Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-12-02
Startling Story Of Graft I'M
eathed in Connection With
New York State Highway
Construction
WHlTMAN'S PROBE is
UNC0VERING FACTS
Pay Could Not Be Secured for
Work Done Until Victim
Agreed to Pay $1,000, Is
Testimony,

iay soEuso iovRsst ssseiA, ls.arn wisri
New York, Dec. Madison r.
Aldrich, Poughkeepsio contractor.
testified at District Attorney whit
mans John Doc inquiry today. that
he had been forced 60 give up SL50O
Jas condition Go getting his pay from
the state highway department for
road which he completed during the
administration Of Highway Commits
sioner G.. Gordon Reel.
lie paid the money In cash, In New
York city on March 81. 1912. he
said, 10 Thomas Hassott, secretary to
John A. Bansel, then state engneer
Hassett. whom the district attorney
is anXious 10 question. has disap-
peared Mr. whitman has nforma-
tion that hc sailed for San Do
mlngo at about the same time that
/ James H. Mcclure. former mayor
Of Syracuse. now under Indictment
also sailed south.
Aldrich, who rs president OF con-
struction company, said that ne had
given the money on Hassetts repre-
lsentation chat Charles n. Foley, dep
luty highway commissioner demanded
lit. Pay on his contract had at that
time, he said, been held up for nearly
-four months
/ The contract was for a road costing
4 100000. It was completed, Aldrich
lsaid, IN November t1il. and ho made
numerous efforts during the follow
/ ing three months to collect the $17.-
600 balance due him.
on March ~, 1912. he received "a
/ telephone call from John E Con
saulus an Albany contractor. who to-
day testified that he was a collector
of democratic campaign contrlhu-
tions from other contractors on
Gonsaulus invitation. he went to
Albany and there saw Hasseu in the
office Of the state engineer.
"tlassott took me out in the hall
the witness said. and said We think
we ought to have something on this
job said What?' and he said
that Mr.. Foley thought / ought to
give up 10 per cent, or $500.
asked him if $1,000 would do and he
said that would be an right I told
him ! would give him the money as
soon as my pay went through
Aldrich said he received his long
delayed pay on March 2s, came to
New York on March 30, and paid the
Isl 500 in currency TO EIassett
why did you pay him in cash?'
asked District Attorney Whitman.
~ thought that was the way to
transact that sort OF business AL
drich replied
"The business of bribing public Of
ficials2'
well II you want TO put It that
way yes. was the reply
Aldrich further testified that in
1911, he made a campaign contribu-
tion to the democratic party through
Gonsaulus which was never reported.
Gonsaulus, who agreed TO waive
immunity before he took the stand
developed a poor memory when ques-
toned concerning his relations with
Aldrich and Hassett lie cOntended
that in December, 1911, he had
spoken to Foley about Aldrich not
getting his pay, but ala not remem-
Der that he had sent Aldrlch TO see
Hassett. lie admitted that he had
made collections from contractors
and forwarded them to the democratic
state committee, but he was unable
to remember their names.
Gonsaulus, however, furnished the
district attorney further evidence asI
to the activities Of Everett =. Fowler,
the alleged "Tammany bag man
now awaiting trial for ext0rtion He /
said he had introduced Fowler toI
state contractors and that Fowler had
shown him list Of such contractors
and told him that he intended TO get
contributions from them.
Matthew van Alstyne, another cone
tractor and the defeated candidate /
for mayor Of Albany on the demo
cratic ticket at the last election, tea-
tilted that his construction concern,
a corporation. had, at the solicitation
of Fowler and william H. Kelly (
democratic leader OF Syracuse, CON
tributed $1,000 to the democratic
state committee in 1912 He had
sent it IN the form Of craft on New
York, to Arthur a. MaeLean, the
democratic state treasurer, he said
This contribution. the district attor-
ney found, was unreported.
Did you realize" Mr. Whitman
asked. chat for q corporation to
give political contribution Is a
violation Of the law2'
u did not the witness said
A supreme court grand jury em
panelled today from a list Of mer-
chants. bankers and brokers' will
convene on Thursday and sit during
the progress of the investigation, "a
consider such violations Of the law
as the district attorney may uncover I