New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-19
SIX ROAD INDICTMENTS
A VICTORY FOR SULZER
Bart Dunn, Tammany Leader,
Among Those Accused by
RoCkIand Grand Jury.
EXTENSIVE FRAUD ALLEGED
So Widespread, Says Present
ment, as to Threaten State
Policy of Highway
Betterment.

,r-,r, star Correspondent Of The Tribune. J
New CITY. y. Y. Aug. 1S.-Governor
sulzer landed another blow on Tam
many Hall to-day when the extraordi-
nary grand jury which has been in
vestigating the road scandals in Rock
land County brought in six indict-
,nAnts one against a Tammany leader
and five against corporations, on a
charge of conspiracy TO defraud. The
grand jury also handed up a present
ment condemning the old administra-
lion Of the state Department Of High
ways.
Indictments were found against:
Bart Dunn. a Tammany leader and
president Of the Dunbar Company.
". W. Whyard. president Of the
Etna Construction Company, of Nyack.
Joseph ]. Fogarty. construction SUI
perintendent in the State Department
Of Highways.
James Boyd. an inspector in the State
Department of Highways.
The Etna Construction Company.
The Dunbar Company. Manhattan
concern.
Found Extensive Frauds.
The indictments were found after the
grand jury had listened TO evidence ad-
duced through the fundamentally 4
John a Hennessy, Governor Suffers
TIT he IN co
Of the various bureaus Of the Highway
Department. The grand jury also
spent days in examining some of the
state roads in Rockland County, and
found that gross frauds, involving
many thousands of dollars, had heen
perpetrated upon the state.
Justice Isaac y. Kapper. Of the Su-
preme Court. under whose instructions
the extraordinary grand jury had been
working said that he would give the
indicted men until tomorrow 10 appear
before him for pleading. Failure 10
make appearance. he said. would re-
suit in his issuing bench warrants.
On motion Of Thomas Gagan. District
Attorney of Rockland County. Justice
Kapper cont iued the term of the
grand jury. giving ii a recess until
October Il. when it may find new mat
ters growing out the present investiga-
ton 10 take up its attention.
When the grand jury began its in
vestigation on July IA it was predicted
in some quarters that an indictment
would be handed down against Sena-
tor George A. Blauvelt who fought
hard against Governor Suffers direct
primaries bill. Blauvelt's son. who was
in court when the grand jury reported
remarked:
They tried 10 get father, but his
slate was clean"
First Cost Doubled.
One stretch Of road that the grand
fury examined ran from Sloatsburg TO
Tamapo. three and one-half miles. The
original cost Of this road, nine years
ago. was $4,000. Since that time the
state has paid $4,000 or almost double
the cost Of the road. TO Bart Dunn's
firm.
The grand jurors had sections Of the
road torn up, and II is said they dis
covered that II was not laid according
10 specifications. Similar results were
obtained, IL is said, by examining the
road work done by the Etna Company.
The presentment filed, which charged
that in many instances work which or
tain contracting firms were paid TO do
was never accomplished. read in part:
The officials under whom said High
way Department was conducted at AL
bany proceeded largely upon the the
DRY that said Highway Department
was rather a quasi-political organiza-
ton than a great business supported by
the taxpayers and operated under gov
ernmental powers.
The higher the official in said De-
partment Of Highways the less he &C
tually knew as TO whether the money
paid for the construction and main
tenance Of said roads was being ex-
pended in accordance with the con-
tracts. One Of the lowest grade OF en-
ployes in said Department Of Highways
was the foreman Of laborers, yet under
the pernicious condition existing the
foreman of laborers was the only en-
ploye or official upon whom. according
to the evidence before US, the RESPONSE
bility rested Of protecting the people
in causing the money voted and appro-
priated for that purpose properly 10 be
expended for the maintenance Of state
roads in this county.
Reign Of Fsvoritisr.
said Highway Department was
more proficient in the dispensation Of
favors in the form of contracts 10 con-
tractors having political influence than
IL was in requiring integrity in the exc
cution OF such contracts. Incompe-
tency prevailed therein where ability
was most necessary.
"A typical illustration Of the inefi-
Gent and improper manner in which
said Highway Department was oper-
ated is as -ollows Contracts were for
mally entered into between contractors
and the State of New York for the
performance Of work upon state roads
and the payment of large sums OF
money therefor which were termed sup