New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29
mind to, the work was rcally done by them after

o.--Do you know a man naemd Rogersl A -le.s,
he is one OF the men in charge of the work on secoD
8. He Is one OF the contractors
owhat do you BY contractor IN the senSo
T hh Mr. o osers vas doing the work on section
9, oyu were receiving the money therefor ana g''"s
" 70 HIl as matter fact ,hs firm Of o Brcn
Clark DO not do any work at all, but simply suDie.
their contracts to othersl Ave consider We a'o
A. But you have no pay roll You simply deduct eta
on &c Saq pay e ss
To Senator Pierce the witness said that ms
firm took no bonds from the sub-contractors' ana
acknowledged that the cheaper the work was done
the better 1t was for both parties In answer 10
the Chairman and Senator Hendricks the witness
stated that written memorandum or contract
had only been made with two sub-contractors.
the arran cement was not by the month, but
covered the work for the entire contract Inc
arrangements with Flynn, Mooney and Keenan,
were made in April 1885, the contracts having
been taken in December. 1885. All the contracts
were not taken at the same time: all the work
taken up to the time of making the arrangements
with Mooney Flynn and Keenan,, aggregated
s., 900, 600.
Those arrangements did not include any work
b be taken subsequently, and Section IL was
therefore excluded therefrom; the witness under
stood that the three persons named as having an
interest in the contract represented themselves
only, and that they had abundance 60 capital TO
contribute their share Of the money required ;
O'Brien's parlor in the EofTman House the written
agreements were mads subsequently. The nrm
Of O'Bcien Clark yetained 10 per cent on
some Of the work as theg share Of the contract
price, and on another class Of work 90 per cent
0'Brien & Clark charged the suh-contractors for
the plant supplied to them, and per cent on all
moneys advanced to enable them TO do the WORK
O'Brien & Clark also supplied the materials.
FLYNN ADDS INTEREST TO THE DAY.
The name OF the next witness gave the pro-
ceedings new interest to the spectators. Maurice
B. Flynn was called for and the audience, VINO
had been disposed to be tall1ative of their own
account, came to order" Mr.. Flynn walked
brslly to the witness-stand, took the cath with
positive alaerity, and when the opening question
turned on the tap, as il were, there seemed TO ne
positively no limit TO the flow of his information
He volunteered as much rs he actually answered
for the first hour or So but there was notable
change in his manner and speech when General
Tracy stemmed the torrent Of his "reminiscences.
and tried to turn the stream of his recollectlons
into more practical and less pleasant channel
Mr.. Flynn had brought lawyer, Robert NJ Payne.
to look after his interests, and the Chairman Tor
mally welcomed him to the somewhat inactive
position of one of the friends Of the court.
Mr.. Flynn told General Tracy that he had oeen
in the Assembly from Brooklyn district ten
years ago, that his firm had been dong business
for the City of New-Yorl1 since about 1875. Ihey
supplied goods principally 10 the Department oil
Public Works. Until 1877, when he was noml-
mated for the Assembly, he did not belong TO any
political organization. He removed TO Newly ork
after his second election to the Assembly, chiefly
in order to get out of politics; but IN $50 ne
was nomed of the Committee OF One Hun
drpQ Tor the organization OF county
and he became member Of that organization.
He was more or less actively engaged in New-lork
politics from about 1881 to July or August $50.
Since that time he had been paying attention
exclusively to business.
ANXIOUS TO SET HIMSELF RIGHT.
The witness presently expressed desire 10
state briefly all the transactions he had had
with the Department of Public Works. in order
to spare time and set himself right with the
public, as, to use his words there is a general
impression that our transactions have involved
millions Of dollars
Senator Donald McNaughton, one Of the two
Democrats who constitute the political minority
referred to by the chairman, asserted that mi
nority by Directing 20 the introduction Of any
testimony which did not Immediately relate 20
the Aqueduct. His protests were overruled, and
Mr.. Flynn then gave this epitome Of the history
Of his business connection with the Department:
The first contract which my firm, Hotcitkiss, Field
Co., had with the departcment OF Public WORKS, ws
in 1875 during the administration of Fts John Porter
From that time up TO the present the total amount
During squlro's administration It was but 100000 a
year: During Allen Campbell's Il was $4,000 Dur.
ing Mr. Thompsons II was 10000. During the time Of
the present incumbent 10 was much In one year
was during any orc Of squiIc's term Now that
Works Although during squire's administration t
heradcd all over the country that was drawing
immense sums OF money rom the Department OF Public
Works, the fact is that firm drew less than ever
before. Al our books and returned checks arc at
the disposal OF this committee. I and my firm have
nothing to deny. The committee is liberty to see
every check ever given by me or the hrm 10 which
belong for campaign purposes any other purpose
HIS STORY OF THE FAMOUS LETTER
Mr. Flynn was next called upon to state what
he knew about the famous letter addressed TO
him" without nv authority or consent he ex-
plained-by Squire. This he did in great detail
His evidence about il, summarized, is as follows
I met Squire in Broadway on the first Saturday
afternoon after the date OF the letter That the
first heard OF It. He had been talked of by Thomp
son, myself and Others seeking the appointment Of
Commissioner. Squire told me about the letter, and
said: You're fool to have written letter OF that
kind.' was strenuousiy opposed to having my name
used had conversations with squire and Thompson
about IT, finally got the letter from Thompson and
It burned in Kcllogg's Office In the presence Of my
brothcrinlsw Mr. Brown, myself, and l think one OF
kelogg's clerks. Squire TOOK out his match box, liz
and e Sp DO on n % az o
Der 1854 and when he went into office he believed as
"A request TO Mr.. Flynn to tell about the neces-
slty that led TO that appointment was willingly
responded to by him, and nc glbly ratified on
highly diverting account Of w. r. Graces
boom for Mayor. Like true humorist, Flynn
did not allow the trace of a smile to appear on
his face as he told his tale but everybody in
the courtroom enjoyed 1t immensely.
HOW GRACE WAS NOMINATED.
He intimated that Mr. Grace was finally
adopted as candidate of the County Democracy
WIFI hO OOhcT uhcly uldu COuIu DE BOv W AuA4'
Mr.. Flynn thus ran on:
At caucus which held Mr.. Grace's 1nal de-
cison was rendered. That was that there should De
good citizens meeting gotten up al the Academy
Of Music, and II he could be nominated al that ct
zens' meeting and Endorsed by the County Democ-
racy at their convention the succeeding Wednes-
gay ne would be willing TO run. 1t was decided 10
hold the citizens meeting. All the County Dem0c-
racy were called on to send up largo number OF
citzensa as possible 70 secure Gnanlmity. laugh
teri Like good political worker, l sent quite
lot OF citizens from my foundry. Qaughter) Mr.
Grace sent up a quota of about 200 men from his
lumber yard at Hunters Point Naushterl About
$50 citizens from the sashouse In my district went
along, other County Democracy districts helped, and
thore was frstelass meeting at the Academy OF
Music. Qaughterl
Mr.. Flynn proceeded to dilate, apparently with
much self-satisfaetiOn, on other features of the
reign OF Grace. The witness said there had been
desire In his political set TO git a County
Democracy man confirmed for Commissioner Of
Public Works, as it was feared that Grace would
not reappoint Thompson, in spite of his promises.
The intrigue-s selected Squire as their man. as he
lu lr,1ov - 10