Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-05
new YORK HIGH
WAY CRAFT TRIAL.
Contractor Offered a Pair of
Horses to Have Aid in
Changing Specifications
1t Would Mean $4,000
More Sensational Testi-
mOny.

d Albany, Jan. 4.-Accusations of at
tempted bribery were made against L.
l.. Melius New York highway con-
tractor, at the Osborne graft inquiry
Saturday. Melius had a contract for a
road near Chatham, and it was in an
effort to get the specifications changed
that he made the Illegal offer, it was
declared.
John J. Connor, a Chatham Center
farmer, testified that Melius offered
him ''the best pair of horses in Colum-
bia county" for his aid in bringing
about the change. The desired alter
ations were made, but Connor refused
the horses, he declared.
'Melius said the change would be
worth $4,000 to him. Connor testified.
One of the supervisors who passed
on the acceptability of the road, Har-
rison e. Pratt, testified that Melius Of
fered him 500 campaign contribution
which he refused. The offer was made
after the road was accepted, however.
other witnesses declared Melius told
them he had been shaken down" for
$4,000 in Democratic campaign funds
last year.
he CtlaflSeS llle toItIdCl were Ell
fectcd by the circulation of petition.
1t was assistance in getting signers
that Melius wanted Several witnesses
who testified Saturday said they gave
Melius their help because they thought
the proposed alterations would be
benefit to the highway.
The road as constructed was worth
less, they declared. They said some of
the large powders and tree trunks
along the right of way had been plac-
ed in the roadbed and had worked up
through the surface. They also declar-
ed much soft stone had been used.
Some of this, which Commissioner Os-
borne easily crumbled in his hand, was
placed in evidence.
One of the laborers on this road was
Abraham Bress. tailor of Troy. who,
It was asserted, had been given his
place by Joseph J. Murphy, Demo-
cratic leader of Rensselaer, county.
Sleeping. carrying a cane and fishing
was about all the work he did, wit
nesses testified.
Commissioner Osborne emphasized
the point that the testimony relating
to alleged bribery and faulty construc-
ton of Columbia county road was vol
unteered by citizens living along the
highway. He repeated his general re-
quest for information concerning lr-
regularities in any state department.
Paul Schultze. second deputy high
way commissioner, after signing a
waiver of Immunity, answered some OF
the charges made against him Satur-
day by subordinate engineers. lie
maintained he was justified in permit
ting the use in some instances of ma
terial not up to specifications, and IN
sisted that the transfer of Engineer
Blessing was because of the mans un-
fitness for the kind of work. 1t was
not he said, because Blessing had com
plained against the work done by the
Robroy Construction Co. Of Troy
which yesterday was termed as Ia
yored construction concern
w. T. Shyne, Troy politician ana
contractor, produced check STUB
showing he had contributed $500 to
John j. Ryan, treasurer of the Demo-
cratic committee of Rensselaer, county
In 1912. osborne declared Ryan's cleo
ton expense statement showed ohly
5000 contribution from Shyne.