The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-18
Rumors Heard of $4,000
"Slu>h" Fund and $780,
900 Expense Item"
Union SIGNAL co.
OFFICERS TESTIFY
$500 Fee Paid Wood Be-
fore He Was Commissioner
Looms as Important.

Grand Jury Investigation of the charges
against Public Service Commissioner
Wood yesterday with rush that fairly
shocked Senator George +. Thompson.
lefore whose legislative committee the
ale OF an attempted bribe was first told.
lie hurried mp 10 the Criminal Courts
Building and made an effort to communi-
cate with the District Attorney. who was
N full sail before the Grand Jury.
His effort was in vain. Word camo
rom the jury room that Mr. Perkins was
thsre TO stay until he had finished the
job, and the Senator had to make the
best of IT, After conference with
Assistant District Attorney Delehanty
IL Senator said he didn't want the i'm
p.ession 20 40 forth that he was trying
70 Interfere with the Grand Jury investi-
CATION, but that he did desire that any
Indictment In the matter DE STAYED of
Cor day or two lest 1t should operate
20 close the mouths of certain persons
from whom the Thompson committee
hopes To get information Of a startling
nature concerning contract letting 10y the
Public Service Commission.
Information concerned $50, 900 "slush'
fund which is supposed tn have figured
y the awarding OF public servic. con-
racts and also an item of s2s0.pu0 APP
bearing on the Union Switch and Signal
'ompany's books as extraordinary ex-
p-ases.'
officers and representatives OF the
Union switch and Signal Company who
lad come here in response to the request
%, senator Thompson further upset the
legislative committees plans by hurry
e 10 obey the subp9nas that directed
hem 10 appear before the Grand Jury.
Then they returned to 1875 Broadway,
md after long conferences went on the
stand and told. presumably. the same
,hHgs that they had already disclosed
'nder the questioning Of Mr.. Perkins and
is assistants.
$500 Fee Recalled.
One OF the noticeable things about the
testimony Of At least one OF the witnesses
Who appeared before the Thompson COM
mutc was the unfavorablc interpreta-
'.on which II put upon the action Of the
General Railway Signal Company In en-
p!oyiug Sidney @. johnson and advanc-
.ng him into a dictatorship after II was
Hnown that he had been forced to resign
ON the Union company because OF the
.elprt he made as to his relations with
Commissioner Wood. According to this
witness the General company was per-
fectly willing to employ man who for
.eavs had been the successful agent OF
he Union company In getting contracts
Notwithstanding the circumstances under
which he lost his job
Testimony along this particular line
even went 30 far as the assertion that
was through Johnson that the Cen
eral company was able to get the con.
waHt tol installing signals in the Fourth
a'enu. subway in Brooklyn. although
Johnson and his employer have sworn
mat he had nothing to do with that mat
rr. Contrary to the assertion OF John
on, II vas also averred that the award
% ,le Centre street loop contract was
mo cornerstone Of a prospective bust
"Ns Of unusual proportions and thai
ne Union company was 'or this reasor
particularly anxious to get II.
There were indications yesterday thai
ne acceptance by Commissioner Wool
vt a lee Of $1,000 for his aid In getting
contract for the Union company be
ore he became Il Commissioner will as
sumo greater Importance as the cas'
'r0 eds. The Commissioner has ad
nll'"d getting this amount for show
~ johnson where n good contract wa
20 o" had, but II was not until John
'od TOOK the stand that II was know
mat Nr Wood returned $500 of thi
mount 10 him Although Johnson re
.nrD"' the $500 to his company. tn
'a'' that Commissioner Wood shoul,
share tAo Zee Indicates TO the investi
F''o'- that the two men understoo'
ttr4 other very we'll Depity ATTORNEY
|c''rd Lewis WAS very careful TO brinl
ron QUO witness yesterday the asser
tor tact had he known of the fee pai
~ hr Wood he would have demande
10, 'sslgn1uOu Of johnson at that tim(
Witnesses Called by Perkins.
President W II. Uptegraff OF tn
'niou switch and Signal Company wa
.'' INST witness to go before the Gran
'i5 II was ho who on Wednesda
'''''d before the Thompson commit
'" luat johnson had reported to tn
'pnndH, that Commissioner Woo
wanted 5000 to swing "A contract. II
w.. 'nilowed b: salmon O. LevinsOi
tru' n counsel for the company, VIII
'a'"' told the Thompson committe
Al.fs nat put different aspect on tn
'.o'" of Johnson. John Il McCun,
.'''i"ul of the Union National Bank {
.t''uUrg and director of the Tnio
company. and Johnson were the oths
witness examined by Mr. Perkins NJ
-.' HH- also witness before I'll
a'Hneou committee later in the day,
so t''r Thompson had long tai
''N District Attorney Perkins lal
I' Ud laid before him addition;
-''r aiken by his committee.