The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-20
SHERMAN NAMED IN
ROAD GRAFT INQUIRY
Brother of Late Vice-President
Threatened Him. Says
Contractor.
WANTED CAMPAIGN GIFTS
Sulzer is Expected to Waive I'm
munity at Doe Inquiry
Tomorrow.
WANTED CAMPAIGN GIFT

who finished the construction OF a high
way In Herkim.r county In June. 1911.
testified in the John Doe inquiry yesser-
day that his final payment OF moro than
$4,000 was withheld until the following
March, He also testified tina. while he
was waiting for his money Richard W.
Sherman. u brother of the late Vice.
President james S. Sherman and n for
mer Democratic Mayor of Utica. passed
him the word that he need expect no
accommodation from the state Highways
Department in getting his affairs straight
ened out unless lie contributed to the
Democratic State Committee
This testimony with respect to the man
ner in which accommodations might be
secured n. Albany followed closely that
OF another contractor who declared his
company found II advantageous TO engage
| the services OF Louis Cody as lobbyist
| before the Highways Department
This contractor was John +. Gill, prcsi-
| den. OF the Atlanta Construction Com
psny. Ho said contractors paid Cody
$40 a month to furnish information about
new contracts 70 be let and other infor-
nation OF that nature. and to get on the
l JOD Wutu IL CoiltIdCto his"i
and payments were held UP. Cody. he
said. used hs influence to accelerate the
action OF Highways Department officials
GIL said he understood that many con-
tractors subscribed SO month to Gody's
| Information bureau
He said he had found that the employ
ment Of Cody saved him many trips &c
1 Albany and had proved efficacious.
The name Of Charles L. Murphy. Jr.
the nephew Of the Tammany leader
cropped UP again as solicitor OF bond
Ing business for the United States Fidel'
Iity and Guarantee Company. Daniel l.
Mott, a contractor of Utica. testified that
on August 10 last he was the lowest bidder
for "A construction contract and that III
got the contract on September 8. Never
| theless there WAS delay at Albany "
getting the proper signatures OF highway
officials While he was waiting he re
ceived letters from Mr.. Murphy solicit
ing his patronage.
| Mott had made UP his mind TO give hi
bonding business to a Utica concern AM
| paid no attention to Murphy's letters
Then he said he received several tele
grams from Mr.. Murphy. the last 0
which informed him that II he woul'
say the word and give Murphy the bust
ness Murphy would see that his contrac
was signed that very day. 70 that Ii
could begin work Immediately. He sal
he had the letters and kilograms an
would send certified copies of them to tn
District Attorney.
Humphrey Courtney. treasurer or tn
Atlanta Construction Company. testife
that he contributed $500 to the Democrat
State committee In 1871. He said tina
| ono OF tho inspectors on his contrac
| work was l.. v. Rosencranz. a justice G
the peace in Weyland Steuben county.
Rnencranz was at the same time EN-
| ployed by the construction company :
look after certain of Its legal matters
particularly drawing deeds and agree
ments. Rosencranz testified that his en-
ployment I'm this capacity did not aneC
! his Judgment with respect TO the kin
OF work being done on the highways b
the Atlanta Construction Company an
that he inspected the work just as care
fully as he would had he not been pckin
up a few dollars here and there after cor
struction hours.
John J.. GIN. president of the compsn!
agreed with Rosencranz In this and test
fed that RosencranZ was only one OF n
inspectors TO whom tho company was r.
sponsible.
Chester J. Meyers OF Utica, an assis
| ant engineer in the employ OF the High
| waye Department. said ne got letter
from William II. Kelley of Syracuse
, 1911 and 1912 asking him for contrib
tons to the Democratic State con,mitte
although he was a Progressive gradual
D from Republicanism. He said that l
! gave 32J on each occasion. He add.
that others told him he would find II
his advantage to contribute. despite Il
= fact that he was "a civil service employe
{ lie has been subp9naed TO tell more
this matter TO the District Attorney
a Cortland county.
Eleven letters that passed oetwee