Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1907-06-12

served on him in the presence of the
committee
During the day Mr.. Backes devel-
oped many promising leads and fol-
| lowed them up with the same tenac-
iity, spirit, legal acuteness and ability
| that have characterized his inquisi-
| torial work since the committee be-
gan it's work six weeks ago.
When he got Arnold H. Moses, of
Philadelphia, who designed the new
senate chamber, on the stand, Mr..
Backes unearthed some of the rank
est kind of extravagances.
Moses Rich Pickings.
An instance of the scheme employ
ed to mulct the state of funds was
brought to light when it was shown
that Mr.. Moses, as architect, had
been employed to tell the contractor
to gild the capitol dome. He direct
ed the decorator to put gold leaf on
the dome and to paint the iron work
in black The job cost the state
, 1900, and Mr.. Moses got five per
cent as architect"
When the assembly chamber was
carpeted Mr.. Moses selected the car
pet. 1t cost the state $2,709 and Mr..
Moses got his five per cent.
! When the corridors of the state
house were painted Mr.. Moses picked
out the color of paint that was to go
on the walls and, as usual, drew his
five per cent.
F, A plumber was ordered to place
eighteen toilets in the state house.
Mr.. Moses pointed out where they
were to go and, of course drew his
| five per cent, which amounted to
$72.13 in this case.
The question of desks and chairs
in the senate chamber was taken up.
| Mr.. Moses insisted that they were of
| special design and could not be pur-
chased ready made" in any first
class furniture house. He said the
desks were made for the peculiar uses
of legislators
| Mr.. Backes read an item of $657
paid to J. B. Van Solver, of Camden,
for re-upholstering seventy-three
chairs at about the same time. He
showed that as architect" of this
work Mr.. Moses was paid $35 in COM
missions.
| Mr.. Backes asked the witness what
otheIv work than to tell the VanSciver
people to put on black leather with
tacks he as architect" did for this
money.
| Tp at hn had n,.dn
the chairs and had inspected them
| after they had been returned to the
state house
Reverting to the furnishings in the
senate chamber, selected by Mr.. Mo-
ses, Mr.. Backes asked the architect
how much had been paid for the
chairs which the senators use.
| "Forty-five dollars each," replied
| the witness.
Rather a comfortable price," re-
marked Mr.. Backes.
George j. Tobin, of Plainfield, who
has had practical monopoly of the
plumbing business done by the state
was an interesting witness.
| Tobin's Monopoly.
"Do you know of any other plumb
house since you began?" asked Mr..
| Backes.
Il have seen men working here
answered Tobin.
| II mean" said Mr.. Backes, "have
there been any plumbing firms to get
contracts; not for little odd jobs
about the building?"
| Mr.. Tobin said that he knew of no
other firms to receive contracts for
state work since he began to do 1t.
Taking up the question of the
heating and plumbing in the new
wing at the state prison. Mr.. Backes
asked Tobin how he got the contract.
Through. Mr.. Lawton,' answered
the witness.
What was your bid on this work, .
queried Mr.. Backes.
II think" replied Tobin, ''it was
about $4,000"
"How much more?" asked Mr..
Backes.
whats that?" inquired Mr., Tob-
in. Then, without waiting for an
answer, he said: No more"
why" said the inquisitor, "Mr-
| LaWtOn testlhed last week Inat your
bid was more than $4,000; how can
you reconcile these figures"
"Well," answered the plumber, ~
may have submitted two estimates on
the job, but my bid was not much
over $40, 600; it was not $4,000"
WAS there comparative bidding
for the plumbing work on this job?''
asked the inquisitor.
i Mr.. Tobin said that to the best OF
his knowledge there was.
Mr.. Tobin also did the work on the
new cottage at the state home foI
girls. This netted him $3,949.
"Will all of these items appear on
Il your books?" asked Mr.. Backes.
YES" replied Tobin, "and you car
l see them il yourself. or member oi
Il the committee will come to my Office
in Plainfield
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