New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-10
Road Contractor Confront.
ed with Apparent Con.
f1ict in Testimony.
GAVE REPUBLICANS
PER CENT, HE SAYS
Denies at Graft Inquiry That Hs
Contributed $4,000 to
Democrats.
rBy Telegraph 70 The Tribunal

Albany. Jan. e.-Ths state Highvsu
has put into effect an orts
recurring each Of It's employees TO ng
HANK every night telling how much n.
what kind OF work he has performed TIA;
dav r. X. Fuller. secretary 10 John n
Carlisle. the Commissioner. mads this
70 James w. osboraA
Governor Glynns investigator. at IL
close OF the hearing this afternoon.
well. I'm glad to see that our Won
is accomplishing something" said NJ
Osborne
THAT was thought out long Before ~
were appointed special commissioner" ~
piled Fuller, 80 you needn't take 10
much credit for IT,"
The feeling between the Highways D.
partment and Mr.. Osborne is not at 81
cordial. Mr.. Fuller's announcement va
tho result OF the efforts az Mr.. Osbors
N get testimony showing that Jobs were
given many men on highways CONTRACTS
simply because Of their political back
ing.
The hearing was devoted largely to ne
case Of Abraham Bresch. Of Troy. 70
whom Joseph Murphy, the Rensse'ss'
County Democratic leader. gave 700
q laborer on a highway contract IN -
lumbia County.
Conflict in Testimony.
One highway inspector said he dhal
think Bresch III for any kind OF labor
ing work. and another that he ca sD
Gent work as state laborer. Inc Af
tor said there were state laDcreIs
every department. Asked ~hat sreN
did. he said he carried the end OF 'se
measured holes and carried an axe.
7 7, Melius. the New York city 4"
tractor who built the Columbia c0vn0
highway. testified after signing "A"'
of immunity. He denied the tesun'-
~ nrevious witnesses that he had onefe
IN a Columbia County supervisor te va
team of horses in the county II ne Won
use his influence 10 get the specihe@uos
of his contract changed. He also oen''
that he had given $3.50 10 the pen0
cratic campaign fund. 49,.
"r am q Republican. he SAID ."
never gave any campaign controu'''D
exccpt TO Republicans"
In the six years he was an engine
the states employ, under hepu""
Governors. the witness SAID e'tne.
amount approximately per cent "
salary was held out for campaign y"
noses or else he made direct oonu'N
lions. In the course OF tho heanns
ersl highway engineers testified tna' ~"
also had been assessed.
Lays It TO stenosraph"
Mr.. osborne endeavored to snor
whose authority the Columbia 0Os
road qualifications were changed 70 m.
water hound instead OF concrete ns
vav after a mile ard half OF tae
base was completed. Melius SAID %
told by a highway inspector ha'"' As
N stop the work until the omee
hanv decided how II was 10 be eo''uA-a
When later called TO the stana e..'
,s did not tell Melius to stop. Menus
MED that he made the remark 80
would be worth $4,000 TO MN 7"
the contract changed. 80.
AS 10 the character Of the W." =,
shin Melius testified that u "a
right" He denied previous tes'l''. ~
that stones had cropped up tnrous. =
surface from the sub-bsse ana ,"'' ~.
fective material had been uSeD' ..,o,
fronted with his own testimony
Carlisle, in which ". IS
the record as having admitted tnA' y.
were such outcroppings Of stone w'
ness adhered TO his denial eHp'ss
tina, the stenographer must nave
mistake. ,..rr.srE
Fuller submitted letters ana o0e 80
10 show the good faith OF Coii'i n'',,,lb
Carlisle in referring TO the ,n.,
county road. Complaints had oeen 4,
that IL was improperly built anu .s.ous
stone OF the sub-base had come ",' y,
the ton course. The letters sho"e'
Carlisle had held hearings on -
plants and that he had receiver s,es
from his engineer stains tha'
fcations had. been met -
The hearings will be cont''''
o'clock tomorrow morninS