New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-04
Stone Crushing Test Out
weighed $4,000 Differ
cnce in Subway Work.
DIRECTOR INTERESTED,
THOMPSON CHARGES
Morgans Sailing Delays Inquiry
Into ShOnt'S $4,000 900
Mystery Fund.

limitations that the Board Of Esti-
mate last August awarded contract
for crushed stone for use in the sub
way TO company because Frank D..
{. sullivan, an Inter borough director
was heavily interested in it were made
ut yesterdays session Of the Ihomp-
son committee by Bainbridgc Colby,
its counsel.
Calvin Tomkins. former Dock Com
missioner, who made bid for the work
that was nearly 10000 lower than
Sullivan's company, told how after the
bids were opened and it was found ms
was lowest the contract was ordered
rclct and Specifications drawn up
which shut out all companies from
bidding except Sullivan's concern.
Sullivan's concern. the Upper Hud-
son Stone Company. bid to do the work
for S230l40. Tomki1s bid Sal .9l2.
Another company bid S26O55O.
Low Bid Ignored.
These bids were made on stone that
would have 20 stand a crushing test
Of 1900 pounds The tests showed
that Tomkins's stone stood a crushing
test of 2S.l20 pounds, almost two and
a half times more than the specltlca-
ton called for The Upper HUDSON
company's stone stood test Of 2S,I5O
pounds.
When the contract was ordered relet
the consulting engineers OF the board
raised the crushing test required to
- 800 pounds.
Borough President Marks at the time
characterized tn reletting Of the con-
tract as "a raw deal"
Il never heard Of 80 great a crush
ing test being demanded for road bal
last before" said Mr. Tomkins. Il
have sold that same stone TO the West
Shore Railroad for its roadbed for the
last twenty years, and no fault has
been found with it,
The contract was finally awarded 20
Sulliyan's company FOR S22s,0l0.
George ". Dung. whose story OF an
alleged $2.OOO.OOO slush fund enliyened
Wednesday session of the committee,
vas too III TO appear yesterday.
j. T. Morgan, Jr., was not called be-
cause he sailed for Europe Wednesday
evening. He was named by Mr.. Young
as the one who prevented the Inter
borough directors from needing /. +.
Shonts's urgings that contract be
awarded 90 his friend, John ;. Ste
vens. Shonts is alleged 10 have sand
that with the $2,O0O0o0 commission
that went with the Stevens contract
he could pay or certain commitments
and obligations" ne had made in clos
ing the iuterborough's share OF the
dual system contract with the city.
Subpoena Out for Morgan.
Senator Thompson said that he hal
not the slightest suspicion that Mr.
Norgan's sailing few hours after
Young testified was for the purpose Of
evadne the committees subpoena, as
had been ntimated. IL ls believed that
some member the Morgan firm Will
serve the committees purposes equally
well.
1--WE did not start subpGna server
after Mr. Morgan until after ne had
boarded the ship Wednesday evening
said Senator Thompson.
Shonts and members OF the Board
of r. innate and some former members
of the Public Service Commission VII!
be called. II is said, 70 learn II any or
them can explain what the certain
commitments and obligations were that
Mr.. Shonts is alleged 20 have incurred.
Commenting on this alleged 5000
600 slush fund, Senator Thompson SAID
last night:
Now this is one Of the big things
that caused efforts "a be made 20 choke
OF our investigation. The pubic can
Judge for itself whether or not we
needed an extension of time. Ard those
men who by devious and varied means
tried TO besmirch this committee and
end its usefulness certainly did their
lob a. well az they could"
Frank Hedley. general manager Of
the marlborough. was on the stand
again Yesterday He testified that IN
twelve wears his patents brought him
in Q9.3G2S5 from the Interbcrough,
or about $4,000 addition yearly 20 his
salary OF $4,000.
]. s. DOYLE, co-patcntee with flcdley
in many Gf the devices used by the In
torborough and the IL" roads, and
who receives almost As much IN royal
ties as his superior. proved an anus
ing witness Hc Is superintendent Of
car construction fox the PETERBOROUGH.
lie testified he could not name the
patents ofhand that he and Hedley
owned. In fact he was hay IN his
description of some Of them. Then
Mr.. Colby asked him 10 describe the
mechanical fluid car control device that
is in his and Hedley's name.
ION. let ne see answered Doyle,
closing his eyes.
why. you invented IT," said Colby.
as il an animal, vegetable or a
mineral ~
"Oh. IL i pneumatic mechanical
device TO register the amount OF weight
of passengers on the cars. Is long
time since ! saw one. 1t weighs about
sixty pounds"
Severai employees were called 70 show
just how much of the lnterborouPh'
money IS spent in working out the
Hedley-Doyle patents. which ere all
constructed in lnterborCugh shops.