The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-02-15
HAD NO AUDIT
IN "a YEARS
SIGNIFICANT TESTIMONY OF
DEPUTY KELSEY ABOUT AC-
COUNTS OF STATE HIGHWAY
DEPARTMENT.
KNOWLEDGE VERY LIMITED
No System of Supervision BY Any
Other Observation-Disclosures To
Many Questions, 81 Don't
Know

Hartford, Feb. 16-E. H. Kelsey,
deputy highway commissioner of the
state, testified before the senate prob
ing committee on the Hurley bribery
charges yesterday afternoon that
there had not been an audit of the
highway commissioner books on ac-
counts for fourteen years to his
knowledge. He also said that there
was no system of supervision of the
department by any other department
of the state.
Those two statements were about
the only facts which the committee
succeeded in getting out of Kelsey
For nearly an hour IN 5eTponSe b 6e
responded st don't know ct don't
recall,'' st don't remember. In the
midst of this confession of ignorance,
questions upon the highway commits
sioner's Office and asked:
What's your Manner
The witness answered that and one
as to his age, but resumed his
don't know when the senator took
up his former line of inquiry.
Kelsey and Howard S. Porter, the
chief engineer of the office were the
only witnesses yesterday Porter pro-
duced contracts and the correspon-
nes betT ea d the Rg arTsn spother
of Boston, whose agent, John A.
Judge, is accused of attempting to
bribe Senator Hurley; These con-
work had been given to the Boston
company during the last eight months.
Senator McDonough in his question
knowledge of prices of road making
and of road making ma terials. He
referred from time to time to a type
written list of questions which he had
before him
Both Porter and Kelsey claimed
that they. had practically no authority
that they took and obeyed the orders
of the commissioner himself Porter
said that his duties of chief engineer
were not heavy as he but CARED out
sioner In answer to questions by
both Senator Isbel1 and Senator Nc
Donough he declared that he consid-
cred Highway Commissioner Macdon-
aid superior in both technical and
practical road making TO any engin-
eer who had been graduated from
professional school
Kelsey said. in answer to Senator
Isbe11's question that he was deputy
highway commissioner and that his
real home was in Clinton He had
been deputy for 2 1-2 years and had
been in the highway office for IA or
Is years. He came to that offfcS
been connected with the American
Steel & Wire company. He came to
the highway office as chief clerk. He
said his duties consisted of looking
inspecting new construction work and
of doing anything the commissioner
wanted done. He said that in gen
eral way he was familiar with the &C
counts, records and books. He said
this department was divided into three
sub-departments. engineering, repair
and finance, and that as deputy hs
comes into contact with all of them.
He said that he had come in con-
tact with representatives of firms who
sold material and labor to the COM
missioner and he knew Ralph Warren
and Mr. CIevely of Warner Brothers
company of Boston. He said he did
not know John A. Judge. He and the
others in the highway office had dis
cussed Judge and all agreed that he
had never been in the office. He
said he had no personal knowledge of
the commissioner having sent for SEN
ator Hurley.
1t is evident that there will be an
extensive examination of the admins
ira ton of the highway commissioners
office either by 4he committee or some
other committee named by the Sen
ate. The present committee has no
power to force a witness to appear be-
fore it and it will undoubted ask the
Senate to give it that power on Tues
day. The present committee has al
ready gone a, little out Of its scope. in
following the lead given in answers
of witnesses and there seems but lit
tie doubt that the matter will be pur-
sued still further now that the Senate
through the committee, is in posses
sion of the present knowledge.