The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01

I
OF politicians and contractors.
smith Interrsrts suiser.
MFR Hennessy made verbal reports for the
most part. but when Bart Dunn was in
dicted in Rockinnd county, said Mr. Sui
ger. Mr.. Hennessy gave out statement
showing what he WAS doing and also tho
presentment Of the RoclSland county Grand
Jury In the Dunn case. Mr.. Hulzer was
going on to say something about G. Cor
don Reel when his first clash with AS
semblyman Smith occurred. Mr.. Smith
put into the record.
III there IL any question about that
statement I will read II IN tho interest Of
Justice" retorted Mr.. Sulser.
Read II next week. suggested Mr.
Clark.
1T can't 60 in the record" asserted Mr.
Smith.
smith can't prove anything" said Mr..
Sulzer
'Sulser can't either" retorted Mr.
Smith. Hes a witness here and he isn't
s solns g + to tell this committee what it
The incident dropped with the marking
OF the statement as an exhibit Mr.
Sulxer then went on to tell Of his removal
Of Mr. Reel as Superintendent Of High
ways He said he expected to get from
Mr. Reel information concerning repair
co"Vracts nahueu OUT py MN. STATE In
gineer John A. Bensel and Duncan W.
Peck. Superintendent OF Public Works
"Contracts Over the Bar"
They used to hand out contracts over
the bar Of the Hotel Hampton" he said.
land ut Mr.. Peck's house. ! think they
called II Castle Contract They handled
advertisements Of State contracts Ms II
they were advertising . horse sale.
"Mr Hennessy and his force went on"
he continued. land at the suggestion Of
District Attorneys l put through several
and special grand juries to take UP the
evidence they gathered. Mr.. Murphy and
others knew about II and Mr. Murphy
threatened to remove me II I didn't stop
I wouldn't stop and they did remove me.
II had been willing TO quit the srafters
working through the head agency Of Mr.
Murphy. would have quit too and would
stiil have been Governor
This Witness" Assemblyman Smith
Interrupted stated on the floor Of the
Assembly that he had documentary evil
dence to prove that $4,000, 900 was stolen
| In 1912. ] would like to have that evil
dence.'
I'm glad ne asked about that said
| Mr.. Sulzer. The documentary evidence
| IL that exhibit which offered q few min
utes ago and to which Mr.. Smith objected
II ne withdrsws his objection will read
| IL. AnOtntE uOCufueut 10 tne lnutCtWent IN
| SUFFOLK county, the indictment In Erie
county. and II hadn't been removed
there would have been indictments In
thirty other counties"
steal e0.OOO,OOO. says s.lser.
That doesn't cover the point" said
Mr.. Smith II don't want to be aEgres-
siNe. but he said he had documentary ev!-
dence and this committee is entitled to IT,"
"I'll go even further and say that Il
was -. 200. 000.' said Mr.. Sulzer.
II that document 10 the evidence" said
Mr.. Smith. I'm willing that II be put in
evidence. Il that Hennessy's report?'
1T H." said Mr.. Sulser.
John A Hennessy was then called. He
said the first thing he did as Moreland
commissioner WAS to hold up two contracts
for highways on Long Island that had
been let for 100000. He said there was
no competition In the bidding and that
there was such an evident frameup be-
tween New York and Albany that he &C.
Quainted Commissioner Carlisle with the
facts and the contracts were abrogated.
They were subsequently relet for one-haif
the cost.
lie then went over the 1912 records OF
the Highways Department with Secretary
Charles =. Dillon. as a result OF which
he reported that II would be necessary to
engage experts ito inspect the accounts.
Tells Of s2,OOO,OOO Leak.
Mr. Hennessy handed to the COMMITTEES
thiTty-one typewriter pages covering this
examination. After that he went over the
estimate of the six division engineers ON
the amount of money needed for repairing
highways In 1919 The amount they asked
for was $+.75o.o00.
Mr. Hennessy said he then hired John
Martin. now an efficiency engineer in the
la ~ e4
Brady and q stenographer. They went
over roads in twenty-five counties where
repairs were needed. according to the
engineers. This investigation resulted In
his reporting that sl.50o,00O would be
sufficient for repairs and that 100000
would be ample for repairs and main
tenance.
At the suggestion of Commissioner Car.
Isle and others this amount WAS raised
TO $3,260.00O. Carlisle saying that what
was not spent could go back To the treas
ury. Mr. Hennessy said 100000 OF
this will 20 hack. therefore showing that
his orixina, estimate was correct. al
though II was Sc. 900 less than that Of
| the division engineers.
This first trip over the roads led TO
moro detailed examinations and thirty-six
indictments Of contractors and officials re-
suited. 1t WAS after this that IA special
fund was raised 10 that engineers could
DO eHiptOycu'
Names Contributors to Fun6.
Henry L. stoddard wVs treasurer Of tho
| fund and those who contributed were Gov.
Sulzer. George II. and James X. Nc
CURE, Henry r. Burgard. Jacob II. Schif.
Joseph NJ Murphy, Thomas Mott Osborne,
Lathrop $. Brown and George r. Peabody.
The total subscribed was si0.350.
With the funds thus available the work
went on. Joseph Curren, Charles NJ. Hill
ton and Henry p Morrison. all expert
cnced road engineers. were engaged. They
worked without compensation until put
on the payroll of the Highways Depart
| ment-
Mr.. Hennessy gave the names OF tho
counties into which they went and tho
names OF the roads, along With what they
found In each case. They directed their
attention particularly to the ais repair
| contracts let without competition by
| r.puty Highway Commissioner Charles
! T. Foley In 1912.
The details of what was found are In the
two trunks full OF papers which Mr.. Hen
messy will turn over to the committee be-
fore lie sails for Europe. In general, az
outlined by him yesterday. the data will
show that repairs were made when none
was needed, that specifications we're
grossly disregnrded. that scandalous sup
elemental agreements were made. THAI