New-York tribune., 1919-04-18


Q. Burke testified that he came to
you and suggested that Senator
Thompson wanted 20 borrow somc
$4,000 on some Middleport stocks
\. We'll, read that.
O And that you said that you
wouldn't loan him fifteen cents? A.
not say that did not say IT, would
not say that | did.
Thought He Represented Thompson
O. Was Mr. Burke in the employ of
your 1llm or any Of the corporations
that You represent? a. Never
q. At any time? A. always sup
posed he represented Senator Thomp-
son. | never saw Mr.. Burke until the
time of the investigation, from the
time of the letting OF the signal con-
tract.
Q-Do you recall an occasion when
you took lunch with SeIdtor Thompson
and Mr. Burke at the India House Z?
A.-No, it was at downtown Delmon.
ico's.
Q.-What was the occasion of that
luncheon? Al guess it was in con
nection with the visit to Mr.. Brady
and guess in connection with the
bills.
O. With what bills? A-With the
report OF the committee on the bills,
based on the report. | am not sure
about the dates at all.
Q.-Havc YOU any recollection of any
conversation that took place at that
luncheon? A. Well, it was quite in.
formal; sort of general. | think Sen
ator Thompson said something about
people down here thinking he had horns
and something of tina, kind-some such
talk as that and he wanted to convince
Mr.. Brady that he was not antagonistlc,
that he was a real fellow; something
like that.
Q.-Do you know anything about u
slush fund at Albany? A.-Not at all.
Q.-You haven't any knowledge
Al didn't suppose there was any.
Q.-Do you know anything about q
proposition of the traction magnatcs
to finance the candidacy of any one for
Governor of the state? Al never
knew Of anything except what | saw
in the testimony. If there was any
100000 floating around | would like to
have some one point it out to me.
Wanted Another Inquiry
@. You arc not able to assist the
committee any in discovering it? A
am not. recollect that Burke came
to me Burke came to me at Thomp-
/ telephoncd to Ira Place, of tho
Now York Central when that West
Side matter was pending and | thinb
Thompson wanted to come down anc
have another Investigating committee
and I think he intimated that il il
could be if it were properly present
ed and If he was the head of the
committee. it was all right. Burke
always had plenty of suggestions abou'
Thompson.
Q. Did you see Thompson about that
A. Just Burke.
Q. But you referred him to lrs
Place? A. Yes, | talked to Ira Plac,
over the phone and he did not thinl
we'll Of it,
Q. And you so reported to Burke
@. How many times would you sa!
that Senator Thompson had visite,
your Office? A. I should think three
or four times.
9, And how many times has Mr.
Burke visited our Office? A. Oh.
should think since 1918, probabl.
q. Since 1913 how many times woul,
YOU say he has visited your office? 4
We'll, should say ten or fifteen times
q, Now, did you ever during thos
ten or fifteen times have amy business
except that in which you said Senate
Thompson was intcrcstcd9 4. We ha,
no business with him whatever. \,
occasion for him TO come there at all
g. Now. you have said, | think
Judge that every time Burke came t.
your Office he wanted something fo
Thompson? A. | would not say ever
time; very frequently.
Q. Now tell us what Burke wante,
for Senator Thompson each time tina
he came to your office? A. Well, on
thing WAS in regard to the West Sid
Improvement, whore it was suggcstc
that Thompson could be made chair
man Of the committee. | think some
thing was SAID this year about tn
committee. 1t might straghtcn ou
this fare question and make it easici
g. Now, there was the fare proposi
ton bearing on the MARITIME -Carso
Q. There was the West Side propo
sition. A. The West Side proposition
Q. In which he wanted you to cal
Q. And there was what else? A.
Well, there was something said abou
i think Thompson himself spok
about that then there was nothing i'm
proper about it. 1t was after tn
session adjourned. think he said tha
ne Nuu niue electro Light COmDan
and they were going to make an issu
Of bonds, and | think he spoke to m
as one electric light man to anotho
and wanted to know about the facts G
underwriting and | told him if the issr
was lawful issue and the security Wa
all right there should be no troubl
about selling the bonds But it wa
done in a perfectly legitimate manne
Q. Now, what else did Burke wa1
: for Thompson? A. Those were abo,
the only three things | can think o
Ile mover asked for any money fc
. Thompson.
,, CIV hat other things did he as
for for Thompson? Az would ns
say that he asked for other THING
He was always "crackng up" Thomn
son AS say, was prcjudiced again,
: Thompson.
Q.-Now, you we're present at II
+ time Mr.. Brady saw Senator Thompso
= at Mr. Brady's house? A.-Ycs.
Y Thompson Had Big Plan
n Q.-And Senator Thompson advise
t scheme at that time? A.-He sort ,
= explained didn't 90 into details
/. the general proposition that he yante
n TO develop. He was going to urge NJ
G BRADY to support 1t. His idea was
: nave the electric corporations or ii
capitalists generally go into a sort ,
general operation an dacquire all II
water powers Of the state and ha,
;, trunk lines north and wcst-cast ar
west and north and south hand d
tripu'c thus electricity generally.