The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
OSBORNE HAS CURE
FOR HIGHWAY GRAFT
Glynn's Investigator Asserts
Civil Service Would Pre-
vent Fraud.
SCHEME TO CHEAT SHOWN
Specifications Changed After
Contract Letting Cost
state Heavily.

ALBANY, Jan. 10.--Gov. Glynn's State
graft hunter. James w Osborne, an.
nounced conclusions to-day regarding
conditions in the State Highway Depart
ment. which would indicate that he has
about completed his Investigations In that
branch of the States service.
Several contractors obtained contracts
after competitive bidding for a particular
kind OF road construction and afterward
were able to have the specifications
changed so as to permit cheaper con-
structiOn. frequently with small deduc-
lions from the first price agreed to be
paid by the State for the road. Commits
sioner Osborne pointed out that "A con-
tractor under this practice could bid low
on an expensive road on the expectation
Of being influential enough in the State
Highway Department to have a cheaper
construction ordered without the contract
again being let through competitive bid
ding.
II developed to-day that the main high
way leading out of the city of Rensselaer,
was TO be improved by the construction
OF a mile of brick surface and half a
mile OF macadan. After the contract
was awarded the specifications were
changed TO provide for mile of ma
cadam and one-half mile OF brick. The
first cost was to be $23,000 and the sec.
ond was $4,000 less to the State.
Commissioner Osborne tried TO show
that the changing of half mile OF brick
to asphalt was due to the friendship Of
Deputy state Highway Commissioner
Paul Schultz, who formerly lived In Utica,
with the contractor, Roger Il. Kennedy Of
l,,s At.. -. 4
did not know Kennedy while Nc lived In
Utica and the change from brlcS to ma
cadam was made on "a hill with per
cent. grade which would render a brick
pavement dangerous
How Contractors Are Favored.
The changes IN these road specifica-
TONS said Commissioner osborne. were
made after the contracts were awarded
after competitive biddins and in each in
stance there were persons In the Highway
Department who were apparently favor
able to the contractor. The ultimate ef-
feet Of changing the specifications was
that the contracts were let without public
bidding. n contractor who has influence
in the department comes In and makes a
bid. undertaking his rivals for a speci-
fed kind If work. knowing at the time
that he can use his influence afterward
and have The changes made. Ny purpose
Is TO md cut how IL is tnat tine contractor
has such tremendous power and how IL Il
thst he happens to be the boss of the
Highway Department.
MY belief is that the contractor has
this po"tr because Of campaign contribu-
tiOns made 10 local campaigns and State
campaign committees and because GER
tain high officials In the state Highway
Department are not on competitive
civil service basis so that the department
can Toe taken ont Of politics. I do not
th'hk we will ever get good road in
this state until the department is en-
trcly taken out OF politics. and ! shall
recommend that IL be- made criminal
orcnc. for II contractor to make any
contribution To any political party or can.
didate aud make IL crime for the cam
paign committee to accept it, and give
absolute immunity TO the person who first
tells and make IL no excuse for testifyinR
on the ground that II would tend to
degrade or incriminate.
II shall also recommend that every body
under the State Super! ntendent of High
ways. including his deputy shall be
placed on the civil service basis and taken
entirely out of politics. ! shall also rec
ommend that II be made a crime for any
employee Of the State to make a con-
tribution to any political party or to any
candidate. and my reason for that is that
where any employee contrib "tes II more
or less has the aspect Of his buying his
position. am satisfied the contractor
will be the boss of the Highway Depart
ment until II is taken out of politics"
Some OF the Highway Department en-