The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-28
Commissioner Said to Have
Kept Records of Posi-
tiOns Parceled Out
KEPT PATRONAGE
RECORD IN BOOK
Witnesses Give Additional Facts Con-
cerning Repair Contracts by High
way COmmission-Substitu-
tions Explained

Albany, N Y, January PA pic
book in which Highway Commissioner
John N. Carlisle is said to have kept
record of positions he parceled out
to various political leaders, is great
ly desired by James w. Osborne, for
use in his graft inquiry.
The first intimation of the existence
of the book came today at the in
ouiry when Theron Akin of Fort john
son, former congressman, spoke of it.
Akin said last summer he went to
MIR. Carlisle to appeal for the transfer
of John B, Wright an assistant high
way engineer and in the course of the
conversation the commissioner produced
the book and pointed out to Akin just
how much patronage he had obtained.
Incidentally Wright was not trans
ferred.
Il certainly want that book Mr..
Osborne said as soon as he heard the
Testimony.
Roy X. Fuller who has been ap-
pearing for Mr.. Carlisle at the hear
ing, made no response to the conf
inissioners remark.
Give Additional Facts
other witnesses today told Mr.. Os-
torne additional facts concerning the
approval of the SlS repair contracts
10y the Bensel-Pack Reel highway com
mission These are the contracts which
District Attorney Alexander of Albany
county has requested to supplement
evidence he has for the consideration
of grand jury.
The commissioner also learned more
about campaign contributions and their
\relation to highway contracts, and of
tine influence that highway contractors
seemed to have over subordinates in
the department. He also laid the found
alton for an investigation of charges
made by Governor Glynn that the state
has lost approximately $l.000,000
through the conversion of highway
funds for the purchase of road ma
chlnery
John p. Wright, who now is com
missioner OF public works of Amster-
dam, opened the way for the story of
fused to approve the work of con-
|tractors and as a result had been trans
ferred to a position 800 miles from his
home. He had appealed to c. Gordon
Reel then superintendent of highways,
but was informed that the transfer
had been brought about my politicians
and contractors.
Substitute Used
Wright asserted that brick was sub
stituted for macadam in one road and
that in another contract company
. had been permitted to substitute an in
ferior grade of material and to charge
a higher price for 1t than for material
|oiiginally specified
Wright declared that in his effort to
| be transferred back to Amsterdam he
. had appealed to Mr.. Akin.
The former congressman told of
visits he paid former Governor Sui
zer and Mr.. Reel and said Mr.. Sui
ger told him to take the matter up
with Mr.. Reel Akin said he subse-
ouently visited Commissioner Carlisle
| in Wright's behalf. The commissioners,
. he declared, then produced his little
book.
"The commissioner told me I was
pretty we'll taken care of" said Mr..
| Akin. "He probably referred to the
fact that a man named McCann had
been given a job in the highway de-
partment to get him out of the race
for postmastership of st. townsville,
Later he said Mike Coleman and a
man named DOYLE had been given po-
sitions at the request of the Montgom-
cry county organization. Doyle. he
said was credited to ex-senator Gard
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