New-York tribune., 1908-03-20
DEALS In CONTRACTS.
Methods of Transfer Brought COUNT LEO TOLSTOY ILL.,
Haf
at Hafen Hearing.

The ways in which contracts for work al Inc
Bronx were turned over from one man IN another
usually 20 the financial disadvantage OF the city
were brought out by John Purroy Mitchell. Com
missioner of Accounts in the investigation OF the
office of President Hafen of The Bronx Yesterday
Several cases were developed where contractors
having been ordered 70 abandon contract tor al
legged violations would again recover an lit-rfS'
the after 4 had been reIel 10 men WIN
had been in their employ.
The contract for regulating ana grading irlhHA
avenue from Westchester avenue TO Dater street
was ore in point. The engineers estimate was
s.. .a47 so It awarded 10 Charles w 'oliihs-
Before he was ordered 10 abandon the work on
account of an alleged violation Of the labor laws
he received 81. s67 %. Then the contract was
awarded 10 John G. EfcFwart. who had been u
superintendent for Collins He got S1'eS u OUT ot
II before he ordered to abandon 'he "o'N
which was later awarded 70 Jack tlyhn' Tor
rnerIy a foreman in the employ Of Mr. Collins MI
Collins on suing the city recovered SlsS5 81 dain-
ages on account of the resembling OF the contract
When Mr. Eic1vart vas put on the stano ne od
not seem 10 remember much about the lrlnitF ave
nue. Job He stoutly asserted he did not represent
Mr. Collins the first contractor on the work pu'
after much proddng admitted that Mr. Collins hau
financed his work for him. that ne had assigned tn"
contract 70 the Washington Heights Bank the day
after il obtained and that all the prohts Went
Mr.. Collins
A contract which the John J. Hart company vas
Hurst who had worked for Hart He rented the
Hart plant 20 do the work and indorsed his war
rants the Hart company.
Charles ". Collins admitted the stand that he
obtained an interest III the Eickwart contract after
il been and received whatever benefits came
from it. He said he Interested with Arthur
Collins, his bTotler-n-av, III grading Broadway -
Yonkers. Il $4,000 job.
When Arthur Collins, who had not heard bis
brother-iD-law testify. put on the stand Com
missioner Mitchell had hard work any details
from him. The Young declared he did not
know how much money he had put into the Broad
way contract.
What did you do with your first city warrant
asked tho Commissioner
What is a warrant" asked the young man
bIandly.
He said he employed by his hrothHT-in-ta"
in some things Commissioner Mitchell warned the
young man he was under oath but he could not tell
whether he had put s25 or $4,000 into the contract
The elder Collins. put back on the stand SAID ne
anticipated going in with the young man when 'he
contract was bid for and had financed the loo Tor
him.
Hugo Reid president Of the Continental Asphalt
Paving COMPANY succeeding Maurice Featherson,
admitted that WREN thew were forced TO give up
contract William W Medil. who had been in their
employ obtained it reletting in the interests OF
the Continental COMPANY
Each contractor was asked how many tickets 20
the annual outing OF the jefferson Club. the roiit-
cal organization OF President Hafen, he was ao-
c1-stored 70 receive each year. The number varied
all the way from ten to twenty. Sometimes al
were bought and sometimes some were returned