Evening star., 1928-05-16

"There was no reason for dis
cussing it."
Have you ever had a State con-
tract?" Steiwer pursued.
Never" He said the William F.
Kenny Co. had contracts totaling $242,-
407 with the New York City fire de-
partment in 1917 and 1925.
I'VE are building the largest gas plant
in the world at Brooklyn" he said, add
ing that his company also is building
large electric plant at He'll Gate, N. z
II think Mr.. Van Nance said you laid
gas MAINS" Silver said.
My companies do not dc. that. They
did lay some electric conduits for the
city after competitive bidding"
aren't these companies for which
you build gas and electric plants under
the control of the Public Service Com
mission of New York;" McMaster asked.
II assume So
Senator McMaster then pressed Ken
ny whether he had an interest in trans
portation companies in New York, in
cluding transit companies. The wit
ness said he had some Third Avenue
Railroad stock, but only few thousand
shares.
"Are you a member of the New York
Fire Department."
"Yes-and I'm proud of it. I'm an
honorary chief and I've given the de-
partment some apparatus in honor OF
my father. who was battalion chief
for 20 odd years"
Paid in Cash.
How did you pay this money to Mr..
Van Namee?" Bratton pursued.
Kenny replied that 1t was In cash
in his tiger room on the roof OF his
ONCE building. The tiger room" ne
said, was where he met his vice presi-
dents. Sometimes his friends came
there, he said.
Senator Bratton asked Kenny whether
his business brought him IN contact
with the New York Public Service Com
mission of which Van Nance Is q mem
ber
NE" replied the witness.
you're not interested in rates wheth-
er they are high or iow?"
Not in the slightest"
Replying to the New Mexico Senator,
Kenny said that on his recent vlsis
10 North Carolina Gov. Smith Travelled
in the contractors private car. He said
he would be ''tickled to death" TO fur- :
nish the car for Smiths campaign. but
there was no understanding on that.
"Do YOU know of any movement run
ming back several months to put cut
publicity In behalf Of Smith," asked
Bratton.
.No-unless II was the little bureau
established by Mrs. MoSkowitz in New
York TO Offset Khan and other propa-
ganda against the governor"
Tells of ss,oeo.
He referred to Mrs. Henry L. Mos
kowitz, who was waiting in the room tc
testify.
was president Of the County Trust Co
of New York and had contributed $4,000
In April to Gov. Smiths campaign fund
He said ne gave Van Nance the money
IN cash at the Hotel Biltmore. :,
was there any reason for giving II
in CASH." Steiwer asked.
mo. I had 1t with me and gave II
to him" nn,
in cash?'' Steiwer inquired.
mo, not always"
Riordan said he had gone to the
Bilt,nore expecting TO make q contribu-
tion and for that reason had the money
with him.
Before the organization OF his bank,
Riordan said he was head of the United
states Trucking Co and in that capacity
was associated with Gov. Smith, VINO
was chairman of the board OF the
company during the two years he was
out of once. from 1921 70 1928.
DO you have any public deposits III
your bank" asked Senator MeMaSter
"Oh, yes. some State funds and some
city funds" Riorsian said,
who designates repositories OF state
funds?"
tine state controller"
Replying to Bratton. Riordan said
there were 100 State repositories IN
New York City. He added that e<y
repositories we're designated by the
mayor and o committee OF city oineiais'
Gives $ls,ooo.
Herbert II. lehman. New York in
veStment broker, who said he was a dI-
rector in more than half a dozen cor
porations in and out Of New York and
who had contributed $4,000 to the
Smith fund, said he expected To give
more after Smith Is nominated" This
brought smile from the committee
members.
Lehman said he had managed Smiths
guhernatorial campaign In 1925 and
that IN all he had contributed $4,000
10 the ROFeKAnfS StAtG GAlhp&tkftSs &1c
said he was member Of the Tam
many Society.
Was il the general belief that II was
best TO receive substantial amounts nom
Gov. Smiths friendss" lie was asked.
II think II was the feeling OF the
governors friends"
Lehman identified Johnson as the or
ganiser of the Smith-for- President
movement In the West, which got 0n~
der way IN the Spring OF 1927,
ut was purely spontaneous" he re-
lated,
II was in Colorado on vacation last
Summer and met Johnson IN Denver,
I'm october or November was IN
Chicago on business and saw him again,
So far as know, he and others aSSo~
ciated with him III working for Gov.
Smith had received no financial help,
but had financed themselves. eon~
trihuted $4,000"
Barkley took over the questioning,
There has been lot Of talk that
ever since iaaA some sort OF an ergans.
ration has been maintained for the