 10 per cent, begin
ming the year after the referendum. anC
reduction of 9 per cent the tenth year
The second bill requires every city II
the state 10 have a referendum OF
whether increases in local expenditure
or budgets, after the enactment of this
law, over and above current expendi
lures or budgets for 1915 shall be paiC
by an additional tax on the value Of the
land situated in them