The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-09
Takes Action for Investiga-
ton Of "Infiuences" Back
of Traction Measure.
PASSES BILL
Vote Is n to 68, All Republi-
cans Except Is. Being in
Support Of 1t.
spec.o, Despatch 70 TIE suS.

this afternoon passed a resolution intro
duced by Senator Buriinsame giving the
Judiciary Committee authority to mako
thorough investigation Of Senator
George +. Thompson's statements that
fund OF 100000 existed to insure.
through bribery, the passage Of the Car
son-Martin bill to permit the increase of
traction fares. ignoring this action OF
the Senate, the Assembly passed the
Carson Martin bill q few hours later by
a vote of n to IS. with all tho Repub-
llcans except fifteen voting for It. and
all the Democrats except two voting
against It
The passage of the Senate resolution
followed a long secret session of the
Judiciary Committee, at which Senator
Thompson appeared. and It Is under
stood, amplifed his previous statements
concerning the bribery fund. Besides
telling the committee everything he
knew about the matter Senator Thomp-
son gave the committee the name Of
Richard Burke-a man whom nobody
else in Albany Legislative circles seems
to know-as tho man who conveyed to
him the information that fnpelled the
Senator to declare before the Senate
that a proposition had been made to
him involving a bribery fund of half a
million.
Burke IL Go-Between.
Although It was reported tonight that
a subpoena server had left Albany for
New York to hunt Burke" and try to
bring him before the Senate tomorrow
Senator Burlingame and other members
OF tho Senate appear to be very much
in the dark as to Burke's identity. 1t
has not been intimated. II IL said. that
Burke was the man who wanted to put
the actual $4,000 in cash into the
hands OF Senator Thompson in return
for the Senator'S support OF the bill, but
It Is understood that tho Senator referred
to Burke as the 'gobetween'' for the
infiuences-they were termed in the SEN
ate powerful iniiuences''-which desire
the support Of Senator Thompson in the
belief that It would insure tho success Of
the measure.
There was considerable excitement in
legislative circles when It became known
that Senator Thompson was going be-
fore the committee and give names, and
there was also considerable disappoint-
ment that. 30 far as could be learned,
he gave no names that any one Identified.
Everything that was done In the matter
to-day was supposed to be very secret.
and when the committee met Senator
Thompson asked that Il go into execu-
tive session or else he would not divulge
anything.
In deference to this request Senator
Burlingame cleared the room OF every
body except the Senators, and few
minutes later sort of subcommittee Of
the Judiciary Committee, headed by
Senator Burlingame and including Sena-
tors Foley. Lusk. Walton and Brown. re-
tired to an inner room with Senator
IL ~
locked doors, heard the story Of the half
million dollar fund.
This ultra-secret conference lasted
half an hour. and whom the Senators
emerged from their retreat Senator Bur-
lingame merely announced that a reso-
luton was to be presented to the SEN
ate giving the committee full and sweep
Ing powers to investigate any and all
matters in connection with the traction
lobby or the fund for bribing. and al
lowing tho committee to go anywhere
In the State 1t thinks It ought to go
It also gives the committee power TO
Investigate alleged attempts OF bribery
in connection with legislation pending in
this or any previous session OF the Sen
ate. There will also be appropriation. II
being announced that tine funds for the
investigation would provide In a special
item to be put In tho supplemental ap-
preparation bills. The amount has not
yet been determined.
While all this was going on In the
Senate. the Assembly was having a
three hour fight over the measure which
Senator Thompson says Is the cause OF
the bribery scandal The Republicans
who voted against the measure are:
Majority Leader Adler OF Rochester.
bewley OF Niagara, Caulfeld OF Kings.
Harris and Judson OF Monroe. Hawkins
OF New York. Hopkins OF Queens. Mil
Ter OF Erie, Pellet OF New York, Slacsr
OF Erie. Ste!nberg. Ullman and Weiss
OF New York. Wells of Kings and
Whitcombs Of Broome. The Democrats
Who voted aga inst the bill are Beasley
OF Erie and 6. c. johnson of Kings.
The absentees were: Duke OF Allegheny.
Gage OF Wyoming; Webb OF Duchess;
Klingmann OF Kings and Patzeykowski
of Erie.