The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-21
CHGS.P. MUUPHY'S mo SIRS, "
NOT CONSULTED ON CITY LIGHT-
ING CONTRACTS OR PRICES.
No Interest In TruclCinS CO.-Has Operated
in Stsoks, but en- his Own HOOk-stIIl'
man Never Carried ANY Gas for Him
-GSnney Pricks SIS 900 900 Contract
Bubble-OaiIey Takes Responsibility.

-Ganney Pricka 8lb 900 IOOO contract
BubbIe-OaiEIey Takes Responsibility.
The political side Of the gas investigation
collapsed yesterday when Charles F. MUIR
ply leader Of TammRny Hall, and tbs
officials Of the New York Contracting and
Trucking Company. In which his brother
John j. Murphy, and Alderman James Z.
Carney are interested, were put on the
stand by Chief lnqulsitor Hughes. Reports
had been spread broadcast that Charles y.
Murphy wss a silent partner in this con-
Germ, and that through his political In
huence the Consolidated Gas Company
had bean induced to give the trucking
company contracts amounting to SIS 0oo,0 600
in which there were fabulous profits.
All the officials Of the company and Mr.
Murphy himself denied emphatically that
he was either directly or indirectly inter-
ested in the company or that he had ever
received q dollar OF its profits. II was also
shown that the contracts which the truck
ing company had got from the Consolidated
many Of them long before Mr. Murphy
was the leader Of Tammany Hall, amounted
to considerably less than $1,000, 900, and
that they were secured In every instance
through competitive bidding. Evidence
was also introduced to show that the truck
ing Company had never paid dividend
and that it mortgaged its plant to get the
money with which 10 buy the horses neces-
sary to carry on It's business, Charles T.
Murphy also testified that he had never
had any talk with the city officials about
public lighting and had got all his infor-
nation on that topic from the newspapers.
Mr. Murphy was called at o'clock in the
afternoon and was questioned by Mr..
Hughes as follows
o. suppose when the new administration
came into office on Jan. 1. 1904. you con-
sidered the situation with reference to the
lighting contractst 4. ] did not.
Y Did you give no attention whatever to
the matter OF city lighting? A. No. sir.
U Did you have no interviews with any
persons relating to that matter? A. No. sir.
q. Mere you aware that in the early part
Of 1894 bids were put in for public lightingi
A. only what | learned from the press.
q. lid you have no interviews with the
Officers Of the city government with respect
TO that feature Of the government A.
did not.
Y. Was the policy Of the administration not
In any way discussed by your A. Not that
part OF II. no.
o. bid you have any talks with the Mayor
regarding that question: A. No. sir.
q. Or with the Comptroller A. No. cir.
a. Or with Commlssioner Oakleyf a. No
sir.
O. Did you have any information one way
or the other ~ 20 whether OF not the bids
for city lighting we're 'zcessiVef A. dld
not
"a DiI Won have auv information one wsv
or the other as 10 whether those bids should
be approved or not approved? A. did NOT
o hid Won express any desire to any one
A. 10 what action should be taken az any time
by Commissioner Oakley IN regard to the &C
tep'auce or rejection oi any one OF thoso
bidzy 4. No, SIR.
q. Was the matter ever brought 10 Won,
directly or indirectly, 80 that YOU might eN-
press your approval or disapprovali A. No.
sir. ,
q. Then am ] 10 understand that during
the year-durinE the entire year lAOI' "heh
this matter OF public lighting contracts was
under consideration-the matter was mover
taken up by you IN any way2 A. NO. hr.
O You were aware there was = general
sentiment that the bids Of the company were
eXtortionnte? A. ] did not know that there
was a general sentiment. no.
q Well II would be difficult to denhs the
word general: you were aware there was
such a sentiment? a. Yes.
@ Aud In the matter OF public lighting
did you do anything 70 assure yourself that
the administration would take q proper
position? A. did not. felt that the head
Of the department was able 70 handle that
question himself
o. SO far as you were concerned. you did NOS
care whether the bids were accepted or re-
jected? A. did not give that consideration
o. Now, during the year 1904 did you
have any interview vita any representative
Of tho gas companies In regard 20 the gas
contracted A. ! did not.
o or In regard to any matters affecting
the gas oompanlesi a. None whatever.
n4Na ~
the gas companies? A met Mr., Rogers
once. -, -.
Of december last.
O We're you accustomed to meet him from
time TO time in Iooil A. never met him
before or aimee. -,
r,sr,ber or onlcer Of the gas or electric COM
nanIest A. met Mr.. Stllman once. last
december: never before or since.
O Did you know Mr.. Addickai A i de
not ,--,.,,
had interviews. that were reported 70 YOU
with any Representatives OF the ges OF electno
companies2 A. No, sir.
o. 10 understand that you were entirely
aloof and apart from this question Of city
hRhtinRf A. was.
o. had nothing 70 do with Il. directly or
Indirectly A. No, sir.
q. Are you an otnCer OF tho OonsoiiuoV'd
Gas Company A No. cir.
o. Have you any stock in that company
A. No. cir.
O. Was any stock in 1904 ever carried for
you, or your account. by any onef A.
think had some In 1901, 1907. 1908 and 1901
o. What broker was 81 A. Dewitt.
o. To what amount A. don't think
/ care to answer that.
o. Was any one assisting you 20 carry
that stock. A. carried II myself.
o. Did Mr.. StilmAn ever assist you 70 carry
stock. A. No, sir. not for me.
O. or for any one connected with your
A. No. sir.
O. Did you ever have any arrangement
With him or any one regarding his carrying
stock for youi A. No, cir.
q. And have you been accustomed Tor
number OF years 20 carry Consolidated Gas
stock from time 10 timer A. oh, yes
guess that began ten years Ago.
Q. And did your transactions increase AZ
eli In the last two o 2 three years1 A. Al times
Il would all depend on the market; how twas
running.
o. That was a matter Of operating In the
market simply A. Simply.
o. And do thoss market transactions con