New-York tribune., 1919-05-15
Nine Lies Are Laid to Viii tman by Thompson
Continued from page I

crazy also amused the crowd, as did
his declaration that he had never re-
ferred to the Mayor as "Red Mike
adding, however, that he had often
heard him characterized as such
Thompson was on the stand all day
Part of his testimony was given by re-
ferring to his red-bounl diary. and
more of it was in the nature Of pre-
pared statement.
Reads Rockefeller Letter
He also made public the letter he
wrote to John D. Rockefeller, jr., sug-
gesting that he interest himself in the
proposal popular in Senator Thomp-
sons part of the country-to use the
waters of Niagara Falls for developing
all the heat, light and power required
by the entire State of New York.
This letter, together with his letter
to Mayor Hylan, was made much of by
Bur- ke. The Hylan letter, it was shown,
had been published in the newspapers,
of mystery. Both letters were read
into the record by Senator Thompson.
Under cross-examination by Clark
Jordan, counsel for Burke, Thompson
stood pat In answer to a question of
Mr.. Jordan, who was insistent on
knowing where the slush fund was,
the witness said:
"People don't go around the Legis-
lature with a bag of money to control
legislation. That cannot be done. 1t
is not attempted in that way. 1t is~not
done that way. The so-called sinister
things are now conveyed in an entirely
different way, in strictly up-to-date
twentieth century ways. They do not
use the old Roman way of going round
with a bag of money"
Bribery Done With Finesse
~ will take your word for it that it
is not done," said Jordan.
"That could not happen in Albany"
continued Thompson, ignoring the in
terruption. "The idea of slush fund
running around Albany, unattended
and unknown, is absurd. There is
nothing in that"
"Well, how is it done ?" inquired Jor-
dan, who was getting curious.
You can figure out by what has
happened to me- The whole situation
in Albany is one of suggestion. There
are lot of archaic rules that bind you
up, and perfectly honest legislator
can go to Albany and vote twenty-five
times and have his vote delivered
that is, some lobbyist will say that he
had to pay for the vote and will col
lect for it, pocket:ng the bribe money
each time, and half the time not
know anything about it,"
Makes Audience "Sit Up"
Thompson direct testimony, brought
out under the interrogation of his
counsel, Frank Moss, consumed nearly
five hours. The crowd was listless
while Thompson went over the history
OF the committee which he headed and
which investigated traction matters in
1915, 1916 and 1917. But when he came
to his version of his relations with
Governor Whitman the audience sat up.
He began by addressing Senator AL
van w. Burlingame, jr, chairman of
the committee, saying that he recalled
several conversations he had with diff
ferent people during the tendency of
the Pratt bill in 1913
"Mr. Quackenbush," continued Senator
Thompson, referring to the chief coun-
sci OF the lnterborough, "has testified
that he and number of other trac-
tlon men came to me and showed me a
copy of the letter of Speaker Sweet and
also a copy of the memorandum of
Senator Brown, and said that Senator
brown had suggested that they talk the
matter over with me; and | did talk
with them, and | think the conversa-
tlons as given on the record are sub
TO the Governor at that time about the
Pratt bill. The Pratt bill, as | un-
derstand it, is exactly the same, du-
p!icate of the so-called Carson Martin
Dill. 1T was introduced in the latter
part of the session of 1913
Decides to See Governor
"And when Mr.. Quackenbush and the
other gentlemen came and talked to me
about it, | asked them how the Gov
ernor stood and they told me that
they had seen the Governor, and that
they understood he was favorable to it
and would sign it if it came to him.
The bill at that time was in the form
OF war emergency act. | suggested
that If it was an emergency it ought to
nave an emergency message. 1t was not
then drawn in the form that it later
took, which | have always regarded as
a repudiation of contract obligations.
Anyway, determined to go and talk
70 the Governor about it, and | went
downstairs one day and saw him. +
went into the back room, and | said:
Governor, are you familiar with this
increased fare legisation?' At that
time called it the six-cent fare bill
because it provided for six cents. not
1or any more. And he said he was and
that he had had some talk about it.
Well, | said, what do you think about
1t" Why he said, what do you thinks
about it?' l said: Il do not like to be
for it,
Feared penny Governor" Cry
Well said the Governor, 4 do not.
either. do lot like this 6-cent idea
am going to run for office in the fall:
am going to run for Governor. NV
pictures will be in the subways. along
the railroads and do not want people
digging down in their pocket for an
extra cent at that time with an oppor-
tunlty to look at my picture while |
am running for Governor. because they
might call me penny Governor
linen the Governor added: I would
rather give them 10 cents than 6 cents
Well l said, do you want this bil,?'
And he said, No, I do not. | wish il
would not be passed | said. Il think
as far as | am concerned shall opnoss
it.. And | left