New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-13
A LABOR TICKET TALE
Told By alderman DouH to 4hcarn's
Disadvantage.

Alderman Reginald s. DouI testified at the
AheaTn investigation yesterday that he went 10
see the superintendent of the New York Edison
Company with reference having laborers in his
Assembly district put to work by the company. He
said he told that the company now sent all its
labor tickets direct to Borough President Ahearn-
The next witness Bernard Downing. secretary to
Borough President Ahearn, said that neither the
Borough President anybody in his office had
ever made any request for labor tickets
But you have received such tickets?'' asked
Commissioner Mitchell
oh yes; these tickets have been sent to us. but
without requests" He said that the tickets were
distributed without regard to politics.
Arthur Middleton. superintendent of the Con-
sodated Telegraph and Electrical Subway Com
pany. testified that this company employed a large
number OF laborers. who hired by ticket These
tickets. he said. distributed labor and po-
htical organizations and to politicians request.
ana the who presented them were set at
work. He said he had given such tickets Bor-
ouGh President Ahearn, but denied that he had
been requested TO give all the tickets Mr. Ahearn
alone also that he had told Alderman DoulI
that the Borough President had made such a re-
quest.
Edward II. Stephenson. superintendent of the
New York Edison company. also said that his COM
pany issued labor tickets the request of poll
ticians he also denied telling Alderman Doull
Mr.. Ahearn had asked to receive all the tickets
himself
Alderman DouU was then sworn and testified to
having attended meeting Of the nth Assembly
District to take action with regard the removal
or Mr.. Dalton, Commissioner Of Public Works. In
Contradictng the two preceding witnesses. the
alderman said: Some time ago I went the
Edison company and the superintendent and
asked for some tickets for people in my district.
and told that the company sends all its
labor tickets direct Borough President Ahearu.'
Bernard Downing secretary to Borough President
Ahearn. the next witness.
William F. Kinney. member of the Hickey
Contracting Company said that his company first
began to do repair work sewers early IN 1904
The company incorporated i'm the fall of 1903.
repair work What work nc upon per
sonal requests at first. he said. and having done
the first job satisfactorily other jobs followed.
He never objected to the estimates of the Cepart-
ment for sewer repair work ON some jobs. such
as pipe sewers he had lost money. he said. and on
others had made money.
Austin g. culver, assistant engineer of the
finance department, said that he had certified to
the correctness Of many vouchers payable TO the
mickey Contracting Company. He said that he
had mad" il practice wherever possible to ma Ike
personal inspection OF sewer repair work. and
that frequently he had found that the work was
improperly done 10y the Hickey Contracting Com
pauy and no had ordered the work done He
had never recommended reduction Of the lHlls of
the Hickey contracting Company.
At this point tho hearing was adjourned until
tomorrow afternoon at o'clock.