The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-12

what they had for lunch.
'Tt looked all alike, but II tasted diff
ferent." he said, land It WIS a good
lunch anyhow"
come to New York to practice law, where
he could mako $4,000 a year.
"Of course, that's more than I make
in Middleport, 30 I was interested. I
went far enough asking him about II to
find he didn't want me as a partner"
did you ask him how you could make
$4,000 year In New York; asked
Senator Foley.
"Well. I asked him II all I had to do
was come and hang out my shingle,"
returned Senator Thompson. However,
1 thought I could live as we'll in Middle
port on Ave or six thousand a year rs
could in New York on that possible $780,
0oo."
Senator Thompson said the talk then
shifted to politics and the Governorship.
Now don't any OF you upstate men
get Jealous" he remarked, but the Gov.
ernor told me I was the only upstate
figure that could be nominated in 1920"
Senator Thompson then said: HE
| told me Shonts sent him to talk in re-
lation to the Carson-Martin bill, and
he wanted me to vote for It. I told
him he didn't understand the bill, that
1t called for the reputation Of con-
tracts on the dual subway system under
which the railroad men would keep all
they got from the city for promising to
give q 8 cent fare rate for nifty years
, and still would give them a higher rate"
Tho Senator said he insisted upon
opposing the bill. adding. 81 would be
ashamed to come to New York II I
helped pass that BILL"
He asserted that he thought the city
Of New York had the power to change
the contracts II II wanted to.
Did you talk with Mr.. whitman in
the public dining room Of the st. Regis7"
| asked Senator Knight, Republican OF
Wyoming.
| Yes"
"we arc getting tod far afeid." sus-
gested Senator Jusk Of Cortland.
Looked Sinister to Him.
Had this conversation anything to
do with your charge of a fund. for
| bribery7' asked Chairman Bu-lingame.
1T depends on how your mind
| operates" was the an4wer. "If the
| same man sent Burke that sent Mr..
Whitman the whole thing was sinister"
Did Mr.. Whitman indicate that he
| represented any one or any INTEREST,""
asked Senator Mackeren. Democrat, Of
| Troy.
Yes, he said he was asked to sec me
by Mr.. Shonts. but that he was not re-
tanned" Senator Thompson replied.
Senator Black asked: DO you con-
| meet the Whitman statement as to your
chance for the Governorship with your
\ attitude on the bnlf'
Yes, but II is 30 silly to think that
I could be Governor" returned Senator
| Thompson. IT haven't n chance to be
Governor, and don't think that he
| thought had"
Chairman Burlingame asked: did
Burke tell you he represented the gas
company or who did he representa-
He never told me who he repre-
| sented or who he was employed by"
| At this point Senator Black asked II
| any other improper suggestions ever
had been made to Senator Thompson.
| The Senator told OF sitting in the Bit
| more with a group including Burke, who.
no said. was "a great admirer Of Nicholas
| r. Brady. He said he was a square
man"
Senator Thompson said he didn't
| know but that Burke's offer came from
| overindulgence in friendship for Mr..
| Brady"
| The Senator told OF Burke's interest
In the pending legislation TO permit
| street railway fare Increases and OF sew
eral meetings with him in New York.
! On one occasion he had visited the Of
fics of John Il. Stanchfield and at an
| other time he had called on Nicholas F.
| Brady at .Burke's request. Senator
Thompson would not mention the names
OF Messrs. Stanchheld and Brady until
| the committee insisted that he give them.
Clears stnnchneid and brady.
Tn both instances he declared emphat-
ically that mother person ever made
him any improper offer or any improper
suggestion. Their attitude, he said. was
| upright. and he wanted to emphasize
as much as was in his power that they
were always ION the square" when dis
| cussing legislation affecting their prop
| critics
Explaining his first visit to the office
of John B, stanchneld. Senator Thomp-
! son said:
| II want to make It clear that Mr..
Stanchfield did not suggest anything
that could be interpreted as wrongful.
He did say that the railway situation
ought to be investigated because OF the
financial conditions / replied that l
would not suggest an investigation be-
cause there were people in Albany who
were under the impression that had
mania for Investigations.
| But I did make II clear that /
| thought the public and particularly the
public officials should have a right TO
review the dual contracts made between
| the city and the big railway companies.
| I told Mr.. Stanchfield that l believed
there were clauses in the subway con-
tracts which were highly detrimental
\ to the city OF New York, and that IL
| there was to De an investigation tho
city should have the right to change
the harmful clauses.
| Mr.. Stanchheld admitted that the
city did appear to have n good case 30
| far as its right to hold the railway
companies to the cent fare clause in
! the contract was concerned. At the
| conclusion OF our conversation Mr..
| Stanchfeld said he would have a talk
with the marlborough"
Once more, according to the evidence,
| the faithful Burke appeared and told
Thompson that Mr.. Stanchield wanted
| to see him Thompson was then at
! the Republican Club That was about
/ February IA, according to Thompson's
diary.
The second time Stanchfield and
Thompson met. the latter testified.
| Stanchfeld said he had talked with
James L. Quackenbush. general attorney
for the PETERBOROUGH. concerning an in
vestigation At this point Mr.. Thomp-
son was emphatic in his explanation that
Mr.. Quackenbush was an honorable law
yer and a gentleman. None of his rela-
lions with him could be questioned. the
| Senator said.
Mr.. Stanchfield reported later TO Sena-
| tor Thompson that Mr.. Quaclcenbush
! 49, half he apo 81 "a