Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-22
Deposed Governor Testifies Under Oath Regarding
 Tammany leaders Threat Against Him
REFUSED TO MAKE "BAGMAN' COMMISSIONER
Also Caused Canal Contract be Held Up Because Lowest Bidder Was Not Getting Square Deal"-Had Con- ferences With Murphy and Tried to Get Along With Him
 But Would Not Violate His Oath of Office, He Says

New York, Jan. Civilian Sulzer $ testified under oath today that Charles x. Murphy, leader of Tanmany Hall, threatened to wreck his administration as governor of New York if he didn't appoint James E. Gaffney commission chned to make the appointment after a conference in Washington with United States Senator James A. O'Gor- man. The senator told him, he said, that Gaffney was Murphy's "chief bag man" and that Gaffney had attempted to hold up James O. Stewart, a state highway contractor and client of the senator's for $10Os000 'and that to ap- point him would be 8 disgrace to the state of New York"
 Sulzer Explains Telegram.
 sulzer's testimony was his first sworn statement of charges he had made against Murphy and in many particulars he elaborated them
 Sulzer appeared as a witness in Dis trict Attorney Whitman's John Doe inquiry into state highway graft. He was called to explain why, as govern or-elect, he had sent telegram to the state canal board requesting to defer, action in the matter of 8 S, o00 GOO canal contract upon which Stewart was lowest bidder. Stewart, who failed to get the contract. testified at a previous hearing that a man named Gafney had asked him for & contribution Of five per cent of the contract.
 Told He Was "Butting in."
 Sulzer said today he had sent the telegram because he had been told by George H. McGuire of Syracuse that there was danger that Stewards bids would be thrown out and that this would be a great injustice to Stewart and the state of New York
 For having requested the canal board to defer action in the matter, Murphy summoned him, Su1zer said, and told him that he was 'butting in where he didn't belong and that he was mot beginning right as govern er.'' A
 Boss Murphy's Threat.
 When Sulzer resented this and told the Tammany chief that he intended to De his own governor, he swore that Murphy replied:
 Like hell you will I'll see where you'H end up damned quick"
 This interview Suizer indicated marked his first clash with Murphy.
 Sulzer said that Senator OAGorman. whose law partner, George Gordon Battle. took Stewards case up with the canal board, Congratulated him upon having sent the telegram. He further testified that when he became governor he agreed with Attorney General Car mody, 8 member of the canal board, that Stewart ought to get the contract and had sought to "get him justice" The other members of the board, how ever, outvoted the attorney general six to one.
 Has Nothing to Conceal.
 T have no information that I care to conceal and will answer any ques- ton you care to ask" said the former governor
 MT Whitman inquired about the telegram Sulzer sent to the canal board in December 1912, asking 1t to defer action Inc T1nnffaY of a xus r6i lor & contract to James c. Stewart.
 Sulzer said that shortly before this he received a telegram from George H. McGuire, which stated that if Stewards injustice to both Stewart and the peo- pie of the state, "as Mcclure said that Stewards bid was thousands of dollars lower than any other"
 T thought 1t was my duty" said the witness. "as governor elect. to re- quest the board to defer action
 Accused of "Spilline the Beansv He sent the telegram on December S9 and the next day, he said. John H. Delaney, now commissioner of the bu- feau of efficiency and economy at AL bany. came to see him at his office.
 He seemed very much perturbed,' z what have you done? You M have spili- @ ed the beans. The chief is all worked up about it. I said What have I done? He said, You sent a telegram yesterday and it has angered the chief I'm afraid it's all off between you. Now he wants to see you
 'I said Why, John, that's the sim plest thing in the world and showed him this telegram from Mcclure I told him that didn't see why MT. Murphy should get mad at a thing like that"
 Met Murphy at Delmonico's.
 Sulzer said that at Delaney's re- quest he called up Murphy and the latter asked him to come to see him. He said he saw Murphy at Delmonico's that afternoon.
 INT. Murphy took me into a small CT roorn,'' said Sulzer. "He looked at me and I could see he was perturbed He said Why did you send that tele- gram to the canal board?' I said That's very simple and showed him Mat telegram from Mcclure
 @He said, You've made a great mis- t&ke: you don't want to butt into thing that don't concern you. I'll attend to this. Then he looked at me very quiz zieallv and wanted to know if Senator O'Gorman hadn't asked me to send this telegram
 Advised to Keep His Hands Off
 T said no. I'd never seen O'Gfor- man. Then he said Keep your hands off. This is none of your business This is no way to begin as governor He went on in that strain and 1 lis tened to him because it was the first l had seen of the workings of invisible government l told him 1 was going to be governor and that he'd better understand it. He said. Like hell you are"
 SuIzer described a meeting with Murphy in New York on March IS of that year when the Tammany leader attempted to induce him, he said, to make other appointments.
 MT. Murphy was the bos5,n con ttnued Sulzer. 9I was the governor. did everything in my power to get along with him. was willing to do anything within reason. but was not willing to violate my oath Of office nor to shut my eyes to graft When told him this, Murphy always laughed at me-"
 'sGraft, Graft Everywherev
 Sulzer declared that when he be- gan his Investigations into various state departments after he became gov ernor he was staggered at the eYerz