The sun., 1919-05-10
MOSES GRILL
OF WHITMAN
IS FRUITLESS
Ex-Governor Denies Prom
Using Marshall Aid for
Supporting Perkins.
ANGERED BY QUESTIONS
"Slush Fund" and slough
Bag" Charges Weaken at
Legislative Hearing.

Former Governor WhItman's temper
and nerves were sorely tried for several
hours yesterday when he was a witness
before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
That body Is investigating Senator
George F. Thompson's charges that i'm
proper influences were brought to bear
on members Of the Legislature to fur
ther the passage Of the Carson Martin
bill
Under cross examination by Frank
Moss. who has not loved Mr. Whitman
since the time when he was not ap-
pointed District Attorney by the Cover
nor. Mr.. Whitman defended himself
against attempts to impugn his veracity,
efforts to establish that he had DELHI
erately deceived the committee In regard
TO his retainer by the Interborough
Rapid Transit Company, insinuations that
he had made improper efforts to get
votes for the confirmation OF George w.
Perkins as head OF the Food Commits
sion in 1917. and suggestions that he
had changed his attitude OF hostility 10
a bill TO give financial relief to the
transit companies this year because Of
his 10000 retainer.
In the opinion OF the committee after
adjournment Mr.. Moss had failed, in
spite of most persistent efforts that kept
him in conflict with Senator Burlingame.
chairman OF the committee, all the time
The latter repeatedly declared that Mr..
Moss would have to curb his tendency to
make insinuations
Nor had Mr.. Moss at the end of the
day established fact TO indicate that
there was the slightest truth in the
stories OF "slush fund" or dough bag"
or offers Of financial assistance for cam
paign and other purposes.
Asked About Pardon Report.
The tensest moment OF the day was
when the cross-eXaminer sprung what he
regarded as deadly mine in the form
OF this question to Mr.. Whitman:
Did you say TO any Senator that you
would pardon man who was in prison
II he would vote for the confirmation of
Perkins?"
Then II was that Mr.. Whitman came
nearest to losing his temper He made
n vigorous denial and denounced the
question as insulting. In reply to a de-
mand that he give the source Of his in
formation Mr.. Moss said It was Senator
.. A. Gothic, sitting as a member OF the
committee.
when Senator Burlngame hurriedly an
nounced an executive sesslou He
thought better of II a minute later, and
AFTER n hasty consultation the matter
was dropped for the time. In the after
noon Senator Gothic under oath decla red
that william A. Orr, the Governors sec
rotary, had urged him to vote for the
confirmation of Mr.. Perkins and at the
same time called his attention to the
hn he IT,.
before the Governor for the restoration
OF citizenship Of a man In whom he was
interested. The Governor had never
known anything about It.
FINALLY, the committee In demanding
that Mr.. Moss follow up his insinuationr
with facts forced him TO the point where
he withdrew question and refused 10
press 1t In spite OF the demands OF Mr.
whitman and others until he had had
Ine opportunity TO confer with Senator
Thompson. his client.
Granted the privilege OF having coun
sci to protect his interests, Mr.. Whitman
acted in that capacity for himself. Sit
ing on the floor of the AldeTmanic
chamber. where the session was held,
Mr.. Whitman was the witness answer
ing again and again the persistent Dor
ings OF Mr.. Ross as to whether there
was anything in the world his firm
work for the passage of the Carson
Martin bill or other attempts to place
him In bad light. Then he would
jump TO his feet and in the role OF
counsel for the witness protest against
the unfairness Of the questions and the
absurdty Of letting Mr.. Moss run 50
far afeld in an attempt to besmlrch the
reputation OF honorable men.
AdJOurns Until Wednesday.
A. the request Of Mr.. Moss, who said
ne would be unable to go on until he
had had more time to prepare for the
cfoss-examinatlon OF Senator Thompson.
the committee adjourned until Wednes-
day morning in the City Hall. Mr.
Moss said he would be able to finish
within two days
How much further the committee will
go in delving into other stories OF i'm
proper influence In past years Is prob
lematical. Senator Buringame says he
has no other than "A desire to have all
the truth about legislative matters laid
before the public II 1t liz desired. lie
has asked Deputy Acknowledgement
Cheney to present the record Of the
Senate or the day that, as alleged by
Mr.. Moss Senator Sage declared In the
night against the confirmation OF MIR
Perkins that the latter had a mortgage
on a number OF Senators through con-
tributions to their primary campaigns.
Mr.. Whitman defended Mr. Perkins
against attacks such as launched by
Mr.. Moss I'm bringing up the matter and
II was decided that just what Senator
Sage did say should be laid before the
public.
At the end of his testimony Mr..
Whitman summed up answers to the
charges that he had changed his mind
on the question Of relief for the transit
, companies since last year and that he
had deliberately concealed from the COM
mttee on his first appearance in Al
bany that he had been engaged by the
InterbOcough az counsel at the time he
had luncheon with Senator Thompson.
HE said in his answers
There has been an implication that
there has been decided change OF mind
on the part Of the witness and others
relative to the necessity OF the legisla-
ton or the same kind OF legislation as
contemplated in the Martin bill. The
situation in New York City and IN the
State Is vastly different from the situa-
ton year ago last March.
There are three receiverships here
and. without commenting on the cond.
tons of other companies, like n great
many other people and the members OF
the Legislature who are conversant with
this situation. ! have every reason TO be-
lievc that there is necessity for relief, in
fnitely greater than It was II year ago
Last March. | believe that now and I
believed II early this winter that this
legislation was necessary and proper.
1T ~ "A matter OF opinion, OF course,
but there Is change in the situation
and 4 change In attitude. That ia very