The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-30
Sl,0O0 FOR A JACKKNIFE
SERIOUS CHAEGES MADE BEFORE
 THE STREET COMMITTEE.

the Different Asphalt Companies Present
 Last Evening.
 The board of public works was given another hearing last evening before Chairman Hamilton's Investigating committee in reference to the contract with the Boston Asphalt company for the paving of West Chapel, Trumbull and Orange streets. There was a large crowd of interested spectators present, as it had been given out that there would be some very startling disclos- ures.
 About the only development, how ever, that accompanied the session was the charge made by Commissioner Johnson that both N w. Kendall of the New England Improvement com pany and William Booth who, it was said, represented the Bakersfield As phalt company, had offered bribes in order that their respective companies should receive the contract for the work
 The first member of the board called was Commissioner States.
 Alderman Hamilton, in behalf of the committee, then addressed the witness as follows:
 Commissioner States, I believe you stated at the last meeting of this com mittee that a member of the board of public works had told you that he had been offered $1,000 for an old jackknife by the representative of one asphalt company and $5,000 by another if he would secure him the contract for pav- ing with permanent pavem9nts Orange street, Trumbull street and West Chap el street Will you state to the com mittee who that member was?"
 Commissioner States-'I prefer not to without his consent. The gentlemen are all here. You might ask each of them, MT. Chairman"
 Alderman Hamilton-"Will the man who made the statement say so?"
 Mir. States-"Mr. Chairman, allow me to suggest that any statement rom me would only be hearsay evidence.
 Councilman Clark-'Have you, MT. States, asked the commissioner to al- low you to give his name since the last meeting?"
 T have"
 NOW Commissioner Johnson," said the councilman, have you made any States?"
 T am on the stand now, Are you through with MT States"
 Yes" said Alderman Hamilton.
 Will you inform the committee who made the offer to your"
 Commissioner Johnson-"May I an- swer in my own way? What is your question:"
 The question was then repeated, and Commissioner Johnson said, "A man named Kendall and man named Booth
 Alderman Hamilton-"Do I under stand you to mean MT. Kendall of the New England Improvement company"
 Yes. sir"
 "Of course you know that this is a question of my veracity against Mir. Kendall or Mr. Booth. There was no third party present. MT KendalPs vis- it was to see that the order should be changed, striking out the words equal to- and making it read Trinidad I told him no. MT. Kendall was to see me several times and before that I re- ceived letter that had some bearing upon the kinds of pavement to be laid in New Haven. I would like to pro- duce that letter"
 Hamilton-"You may"
 This letter was given me after the specifications were prepared, and the guarantee was changed from five to ten years"
 MT. Johnson read the letter from a gentleman who advocated the best pavement When he had finished the letter Alderman Hamilton suggested that the signature of the letter be made known, but MT Johnson replied that it was personal and confidential.
 (The letter was from Frank c. Busl1- nell and that gentleman confessed it's authorship later in the evening)
 MT. Kendall came to see me about the purport of the letter I have just read. He stated that his company had the best kind of pavement, and if his company got the contract it would be all right In this connection he said there was an election, etc. The last conversation that we had was on June 3. the day the contract was awarded. I said to MT Kendall, You seem to be much exercised over this contract. Lord, why should not be! Here is a $75,O00 contract hanging up here for some one Why should I not be inter- ested? I said, How much are you ln- tcrested?' Oh he said if you have an old jackknife or something of that sort to sell, I guess I could buy it. "
 Alderman Hamilton-"Was there any price stated?"
 Commissioner S1,000."
 "Mr. Booth came to see me in the in- terest of the Bakerfield Asphalt com- pany about 9 o'clock on the 1st day of June, and told me in the course of his conversation that if MT. Kelley, who had bid for the work, re- ceived the contract it would be worth S5 .0OO to the board of public works. I told four of the members of the board of the conversation, so that they might know what was going on,
 In view of what Mr. Kendall said I am not surprised that this investigatfoa is goirE on. I have not known of any other bribes being offered to any mem Der of the hoard of public works"
 Alderman Hamilton said: MT States. have you?" No sir; never"
 The chairman continued How about you. MT Hoyt?" Hoyt-"They tried to tntimidate me, but I do not in timidate very easy"