The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08
TAMMANY J0LLIES LABOR.
GRANITE CUTTERS EXPERIENCE
IOLB TO M<ZET COMMITTEE.

III
Justices on Campaign Contributions.
Once moro the Mazet Committee sitting in
the rooms of tho Board OF Trade and Transporta-
ton yesterday. sought the views Of the justices
Of the Supreme Court on tho subject Of assess
mcnts and contributions from judicial candidates.
and also their opinions u the ndvisabiiy OF es
tablishing a Board Of Referees. All OF those
called 10 testify on these points were justices who
are serving or have served in the Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court in the first do
, spartment
Justice Van Brunt, the presiding Justice OF
the Appellate Division. said that II had been
his custom for number Of years u contribute
$3.50 year to tho Democratic organization for the
necessary expenses Of the campaign. He considered
contributions from judicial candidates for legi-
innate campaign expenses entirely proper, and
said that law forbiddng such contributions
would lead TO concealment and evasions and thus
lower the standard Of character of tho candidates
The patronage involved in the appointment Of
referees was distastcful 10 the Judge, but he did
not approve Of Board of Referees
Justice Morgan j. O'Brien said that he could
think OF no feasible plan for relieving the justices
Of political contributions. Most Of the Judges
would be glad TO be relieved Of the patronage i'm
piled in the appointment Of referees. II any other
system were tried however it should be lett to the
Judges to decide upon II. In answer TO Mr. Moss's
question tho witness admitted that consulting the
leaders OF the political parties as TO nominations
amounted to making those men the nominating
power Justice O'Bren had contributed about
$40, 900 when he as nominated.
Justice Abraham II Lawrence said that he had
never paid an assessment. but that he had made
contributions
Are you aware OF the general belief that assess.
ments are NADER" asked Mr. Moss
Il assume So" replied the witness II believe
legislation forbidding contributions from judicial
candidates would he a good thing. tending 10
preserve public confidence in the judiciary"
Justice Lawrence said that he had contributed
at the time Of his nomination about 81. 900; that
lie was nominated by both branches Of the De-
mocracy, and that his contribution went to tho
County Democracy He'did not see how the pres
ent referee system could be improved and thought
Board OF Referee system would be a bad one
Justice lngraham thought that the line be.
tween assessments and contributions should be
clearly drawn. Assessments would be outra
geous contributions proper so long as they
were confined 10 the legitimate expenses Of tho
campaign He himself contributed SO 600 This
was entirely voluntary He strongly favored
Board of Referees.
E1-Justice William " Cohen favored legis-
lation preventing contributions from judiciary
candidates provided public sentiment would
support IL and provided it could edectually ex-
clude contributions from friends OF the candidates
lie had made no contribution when nominated
on the antiTammany ticket last year. The ap-
pointment OF Board OF Referees would relieve
the justices of much trouble and embarrassment
but the action Of such board would be undesirably
slow. Justice Cohen said that in behalf OF Justice
Van Brunt, VINO was seeking denomination.
he went to see Mr.. Plat and about twenty other
Republican leaders His opinion was tina judicial
at should he Al lodi an hair oriu
and not for political services
STORY OF TAMMANY AND THE GRANITE
CUTTERS.
William j. OBren, of the New York branch
OF the Granite Cutters National Union, testified
Of imperfections
The work has been patched from the begin
ming" said he The stone is iull OF depressions
which filled out with cement The main
arch over the doorway is improperly constructed
No attention has been paid to the breaking of
joints Old stone is being used from the old prison
though there was a clause in the contract for
bidding the use of that stone 1t was taken away
10 the yard Of a subcontractor in Brooklyn cut
over, and sent back"
On behalf of the Central Federated Union the
witness said he had complained to Commissioner
Lantry, also calling his attention to the fact that
socallcd experts were appointed to examine and
report on the condition Of the stone work The
report OF one Of them named Wilmington was a
curiosity. He reported. for one thing. that the
stohecutting was not only Scut. as required in the
contract but in some cases even cut and 10 cut
Mr. O'Brien says he has been going around since
then trying to find granite cutter who has ever
seen or heard OF 9cut or 10-cut and hasn't sue
ceeded In finding one yet Another item of note
n ha VII tha To-
would obterare the white quartz streaks in the
granite The second expert reported some faults
In the work, and eventually, after long delay
Commissioner l-antry reported TO Corporation
Counsel Whalen that the work was defective and
not In accordance with the contract and called
upon him to protect the interests of the CITY In
reply Mr. Whalen stated that no action could be
taken unless the architects who had the work in
charge made a complaint The work Is still going
on. and all the faults and defects are still there
pIvvy ON THE PREVAILING RATE" OF
WAGES.
From this matter the witness turned TO the new
East River Bridge Several members of the
Granite Cutters Union had gone TO the bridge
toget work he said, and found that the con tractor
was Patrick Ryan, The surviving partner Of the
firm OF Stanley & Ryan. The superintendent
in charge OF the work asked them what wages
the union wages, 81 day for eight hours work.
This is the rate Mr.. O'Blien said prescribed by
law to be paid to granite cutters on public works.
The superintendent refused to pay this price, say
ing that he could get all the men he wanted al a
lower rate. Mr. OBrien went TO the bridge and
found a number Of Italians doing the stonecut-
ting. They could not speak English but he got
an Interpreter through whom he asked them how
much they were being paid. They answered
hat hav orntH m Iay, Too. ID, L.,
pay envelopes showed these wages
Then went away" said Mr.. o Brien in telling
the story on the stand, and day or tw o later
sent some OF our men up there to ask for a lob
They were turned down. They found an Italian
who could speak little English and asked him
what they could do to get job on the bridge
lie advised our men TO 60 to A. Julian who keeps
grocery al ll6 Mott street and does a padrone
business, too. They went there and Julian said
he would sell them letters which would get them
the jobs they were after for SlS apiece or this