New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21

that evidence was obtained by Henry
4. Rubino the company's attorney
Mr.. Osborne produced witnesses TINS
afternoon who gave testimony concern
ing campaign contributions from con-
tractors having contracts for puiulhe
roads in Rensselaer, and surrounding
COMMITTEES i'm the fall of 1872. IL was
sought TO involve Joseph Murphy the
Democratic leader of Rensseiae'
County and an anti-Tammany man.
Murphy was a supporter OF Governor
Sulzer. and it has been charged thd'
John A. Hennessy in his highway IN
vestirations for this reason failed to
take UP Rensselaer, County matters
Peter V. Baird, a contractor OF Am
sterdam, Montgomery County, VINO hdu
nearly 100000 worth Of road repa"
and oiling contracts, testified that ne
contributed i'm 1912 TO the state com
mittee 200, to the Montgomery
County committee $500 and TO lhe
Rensselaer, County committee H-'''''
The last contribution was made IN casH
IN John ]. Ryan. treasurer or the hehS-
selaer County Democratic Committee
Mr. Baird proved a reluctant WITNESS
when pressed for information as 10
why he gave such large amount 10
the Rensselaer, County committee ana
only $500 to his own county.
"They wanted to make showing III
the Presidential election" he said
Whom do you mean by they
MIR. Ryan, Mr.. Murphy and MT
Burns"
Got Work Without Bidding.
The Murphy referred to was Joseph
Murphy. the Rensselaer, County Dem
ocratic leader. who is said to have hau
considerable influence in highway con-
tracts. Mr.. Baird explained that ne
and Mr. Murphy were both in the waste
business. and that the Troy leader hau
helped him out whole lot.
Commissioner osborne then brought
out from the witness the NUMBER Oh
highway contracts he had, WhiC"
nroved TO be nearly 100000 WORTH
mostly for resurfacing roads. For 'his
work the witness admitted that there
was no public bidding. 4e said ne go'
the contracts through submitting MS
figures to Charles F. Foley, who was IN
1912 head of the maintenance depart
ment Of the State Highway Commas
sion.
Mr.. Baird testified that he had hr't
offered his contribution Of S2,oop 10
Murphy. but the Troy leader told him
TO give it to Ryan, the committee
treasurer IT was brought out mat
Miles O'Brien. superintendent or the
highway division In which Rensselaer,
County is located, was the one 10 ap-
nrove Mr.. Bairds work, and that the
roads were all approved after he made
his campaign contribution.
William NJ. Acheson, OF Troy, divi-
sion engineer, with headquarters In
Buffalo and formerly interested in the
County Construction Company or
Troy. gave testimony which indicated
that Miles O'Brien was the hagman Tor
the Rensselaer, County Democratic
committee. He said that William T.
Shine. treasurer of the company, came
10 him in 1912 saying that he had been
asked by O'Brien for contribution OF
$500
what did you say TO him." asked
the Commissioner
Il told him to tell OBrien TO go
10 -"
The construction company at that
time had several road contracts. Mr..
Shine was then called and testified that
as a result of the request of O'Brien he
contributed $500. He testified that pre-
viously several of his contracts had
been cancelled, but that none Of them
we're lost after that.
In answer TO a question from Mr..
Osborne the witness said that the Rob
Roy Construction Company had the
bulk of the highway work in Rens-
selaer County. This company is said
to be controlled by Joseph Murphy and
John Consalus, who figured in the
Whitman proceedings.
Miles O'Brlen resigned from the
Highway Department last January. and
is now in the contracting business in
Troy