The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-30


 Later Commissioner Bishop came and asked me if knew that the report would be. He stated that if a New Ha- ven company, it would give work to a good many men,"
 MT. Blakeslee came to me and said that if MT, Kendalrs company got the award, he would get the work to lay the foundations"
 Commissioner McGann-"No one ever said anything to me about money"
 Commissioner Grant-"I am in the same boat as MT. McGann is; no one tried to fix me-"
 Commissioner Bishop-"No one offer- ed me any money, or offered to buy my jackknife. I went to see Commis- sioner Hoyt for my own information. No one tried to bulldoze me Several people talked with me, Mr. Bushnell for one"
 Commissioner Johnson-"If MT. Mans field received this contract he would not bring all his help from abroad, as most of the contractors do. I would probably have furnished some of the men just as I could furnish any man men tomorrow morning. But no pat ronage was ever promised me-"
 The other commissioners answered the question in the same manner.
 N. w. Kendall, president of the New England Improvement company said: Tn the first place I want to prove that man a liar'' No, mo-" said Alderman Hamilton, 1T would not say that.''
 Well, I want to prove that he told an untruth, ," replied MT. Kendall. T was in Philadelphia on the day of the awarding of the contract attending the Brewers association, and did not leave there until 1 o'clock"
 But, MT. President, to go back to the beginning of the matter we must go back to about this time last year"
 When MT. Johnson called at my of flee, being, as I supposed, in that vicin- ity on public business, the question of pavements came up, and MT Johnson said, MT. Kendall, if you are to be in terested in this pavement business is there not something in it for me-?
 ''The day that the committee went away MT. Kelly sent for me and asked me what kind of pavement my com pany would lay if I got the contract
 T afterward saw MT. Johnson the same day and the conversation in my office last year was recalled.
 T said, Yes, I do remember that;' and said, Do you mean to say that you expect something out of it?' I told him that my company would not get much out of it, but I said, How much do you want?' Johnson said, '$1000.' I reported this conversation to my law yer who advised me to have nothing to do with that man Johnson.
 Later I saw this man Johnson again and he said, MT Kendall, think there is nothing in this for me And know there is nothing in it for me-, was my reply
 That was the last time that saw him until his report was made
 MT Kendall closed his remarks with a fierce attack upon Commissioner Johnson, asking the committee if such a man were fit to be entrusted with public affairs.
 When MT. Kendall had taken his seat there was prolonged applause by the spectators.
 William Booth, the man whom Con- missioner Johnson said had offered him S5. 900, arose when President Kendall had closed and asked that the state- ment of Commissioner Johnson be read. The stenographer then read the state ment.
 MT. Booth continued to say that when Commissioner Johnson stood before the committee and said that he offered him $5,000 he told a falsehood. Booth then told the committee that there was no need of his offering the board of public works $5, 900 when his company offered to do the work for $4 900 less than any one else had.
 "The first time I met MT. Johnson was at the state convention here in New Haven MT. Johnson gave me a note to City Engineer Kelly to go down and get specifications for the work. He also told me that he would let me know when the bids for these pavements would be advertised for. I saw MT. Johnson afterward in New Haven, but MT. Johnson had no time to spend with me.
 q afterward saw him in New York when the special committee went there to investigate the pavements."
 William Kelly called.
 "Mr. Kelly, who was your representa- tive here?'
 MT, Bradford" replied the gentle man addressed.
 Alderman Hamilton-"Mr. Bradford, will you state what transpired between you and the commissioners?
 MT. Bradford-'I made three visits to this city. ] went to the city engineers office and asked to see the specified tions.
 q criticised them and Engineer Kel- ly admitted that they did not suit him. I proceeded to estimate on the work however, on the specifications and submitted price to MT. Kelly, and he took the proper measure to bid. He first took measures to secure bonds. My second visit was made about the 1st of June I came here to ascertain when the committee would visit the various cities to investigate the pave ments. The committee was called, but we could not interest MT. Johnson. He was uneasy, and he soon left us.
 "On that occasion the committee would come some time during the week. They wired us later that they could not come. They came the next Monday" Bradford then detailed the visit of the committee in New York.
 '.The next visit was the day the bids were opened. There was consid- erable comment at the lowness of the ltd hut ,ry., took in eopcidaT-a tinn that