The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-23

second time, although he voted to re-
ject them at the first hearing. He had
given no reason 10 his associates on the
board for not voting, and. had not told
them he had been employed by Brennan.
He did not think that it was necessary
to tell them. He had not voted in the
second instance, because he was interest
ed in the matter Mr. Fryer said he
thought the building department was well
equipped in engineering ability.
MIR. HAIGHT FORGETFUL.
Mr.. Fryer admitted he might have writ
ten an article which appeared in print
some time ago, in which it was recon-
mended to builders that they should get
acquainted with the building inspector
on the job and after it was over make
him a present. Explaining. the letter he
wrote to Mr.. Haight, when he Introduced
Mr.. Young to MIN, Mr.. Fryer said that
Mr.. Haight's appearent Ignorance of his
Identity "stung me a little. | Smarted
under the fact that man can some
times write you My Dear Mr.. Fryer
and get information from you, and then
forget you and 1 wrote the letter that
was read here before, this committee
Mr.. Fryer said he saw no objection to
a member of a board passing upon the
completeness and regularity of plans and
then be consulted and paid for his SER
vices In connection with putting the
plans in execution and then passing upon
the work or being a member of the board
that passed upon it.. Mr.. Fryer said the
present system was the best that could
be- obtained and that the building de-
partment itself was not apt to make Sc
rious mistakes,
William J. Nihill, confidential exam
iner in the department of buildings, was
then called. He admitted that he had
been indicted by the late excise board
and bailed out in 81 900, but could not
tell what he had been indicted for. lie
said he had pleaded guilty of anything
that came up" He knew Mr.. Dooner.
superintendent of buildings, but he had
never met him in a saloon called 1.-The
OWL Nihill admitted he had been ar
rested once before, in 1889. He refused to
state what for. He said he was mem
Der of the Republican organization, and
had been recommended for his appoint
ment in the building department by
James E. Marsh, leader in the Sixth dis
trict. Mr.. Nihill said he got 5000 a year
salary. The questions asked by Mr..
Moss intimated that the counsel did not
think Nihill earned his salary Mr.. Nj
hills salary, it transpired, had been cut
down from 81 200 a year. He denied that
he had ever driven Mr.. sDooner to Con
Daly's, the saloonkeeper, who is alleged
to have stated that he could fix the
building department. He, has served as a
delegate to the Republican state conven-
ton.
Thomas ]. Brady, commissioner OF
Manhattan and Bronx departments OF
buildings, and president of the board
was then called. He gave the names OF
the confidential inspectors and exam
iners. Mr. Brady had never heard that
David Campbell Jr., son of Commissioner
Campbell, confidential stenographer in
his department, had tried to get an ap.
pointment through the civil service ex-
animation and had failed. He said he
had found Nihiil attentive to his duties
and competent to perform the work en-
trusted to him. He said he acted on his
responsibility in raising and reducing sal
aries. He said that on the 31st of De
cember he received notice from Mr.
Croker to meet him and Mr.. Van Wyck
He met them, and they asked him if he
would take charge of the building depart
ment, and he said he would do So That
was the way in which he got his commits.
sionership.
Mr.. Brady said that an indictment
against him had been dismissed. He die
not know why, and he was apparently
not much interested in the matter. He
stated that neither Mr.. Croker nor Mr.
Van Wyck had questioned him regarding
this Indictment when the commissioner
ship was offered to him.