New-York tribune., 1919-05-10
Ex-Governor Denies He
Offered Official Favor
i'm Trade for Vote for
Perkins's Confirmation
Senator COtillo
Says Orr Did 1t
Names Secretary as Man
Who Dickered With
Him; Witness Crilled

Former Governor Whitman was
asked yesterday if he had partici-
pated in an attempt to bribe two mem
bers of the State Senate to vote for
the confirmation Of George w. Perkins
as State Food Commissioner during
in 1917. In one case money was
alleged to be the consideration. In
the other the price for q Senator's vote
was said to be the restoration to citi-
victed Of felony.
The former Governo. Indignantly
denied the implied charges. Intense
anger was shown, both on his face anc
Assistant District Attorney, Frank
Moss, hurled question after question al
him with pitiless persistency in the All.
dermanic Chamber at City Hall.
Big Crowd at Hearing
The room was tnronged with politi-
clans and street railway men long be-
fore the hearing by the Senate Judi
ciary Committee, which is Investigate
ing the s500,00O sush fund charges
made by Senator George F. Thompson,
of Niagara, was begun.
1t was day that Moss had looked
forward to. He had been Whitman's
first assistant during the former Gov
ernor's incumbency as District At
torney, and had been his chief col
laborator in the prosecution Of Lieu
tenant Becker and the four gunmen
who murdered the gambler Rosenthal
At the next gubernatorial election
Whitman was elected Governor, and
Moss expected to be appointed by him
as his successor. When another was
named there was a break.
Moss forced Mr.. Whitman to admit
that he was under retainer by the
odore P. Shonts, president of that
company, and with James L. Quack-
enbush, it's chief counsel, before he
talked with Senator Thompson in the
Hotel st. Regis, on March 20.
1t was on that occasion that Senator
Thompson charges that the former
Governor tried to induce him to sup
port the Carson Martin increased fare
bill, holding out to him the promise of
powerful support for the Governorship
in 1920
Moss brought out the fact that last
year, while Whitman was Governor, he
had opposed a similar measure, but the
former Governor stuck fast to his story
that he did not double-cross the street
railway men on that occasion.
The two Senators alleged to have
been improperly approached during the
fight to confirm Mr.. Perkins, who was
a heavy contributor to Governor Whit
mans campaigns, were N. Monroe
Marshall, of Malone, and Salvatore Co.
tillo, Of New York.
Senator Cotillo, who is member of
the committee, took the stand after his
name had been mentioned and said that
it was not the Governor who asked him
to vote for Perkins, but his secretary
William A. Orr.
One of the spectators who sat drink
ing in every word of the testimony was
, Richard II. Burke, the seller Of street
car supplies, who, Thompson charged
had told him that if he would support
the Carson Martin bill he would be
furnished with campaign fund of
$5O0,o00.
Whitman Wants Counsel
Governor Whitman" began Mr.
Moss, II want to direct your atten
tion to the Pratt bill Of 1918, de
signed to obtain somo relief Tor the
| Interborough and other railroads ir
New York City: Did you take posi-
tion in favor of it?"
Now, Mr. Chairman" said Mr.
Whitman, rising from tho witness
chair, "before I answer l want to re
serve tho rights Of all the witnesse;
| and protect them; and understand
that the committee will extend tn,
! same privilege to any Witness Of re
tanning counsel"
"Not to any witness, Governor" salt
! Chairman Burlingnme.
II ask tho samc privilege for my
| sclf," continued the witncHs.
1.-The privilege of cross-examinatior
will be extended to you"
Through COUNSEL"
Through counsel
II don't know how TO answer you