The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-14
City Employees Awaiting Call to Witness Stand

e. Didn't he go to Florida about the time the session of legislature opened in 1885?
 A. Shortly after.
 Q. And how long did he stay?
 A. Four or five weeks.
 o. Do you think he was back in Hartford in February? A. I don't think so-probably March.
 Q. MT. Roraback died in May 1897? A. Yes, sir. Q. And two years before that MT. Roraback went on a vacation of some kind shortly after the legisla- ture convened and stayed away for some weeks? A. That's right. Boss Goes Away @. And during those two weeks, MT. Mackenzie, your position was i practically that of representa- tive of the so-called Roraback organization in the affairs around the capitol? A. One of the men representing
 @. You testified here yesterday in answer to MT. Murray,s questions that your power in the legislature came largely from the fact that you were representative of MT. RorabacI; and his political organization. Is that correct?
 A. Yes, sir.
 o. Were there any relations be- tween various lobbyists who were around the capitol that year?
 A. We were all friendly.
 o. All friendly-and one grour of lobbyists, like yourself and MT Williamson, gave favors to other groups of lobbyists and received fa- vors?
 A. would do anybody favor.
 Further on:
 o. Do you remember bill which was probably called the Rip per Bill? Somewhere connected with the city of Bridgeport?
 A. Oh, yes. Q. How long ago was that?
 A. Back in the 1929 or 1881 ses- sion.
 @. Wasn't it little earlier than that?
 A. Might have been 1927.
 o. Wasn't it before MT. Cross was governor?
 A. Yes. sir. Governor Trumbull was governor.
 @. At that time the City of Bridgeport had Democrat City off, cials, didn't 1t?
 A. Yes, sir.
 o. And the so-called Ripper Bill was bill by which the power of those elected officials down there were materially reduced. Is that true. A. Certainly.
 Further on:
 o. You saw nothing wrong in act- ing as lobbyist and getting paid for it. You thought it was right. That's right, isn't it?
 A. ] think 50.
 o. Morally and legally?
 A. Yes.
 Q. Now, you knew MT. Frank Hayes was Democrat?
 A. Yes, sir.
 o. You also knew that Daniel J. Leary was a Democrat?
 A. Yes.
 O. Did that make any difference in accepting employment from them?
 A. It didn't make any differ ence.
 O. Well, they had some bond issued that they wanted passed and those you assisted in getting passed did you?
 A. Yes, sir.
 o. And they had some bills to prepare or at least to straight en out the financial setup of the City of Waterbury. You were en- ployed to pass those bills, weren't you?
 A. Yes, sir. Alcora: You are referring to the Cash Deficit bill.
 Peck: I think the witness under stood me. MT. Alcorn.
 Alcorn: I just wanted to be sure you knew what you were talking about.
 Peck: That's very kind of you. Attorney Slade:- Q. Do you know any of these gen. tlemen-my clients? A. I don't.
 o. Have you ever had any busi- ness dealings with them? A. No, I don't even know their names. o. At the time that you and Will Hanson became interested in the legislature in behalf of the City of Waterbury you believed that the un- dertaking was legitimate and did what was required. Up to that time you didn't enter into any conspir- acy with anybody to cheat and de- fraud the City of Waterbury. That's right, isn't it.
 A. Not that I know of.
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