Evening star., 1932-08-18


Now let's put Judge Seabury in the
| bus business. There's nothing wrong
| in being in the bus business. Suppose
| he's bidding for a franchise in Gin
| cinnati Would he get man to rep
resent him from New York? Or from
| Cincinnati, where the franchise is to bt
granted? And would he get man who
is in the bus business or barber? There
is testimony that Senator Hastings wa:
in the bus business, as part owner OF
one company. long before Walker wal
mayor of New York.
And would Judge Seabury pick ar
enemy of the people he had to get the
| franchise from, or friend?
Suppose somebody suggested friend
| would Judge Seabury say Go away
bad man.?
And would Judge Seabury, having
| picked his agent. say: 'Sh! Keep still
about ito
Come" Curtain added, "let's bt
! grown up about this!"
| Curtin cited the practice of lobbying
/ with members of the Legislature.
AlIudes to Roosevelt.
And when the bill has been passed
and comes up before the Governor for
his signature" Curtin added. ''is il
wrong for anybody to point out to the
Governor the advantages of the bill? II
the person who discusses the bill with
him happens to be friend, should the
Governor kick him out the window?
Mayor Walker has as many friends
I suppose, as any one in the city and
State of New York. Many of these
friends he made in the Legislature. One
of them was John A. Hastings"
After Walker had remined him. in an
undertone, Curtin pointed out Walker
hadn't known Hastings SO long as he
had some of the other friends, since
Hastings came into the Legislature in
1924. Walker became mayor January
l, 1926.
Il am speaking extemporaneously'
Curtin said. and 1 welcome assistance
from my client"
!! Just Back Seat Driver"
Just back seat driver, your Excel
lency." Walker remarked, as the Gov
ernor smiled broadly.
Discussing the charge that the Equit-
able proposition was inadeQultely
financed, Curtin read a letter Joseph
B. Choate, a vice president of the j. S.
White Management Co. had written to
Mayor Walker, stating the company was
ready to take over the management and
financing of the franchise. The letter
is part of the Hofstadter Committee
records.
The hearing adjourned at 11:55 am
until l pm. Curtin had talked
throughout the morning.
When the Governor asked him how
much more time be would require, Cur
tin replied he did not know.
AS he returned to the hearing this
afternoon, Walker, in commenting on
the writ obtained by his counsel at
Kingston. said eight Governors of
other States have in the past requested
the courts to pass upon the rights OF
Governors to remove public officials.
Roosevelt and Curtin, in lowered
| voices, renewed their argument about
who should call the Hofstadter wit
nesses. The Governor had offered
Curtin a large pile of blank subpoenas.
THE subpoenas I requested of you
yesterday were defense SuOpoenas,
Curtin replied, refusing to accept them
When Roosevelt asked yesterday how
| many Of the Hofstadter witnesses he
wanted, Curtin replied: Il want all of
| them"
"All right you may have all of them, "
| the Governor replied.
Curtin insisted, however. they should
by Seabury, or the Governor himself
The Governor, however. directed Cur
tin to call them himself if he wanted
them.
II don't want them" Curtin said
when the Governor offered him the
subpoenas today.
Submits Names of L.
Curtin did submit to the Governor
last night, a list of about II defense
| witnesses. Upon agreement between
him and the Governor, the names OF
the IL were withheld.
Curtin then resumed his discussion
of the financing Of the Equitable Coach
Company.
What reason did anybody have fol
thinking the J. S. White Co. was ready
to go ahead and back the Equitable
Coz" Curtin demanded
Twelve votes In the Board OF
Estimate were for the Equitable fran
chise, presumably, in part, upon the
representations Of the J. S. White Co
THE 1929 municipal campaign circled
around the Equitable franchise-so
! much SO that it was part of the Re-
publican platform. The matter cer-
tainly was thoroughly aired. And then
the mayor came through with 100000
plurality
Curtin said he cited Judge Seabury
in his discussion this morning of how
any one in the position of the Equitable
officials would have sought to put the
franchise through.
Il cited Judge Seabury because his
ideals are known to be of the highest
he added. What would you do?" he
demanded Of the Governor
Called Best Contrast"
WAS there anything about the Equit-
able contract that gave the Equitable
the best of it?"
Curtin expressed doubt that Since il
was bitterly fought by the railroads,
there was.
He quoted Leonard Walstein Of the
Citizens Union, all independent civic
organization, as having said the Equit,
able contract was 'the best contract
from the standpoint of the city thai
had ever been granted.
Touching on tie testimony that The
| late Arson w. Burchard of Genera
Electric Co. had promised to helI
! finance the Equitable, Curtin remarked
! that, after Burchard's death, Owen D
Young had said the company recog-
nized Burchard's promise as a mora
responsibility, but not financial re-
sponsibility.
Mr.. Young didn't testify to that
did hep Conboy, special counsel tc
| the Governor, asked
/ NO, Mayor Walker did" Curtin re-
| piled. But I assume Mr.. Young Woult
! be available as a witness, and his wore
would stand here"
ANSWERS sCHURMAN.
4 X arrioan npn;as TaStirnany Raoardins