The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-18


 company co-operates in this practice the witness asserted, only as it helps the proper authorities detect> appre- hend or convict wrongdoers.
 MT. Swayze acknowledged that the telephone company never investigated the merits of any police request. to 'tap'' a wire, but it now requires the Police Commissioners indorsement. The company never learns of the re- suit of any particular case except in reading the newspapers of the appre- henSiOn of some criminal where the telephone spying is mentioned.
 While we can show the Police Commissioners approval of all stapsi since Jan. l. 1915, during which pe- riod there have been about $50 cases" gate the official applications. It is, .of course, self-evident that many of ther equests came only on suspicious held by the authorities. We can- not exercise any discrimination with respect to police requests, we cannot set ourse1f up as the arbiter, but. it is the company's understanding that taps are made only in the aid of de- tecting crime"
 Private Eavesdroppers Barred.
 The lawyer declared that any re- quest for fastening in" by private i'm dividuals OF detective agencies is promptly refused. The witness was
 
 we would be glad to cooperate with this committee for the enact ment of a. law stopping all telephone espionage declared MT. Swayze, cbut since this practice is apparently such an aid to the police, the telephone company does not feel justified in ta- king such a step itself.''
 Although the point was to be dis cussed in an executive session, it was practically decided not to make pub lie the complete tapping HSt'' of $50 cases. During the testimony of MT. Swayze to-day he acknowledged that the request to bridge over'' the wire of Father Farrell, which grew out of the Charities investigation, deserved some inquiry by the telephone com pany, as well as that in connection with Seymour & Seymour. The law yer explained that the company never had investigated an official request and under the present arrangement with the Police Department, would not, unless there were some outstand- ing feature.
 :. q want to make it clear,'s said MT. Swayze, that the telephone com. pany has never received any com pensation for the tapping aside from a small amount for the use of instru-, ments.
 .~The tapping problem is one for serious consideration and the tele-s phone company is anxious to have it. adjusted. I will say, however, that. since the beginning of our present ar rangement with Police Commissioners Woods, about year and a half ago, the@requests for taps have, not been excessive nor unreasonable, save, per haps. for some of the most recent! r 'eYou must consider that there have been approximately $50 taps as against $50, 600 telephone subscribers, and 64o,O00 telephones in New York. At present, I believe there are about twenty-five taps in use.'' MT. Swayze, whose recital all the way through indicated the company's desire to deal openly and frankly with the investigators, also took up the question of present laws governing the secrecy of telephonic communic cations He explained the care with which the company impresses new operators with their responsibility in this direc- ton.
 Mayor Ready to Tell Facts.
 Mayor Mitchell announced to-day that The was ready to take the stand before the Thompson committee and testify regarding the tapping of the telephone wires of Father William Farrell and Daniel c. Potter and the latter's son, Dean Potter, in connec- tion with the recent charities investi- gation.
 -"I assume that what every one wants is the facts,'' said Mayor Mitch 0l, anu | S11l PESPoSA SAk. bO ,S1NS LA4OIt1. will be glad to take the stand when ever Senator. Thompson wants me He asked me several days ago if I would give him the facts and said would r
 t.Do you still assume responsibi1- ity for the tapping of Father Farrell's wire?'' the Mayor was asked
 What do you mean by that ?'' he replied.
 s'Was Father FarreH's wire tapped with your approval ?'' r4
 ssThe law provides that the wires may be tapped when information that a, crime has been committed or is con l templated has been 1odged.' .'Then the authorities tapped Fath- CT FarreII's wire with your appro- val?'' \ .In that sense.- yes,'' replied the Mayor.
 s.And the same applies to the wires lof Potter. and Potter's son ?"
 'sYes."
 rTyrl1stees of the Central Trust Co.,