New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-06
HUGHES STOPPED
REPUBLICAN CRAFT
Highway Inquiry Reflects
on Both Old Parties
Dix Mentioned.
.STEALTHY METHODS
USED TO GET COIN
State Employees Had to Pay for
JObs-COntractOrs Tell
of Gifts"

For the first time since District Attor-
nov Whitman began his Jonn Doe invesu-
cation OF state highway graft II WAS
ebovn YESTERDAY. that employees OF the
Highway Department were held up for
nor cent Of their annual salaries by Re-
publican state campaign committees.
The practice. II was shown, was stopped
during tho second administration or Gov
ernor Hughes. but collections have peeh
made In A roundabout way. according 10
witnesses who testified at yesterday ses-
sion.
Ludlow l.. Melius, a contractor OF NO
H6 West 18th street, who was an en-
gIneer in the Highway Department from
1897 TO 1901. testified that in the carry
DAYS the collection OF contributions was
effected by taking per cent on tue
monthly check some time during the early
fall. The deduction was covered UP, TO
said. because the check was FOR salary
and expenses in a lump sum Durlns
Governor Hughess first administrator
he said. the money was collected quietly
by men he understood were representa-
tives OF the state committee.
Another witness. who said he contrib
uted to the Republicans, was Edward D.
Doyle. of the f.. j. Doyle CONSTRUCTION
Company. OF Albany. lie said he became
Progressive in 1912. and made his last
contribution TO the Democrats In 1911. In
1896 he sent a check for 81 to George K.
Sheldon, the Republican treasurer. Inc
check was offered in evidence.
Cornelius J. Reardon, a contractor, or
Glens Falls, said he always contributed
voluntarily to the Republican campaigns
because he was party man. heardoh
also contributed s25 to the REELECTION Oh
Thomas Dunn, Democratic state commit
teeman. OF Glens Falls.
Later on Reardon said ne went 70
school with Governor Dix. but dldn
contribute to his campaign fund. Al
though he was looking for state con-
tracts on the roads He got four con-
tracts in 1911 and 1912 In Warren ana
Washington counties. and still mas
about $500 due him from the Highway
Department. he said. Both Commits
sioner Reel and Carlisle he said. sent
him around TO several persons, who'
they said, would fix up the final estimate
as the contracts had been approved.
Reardon couldn't remember the name
Of the man Carlisle told him TO see.
Reardon told also OF going TO Gov
ernor Dix TO see about getting con-
tracts. The Governor. he said. assured
him that the roads he had selected were
10 be advertised for repairs. After CIV
ing the check for s25 10 William D.
Morrisey. OF Albany. for Tom Dunn
reelection as state committeeman. Rear
don said he went to Commissioner Reel
TO see about getting contracts. Reel, he
said. sent him TO Charles +. Foley and
Foley tola him he'd have TO get
healer" meaning state committee
man
II said. Good day. I'm a Republican
and walked out" said Reardon.
The contracts that Governor DIX SAID
were TO be advertised were handed out
TO James T. Flood. Of the Flood & Van
Writ Construction Company. in June.
1872. az Reardon learned when Flood
month later.
Did you go 10 Governor Dix about
IT." asked MIR. Clark
II did"
What did he saw"
He 1ust waved his hand in the air and
said nothing" replied Reardon.
How the Sheriff. Engineering and Con-
tracing Company, Incorporated, Of Hud-
son Falls. issued the first check OF its
career for so TO Norman f. Mack. the
Democratic state chairman. was told on
the stand by George Sheriff.. president OF
the company Right after that. Sheriff.
said, his company got two contracts for
road oilng amounting TO $1,000.
The first witness was Mr.. Melius. the
contractor who told OF the compulsory
contributions TO the Republicans. He
also explained the charges made against
him before Commissioner Osborne In AL
bany last Saturday, and denied that he
had been shaken down" for 5000 for
building gravel road in Columbia
County lie said he lost that amount be-
cause he cut his estimate on the eve of
the bid on hearing that rival was going
TO underbid him
AS TO the check for $3.50 which he sent
10 Harrison f. Pratt Republican super
visor of roads in the county. Melius said
Il was to pay bills at the stores In
Chatham, and the balance, about 800
was 70 help his reelection. Melius said
lie liked Pratt and wanted him to have
the money. but Pratt he said, did not
tear up the check. as was charged. but
returned the money.
Charges made by John J. Conner. a
farmer, that Melius had bribed him by
means OF several fine horses 10 get a
petition up TO change the contract from
a gravel TO a gravel concrete road were
false, Melius declared.
II did give Conner two bottles OF
whiskey once. That was when I drove a
bargain with him for field stone for the
roadbed" said Melius.