New-York tribune., 1907-06-27
TURN LIGHT ON MURPHY
ONE JOB ILLUMINATED
Contractor Understood Building
Superintendent Wanted Bribe.

Commissioner Mitchell at the Ahearn investi-
CATION yesterday tried 10 prove that grating
was OF frequent occurrence in the office Of Ed
ward s. Murphy, Superintendent OF Buildings.
S. A. Mcguire, a contractor, testified practically
that he tried to get certain building plans ap-
proved by the Buildings Department and that
$4,000 had been demanded from him.
II has been common talk for years in building
circles that to facilitate large construction jobs
1T necessary for builders. superintendents
and foremen TO keep certain building inspectors
on their payrOlls dummy" laborers. That
the Commissioners of Accounts have heard these
rumors and place credence in them is indicated
by the line of inquiry Commissioner Mitchell fol-
lowed yesterday.
George \. Potterton. who with his brother
John II. Is in the contracting business. was q1es-
toned as to his relations with the Buildings De-
partment. He said he knew the Superintendent
only slightly and denied that he had ever repre-
sented that his firm particularly well quail
fled TO get plans passed by the department or
that such was fact He declared he had never
paid any consideration to have plans passed.
nor had he ever heard of such q thing.
Mr.. Potterton said he had not offered to get
the plans Of s. A Mcguire through after they
had been rejected. provided he received the con-
tract for the job. Mr.. Mcguire had simply con-
suited him about getting permit and had vol
UNFAIRLY promised the masonry contract when
the work started.
Commissioner Mitchell curious about a
Potterton contract a building at Broadway
and 18th street Mr.. Potterton said that the
contract amounted 10 about $4,000 or $4,000
The amount paid the architect including the fee
for filing plans, was 1900. The estimate was
about 81. 800 over cost, he said, for contin-
gencies. These contingencies did not represent
payments TO any official Of the Buildings De-
partment he said. He had filed the plans
through Jordan & Son. because Mr.. Jordan had
been connected with the Buildings Department.
and he believed him better qualified on that ac
count.
Charles Sweeney. William Spelman. Harry
Magee and w. W. Bucknall. all building inspec-
tors were then examined severally about their
connection With Dunn Brothers, the contractors.
and about stubs IN the check books of the con-
tractors In which their names were entered. with
figures indicating payments Of money, OF which
s25 was the lowest. They all denied ever hav-
ing received any money from the Dunps and
said they knew nothing about their names on
the check stubs.
s. A. Mcguire. the contractor whose name was
mentioned in the examination OF MIR. POtterton.
charged in effect that Mr.. Potterton had told him
that his plans could not be approved unless he
agreed 10 pay $4,000 over and above the fair
contract price for the Job. Mr.. Mcguire said
that he understood the money to go to John
Jordan a member Of the firm Of Jordan & Son
and formerly connected with the Buildings De-
partment and Edward S. Murphy. the Superin-
tendent OF Buildings.
Mr. Mcguire said his plans called Tor tne aQdi-
ton Of another story 20 building at No. 14S
Front street.
when 1 first saw Superintendent Murphy
after the plans were fled" he said. Il was led 20
believe that he would approve them When
saw him again. however. he told me he would
have 70 knock the Job and that he would turn
It down He gave me no satisfactory reason, and
1 yeas surprised at his statement. Fifteen min
utes after I had left him I called to the
telephone at my office and was told 10 call up
George Potterton."
do you know who called you up?" asked Mr..
Mitchell.
mo. I do not called up Mr.. Potterton and
made an enga cement with him TO meet him at
his office the next day. He said the plans
couldn't go through with my name on them as
the architect He said he would give me an
estimate on the Job and when asked him 10 do
so he mentioned $1,000 or S13.OO0-I don't re-
member exactly. l thought that was high. and
l said $1,000 ought to be fair price. He said
had to go TO certain people He called II X
penses He didn't mention any names. but from
what knew. I understood that II was TO go 10
John Jordan and Superintendent Edward s.
Murphy. That Is the impression / got As far
as l knew Jordan not to be employed in
any way the job"
Mr. Mcclure said that ultimately the plans
we're turned down when he failed to come to an
agreement with POtterton He appealed TO the
Board OF Examiners. which approved the plans
Superintendent Murphy then approved them.
too but wouldn't let the work go until he had
an opinion from the Corporation Counsel which
favorable to Mr.. Mcguire,
Two employees Of Bart Dunn were called. but
displayed lack OF knowledge of their employ
until tomorrow.