New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-17
THE ROBBERY OF A STATE.
ryO NEW SCHEMES OF PLUMBER DIS
CLOSED AT TRENTON.


CLOSED AT TRENTON.
FOR THE GERMAN PRINTING AND DID THE
WORK AT HIS OWN HIGH FIGURE-J. L.
HULME's PROFITABLE PICKINGs
FROM THE STATE MONEYS
DEPOSITED IN vARI-
Gus BANKS.
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
renton April 16-The testimony before the
Voorhees, Investigating Committee to-day was
highly sensational The plunderers of State
oro evidently weakening. and confessions were
the order of the day 1t was proved that Ger
man printing contractors had combined 10 neece
.ha state: that John L. Kuser. of Trenton
formerly of the proprietors OF the Freie
1oitung" of Newark by the payment of several
hundred dollars 10 many German pruning
houses had through the assistance of his per-
.,ral friend. ex-Controler William c. Heppen-
,o,roer secured printing contracts involving
.,ousands of dollars by buying off other bidders
notwithstanding the fact that his bid for the
cork was nearly 80 per cent higher than were
,be figures submitted by other responsible bid
ders.
Otto Heintz took the witness-stand and con-
tossed that Frank NJ. McDermitt, the Demo-
cratic ex-Assemblyman. of Newark. who lobbied
,brough the Legislature the bill appropriating
sq75o to one of Heintz's companies, had never
heen counsel for his company. as McDermitt tod
tbe committee: and also admitted that kuser had
Maid him so 10 bid that Kuser could obtain
printing contract at a fabulous price Joseph l..
rrn,e Of burlington County. head clerk in the
p.n1,f6 &C Cd
that he had received from interest on State
,onevs deposited with banks from 5000 10 $4,000
annually which the State should have received;
md a score or more bankers were put on the
stand and confessed completely in Hulme's trans
actions.
OTTO Heintz was the first witness called, and his
rsnv TO almost the first question asked by W. H.
rorhin. counsel of the committee produced SEN
cation which was followed by another and an
other until the committee rose for the day. MT.
Heintzs manner clearly indicated that he mad
made up his mind TO tell the truth, and this
caused a stir among the Democratic politicians
present who have been fattemng at the puohc
crib.
What service did Frank NJ. McDermitt OF
Newark. render you or your companies other than
% secnre the massage of the bill appropriating
90 75O for expenses incurred in certain printing!
asked Mr. Corbin of Mr.. Heintz
None whatever" was the answer.
"And for that service he charged you SZ,o9o
mo, ne didn't charge anything. He got the
check and he kept that amount saio NIL iie'~'
with some warmth.
"He represented you before this committee last
week as he announced. didn't he?'
"No sir l hadn't asked him 10 do So
Mr.. Hentz denied that McDermitt had ever ad-
Sapced money to him or his company, as McDer-
ritt had informed the committee he had dohe'
and showed by his books that the Democratic eX-
Assemblyman was indebted TO him in the sum oil
s1so for printing THE Newark Sunday STANDARD.
This was fat contradiction Of all that McDer-
uitt testified TO before the committee on Friday.
THE GERMAN PRINTING CONTRACTS
Mr. Corbin then took up the question Of printing
State documents in the German language. This
work was bid for the basis OF SO mucn per l'oV'
ems I'm the year $780, Mr. Heintz, ne asKeu'
"who assisted your firm to secure the printing!?
Charles Trefz" the reply.
WAS he an experienced printer
"No sir: he was an experienced brewer, If any
thing"
"Was he a member OF the House of Assembly
In 1902
Yes. he was in the House in 1890 and 1884, re-
marked Senator Ketcham.
share of the work. its bid being 30 cents per 1000
ems In 1893 Mr. Corbin said, there were several
bids for the German printing; one that OF Z. VI.
Robinson. Of Princeton being as low as 45 cents
per 1000 ems. John l.. Kuser. Of Trenton 1or-
toarIv of Newark in behalf of THE Fre!e Zel-
tung." of Newark put in bid for 20 cents per
1 900 ems and he received the greater part or the
work. despite the lower bids.
Then came startling feature OF the inVes''-
cation "Mr Heintz" began Mr. Coroin' sio"'y'
"why didn't you bid for the State work IN 1879
well to make long matter short SAID MI.
Heintz, after some hesitation. i received coii-
sideraton not to bid.
o-what the con,sseratioR? ,as n.a1 A.-f'Ve num-
Q.-Because you agreed not TO BID TOT 'he "orA
that year? AYES. sir. ....,,ora,,on, A
tung' Of Newark, received 500 ,,,,.. g., ,,Yo
Of those reports. Did ne print them? Al believe @
not Well Mr. Kuser wanted to print all OF ''S'i'
ana How ETSSd DO ne You know? A"we he came to
and SAID he would have & to pay Robinson and 'ha'
~Sua sase 10 Stan@ cheek @ dated December 30 M for
sSS mace nSnzsped pddyI bX Mr. Kuser Ahat represents
the amount returned by me TO kuser at ms request
because he had to pay Robinson 50 much
The witness frankly admitted that the )oo
printers formed combine TO fleece the state
and told how in 1892. he had printed 1000 copies
OF Governor Abbett's inaugural address In Ger
man. having had 1t translated and how for the
same work three other German houses had also
been paid.
Mr.. Robinson of The Princeton Press. swore
that John l.. Kuser had paid him $500 to induce
him to throw up his bid of 45 and 90 cents per
1000 ems. and that Kuser through the friehd-
ship OF Colonel w. c. Heppenheimer. then Con-
troer secured the job for rs cents per looo ems
making the total bill to the State $4,000 or sloooo
more than 1t should have been Robinson aiso