New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
lawyer for Lighting Inter
csts Asserts The Frequent
Visits to Him We're All
in the Senator Behalf
Denies Money " as Asked
Lawmaker, Believing They
Thought He Had ''Rorns,''
Asked 10 BE Set Right
Ctoff Cares sDon6o,,cc

SfdJt Correspondence
ALBANY, April 17.-Samuel A.
Beardsley. counsel for the New York
Edison Company and also for Nicholas
f. Brady, lighting and traction mag
nate, testified at to-day's session Of
the Senate Judiciary Committee that
Richard H. Burke, seller of strcet-car
supplies, had visited him on ten or
fifteen occasions in the last four
years in the interests Of Senator
George F. Thompson.
Beardsley denied all knowledge Of
the $500,0o0 slush fund which Thomp-
son charged was promised him by
Burke if ne would support the Carson
Martin bill The measure would en-
power the public service commissions
to increase street rates regardless of
existing franchises or contracts He
said that all he knew of the Thompson
charges was what he had learned from
the newspapers.
Beardsley said that he could not re-
call that Burke had even asked him
for loan of $4,000 for Thompson.
In answer TO two other questions he
said that Burke never had asked him
for money for hompson
Burke a Thompson Admircr
"Burke always had plenty of sugges-
tions about Thoinpson," said Boards
ley. al know Burke was always a great
admirer of Thompson. and thought we
didn't appreciate Thompson. | sup
pose he wanted me to Influence Mr.
Brady to believe that Senator Thomp-
son was q reasonable man"
Other witnesses included the spon-
sors of the CarsonMartin bill and 9TH
ers who had hand in its Introduction.
These men were called at their own
request, in order that the entire story
of the legislation might be placed on
record.
One of them, Harry b. Wcathcrwax,
of Albany, president of the New York
| State Railways Association and di-
lines, was asked if he knew of any
slush fund in connection with the bill.
He replied;
II never have known Of any slush
fund, don't know of any now and
furthermore | consider that This is
the most colossal fake that has over
been foisted upon the Senate of this
state and upon the people of this
state, Furthermore, don't think
there is 100000 running around loose
in the entire United States in This in
dustry. One-hfth Of the railway milo
age Of this country is now IN the hands
OF receivers and that does not include
the New York State railways that have
just gone some two or three weeks
ago
Never Even Gave Cigarette
"Iavc YOU ever heard about anybody
Offering TO support any one for Gov
crnor if they would favor this bill ~
asked Senator Alvah ". Burlingamc,
chairman of the committee.
"Never, and, as far as | am person
ally concerned, ! might say that as
far as the members of this Legisla-
ture are concerned, they have never
gotten so much as cigarette from
me, any of them," replied the witness
Il don't like to appear here in the
nature Of a tightwad, but that is the
fact
Mir. Beardsley testified that he met
Senator Thompson through Burke in
1916, when the Thompson Committee
was INVESTIGATING the New York trac
tion situation. The witness was ex
amincd by Jerome l.. Cheney, Deputy
State Attorney General. He said he
has known Burke since 1918, having
met him at the funeral Of Anthony
n. Brady, the father of Nicholas f
Brady. Burke, he said, came to him az
agent of the Federal Signal Company
, which had been rejected on big con
, tract by the Brooklyn Rapid Transl
= Company, although Burke's concern
was the lowest bidding.
"Who arranged the meetini between
, Senator Thompson and you?' askee
Cheney.
! "Burke said that Thompson wantet
= to see counsel for the various publi
service corporations to get their sug
gestions as to the report and as to tn
| legislation to be based upon the re
port replied Beardsley.
Q-Anr pursuant to that did Hp'
: make an appointment to meet Senate
Thompson? A.-Yes. We met at nj
Office
O. What took place at that time
o A.-Oh, general conversation about tn
}. Thompson Committee and about tn
t bills.
:. O. Did you subsequently see Senate
o Thompson number of times? {
}. Various times in connection with tn
g bin, and subsequently Mr.. Hemmen!
= my partner, took that up. did no
d participate any further and the onl
meeting Of counsel was held in m
Y office Mr.. Thompson was there wit
9 the rest of them There was no grea
?. secrecy about it, He wanted sugges
q tons and we were willing to give then
q O. Have YOU had any talks wit
Senator Thompson subsequent to tn
report of that investigation committee
A. | saw him this winter.
Thompson Had Electric Plan
S O. Where? A. He came to Sherry
! where / live, and | went up with hin
- to Mr.. Brady's house.
D. q. About whom was that?
y Burke asked me to make this appoin
=. mcnt, and did, and Thompson cam
u and we went UP. 1t was in Fcbruar.
y | guess.
! Q. VIII you tell what took plac
" there? a. Mr.. Thompson had som
idea about combining with all of tn
electric water powers in the state an
having the electric light corporation
J. Of the state, and capitalists general.
c to take up the scheme of devciopin
c and distributing electricity, and Il
e said capital could not afford to do
81 alone. He had some scheme whic
ii he was going TO develop, and he tol
J. Mr. Brady that he would get some dat
q and send it TO him. That was abol
"a thc gist Of the conversation.
l. q. Coming back 10 the time OF th
81 Thompson Investigating ccmmittc
were you present at any time whom
suggestion was made about the form;
=, ton Of a trust company in Lockport
A. | don't rccollcct any trust compnn
in Lockport.
u Never Heard of Trust Company
:. Q. Did you have any talk with an,
- body about the formation Of Il tru,