The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-17
SAYS WOOD SOUGHT $5,0O0 FOR VOTE
 IN P.U CON TRACT
Witness In New York Probe Gives Startling Testi-
 nony About Wood.

ert C. Wood told an employee or the Union Switch & Signal Company that a S6,OoO commission would be about right if he used his influence to swing signal contracts of the Centre street loop to the Union Company of Pittsburg was offered before the Thompson lesdslatives Investigating committee yesterday.
 The witness was Sidney 'fS. John son. Until last July he was em- pIoyed by the Union Switch & Signal Company and since then he has been employed by the General Railway Sig nal Company of Rochester Johnson said that Commissioner Wood soon after his appointment to the commits sion, called him by telephone and ask ed him to drop in at Woods private office in Exchange place
 Asked About Loop Work
 When Johnson arrived the Com missioner asked about the Union Co.'S bids for the Centre street loop work
 Then he asked me- the witness continued, Eff there would not be commission in that contract if he used his influence so our company would get it. He said that a contract of that kind should carry a commis- sion of $5,O0o- That would be about right he said.
 Johnson said that Commissioners Wood had made definite proposition to shim but that he told the Conmis- sioner he had no authority to act So he said he went to Swissda1e, Pa, and talked over the situation in Col Proutss office. W. D. Uptegraff was present, he said, at this conference
 The Wood proposition was talked over, he said, and suggestions were made. Then he testified that he went to New York and saw Commissioner Wdod, who asked him about the con- fe1ence. He said he told MT. Wood th4t he was in no position to talk to Thim about the alleged deal
 Gives More Detail
 dobhson's story differed Slightly from the story told yesterday by MT Uptegrafff and was more complete He described the meeting of the board of directors at which he and Col. Prout were asked to resign. He said that he afterward obtained a position with the General Railway Signal O., | of which w. ". Salmon is president
 Johnson became greatly affected as he told of his resignation and of MT. Sal1non's kindness in giving an even better position to him than the one he had held with the Union Switch & Signal Company He showed such emotion that lie asked permission to- leave the: room for few moments until he could regain control of his feelings
 When Johnson frs took the stand. Deputy Attorney-Genera1 Lewis, told nm ne lfetAS zDEAOAC SAA0 tee as a witness because his name had been mentioned at yesterdays ses- sion by MT Uptegraff-
 '..I am going to ask you to sign an immunity waiver. said MT. Lewis.
 wouldn't Sign Waiver
 sT would rather not sign a. waiver replied the witness. sbut I will tell you all that I know.
 Asked in regard to the Centre street contract, he said that the Union conn pamyis bid was $26SsO0c and that of theNFedera1 company, which obtained was in the spring of 1914s he sa1ds when the bids were submitted
 seWhat happened in connection with the bid 2'' asked MT. Lewis
 Johnson replied that the various bids were held up for some time and that in the meantime PubHc Service Cornmissioner Wood telephoned to. him to find out some particulars about thes Union companys system.
 1T went to- his office, ,''s said John sons land told him what could about oure system
 "A short time after this first meet inghe said Commissioner Wood call ed him up by telephone again and ar ranged for second interview.
 ssHe asked me to meet him in an office on Exchange place. said the, witness T don't remember the 2 number T went there and found Commissioner Wood and a young man that I did not know. The Commis- sioner asked this young man to step outside and he did so.
 ss$5, ,OOO About Aight''
 .sWel, MT. Wood asked me whether there could not be a. commission in this contract affair if he could in flusnce it for me" testified Johnson
 .s7Fhat. did you say?" questioned Merton P. Lewis, counsel for the com n1ittee.
 .sT told him that had no authority to talk to him on matter of that kind and, he went on tot say that he thought that a job of that kind ought to carry $5y08o.' T
 .Isater that same evening or the nezt day I telep11oned Col. Prout at Pittsburg telling him about the talk tfar had had with Commissioner Wood.''
 Did you repeat to. Col. Prout that Commissioner Wood had asked for 9 cash comDensation to influence the contract?"
 s~what did Prout say to that?"
 T remember that Col. Prout said, sYou can't quarrel with Wood, don's antagonize himx You'll have to tow him along for the time being %
 Then the witness told how in the ordinary course of business he had gone ot Swissva1e to see Col Prout 'sIn his office, continued Mir. John son. twas MT. Uptegran also Prout wanted to know how things were go- ingras he usually did-and the Ques- tfoh of the disposition of the Wood matter came up.
 Col. Preat asked Mir. UDtegran for any suggestions but he said he didn't know how to handle it.
 .I stated that was there for i'm structions. During the conversation it was suggested that if they decided to go through with the matter, it might be charged on my personal ex- pense account. objected to this method-the more thought Of it the more did think it uafair.
 T told Col. Prout that would not orn, err-