The Washington herald., 1915-01-28
big Chief" GOT
$4,000 FOR JOB
Contractor Tells of Business
Methods in Santo
Domingo.
SULLIVAN'S PEN QUICK
u. S. Minister Prompt to Pay Friends
and Slow to Recompense
Rivals. Witness Says.
SULLIVAN'S PEN QUICK

New York, Jan. 27.-James Mark Sui
Iivan, minister to Santo Domingo. was
prompt in signing warrants for con-
tractors he favored and slow in seeing
that their competitors obtained their
money, according to the testimony of
John L. Mann, of the department of
works in Santo Domingo. today before
the Phelan Commission investigating
the conduct of the American Minister.
With the introduction of voluminous
documents containing the defense of
Sullivan, the inquiry so far as New
York is concerned will end tomorrow.
On Monday or Tuesday, Senator Phelan
announced, the commission will take
testimony in Washington and from
there will go to Santo Domingo.
Another payment of $1,000 to William
c. Beer. the Big Chief" one of the
central figures in the investigation, was
testified to today by Thomas Hasset.
of Ridgewood, n. j., secretary and
treasurer of Hamilton Construction
Company. of this city. Hasset, who
admitted he had been indicted for at
tempted extortion from another con-
tractor, said District Attorney Whit
man learned he had been imposed upon
and asked for dismissal Of the in
dictment.
SOsOOO TO NHeI contract
Hasset testified he went to SantO Do
mingo in 1913 to look into contracts of
private land, owned by Samuel NJ. Jar
Wis, deceased, and that Beer was pres
ent in the Union League Club when the
information was obtained from Jarvis.
An agreement was reached whereby Beer
was paid 5000 by Hassets concern.
which was to be returned in case the
work was not secured. Because Of Jar
Wis death, the witness stated. the work
did not progress, and Beer said he would
return the money whenever it was
wanted.
Hasset presented a letter to the COM
mission which was signed by Albert L.
Carter and which he describes as
brazen attempt at bIackmaiI. Carter
stated he was a writer of stories for the
newspapers, and magazines of sensa-
tional character. He said he had all the
information about the revolutions in San
to Domingo and the land grab back or
them.
Threat of Writer.
81 am out for the revenue" the writer
said IF 1t is worth as much to you to
keep this story out of the papers as it
is to put it in I shall be glad to hear
from you. II I do not hear within two
weeks shall proceed through the proper
channels"
Hasset said he did not know Carter.
never had heard from him, and paid
no attention to the communication.
mutilRted anonymous communica-
tion, written in Spanish, also was re-
ceived by the commission. When II
was translated il contained among
other things this sentence:
would that the American govern
ment would overcome its apathy and
take Minister Sullivan away"
When ]. Franklin Fort, formerly
governor of New Jersey, was on the
stand several days ago, he testified
Sullivan had refused to sign a $780,,
900 draft due to one contractor on
the ground that it was excessive, and
S21. 900 had been saved the Dominican
government by his action. John L.
Mann, of the Dominican department of
works, said that no contractor ever
had presented such a claim to the
American Minister for payment, and
that Sullivan never had scaled any
contract.
Sullivan Criticised.
Austin J. Collet. director general OF
public works Of Santo Domingo, testified
he was a personal appointee OF Secretary
Bryan and that the two families were
very friendly He admitted that Sullivan
and President Mitchell. Of the Banco
NacionaI were very friendly and said
Receiver General Wick had warned him
not to be too friendly with the rival
banking interests Of Santo Domingo. He
said the intimacy between Sullivan and
Mitchell was the cause of much adverse
criticism, but In his opinion Sullivan was
all that could be desired in the way of
minister.
William A. Pulliam, formerly receiver
general denied the statement OF Presi-
dent Mitchell that the capital stock of
the bank was fully paid up when it was
organized.
John Haley. president af the Irish
American Society, OF Wilmington, Del;
Frank NJ. Sewer. a Wilmington brewer;
Patrick MUlrooney, who said he had