The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-13
Robertson Declares He Was
Also Furnished Informa-
ton Concerning Future La
Dor Troubles - Hylan S
Persistence Starts Rumpus
In Building Trust Probe.

Nav York Nov. l2.-(By the ASSoSA-
o,,d I,r.ss,-Acter another tumultuous
s.s,ior with Mayor Hylan. the JOINT
I,y,slutivc committee investigating 'he
building trust" today heard trs|ii'to"S
alleging the payment OF w. +"
building inspector TO RooerI ID rt,,n
president uf.the Building Iraues N'"''
ell, for strike insurgence
! Tas1 1imony of Hugh S. Robertson "i
Todd, Irons Robertson. that ne h"u
upid This amount as part payment "l
an agreement TO pay the lahor lenu't
$50 900 for protection AGAINST S'r'Nr
came as II startling climax 10 ,an tme
,Yternoon session Of the committee
which spent the greater part OF lnH
dny probing into the city's school lime
stone contracts.
Desnlte protests by Samuel Inter
,Dvar the committees counsel. that
Mayor Hylan was trying to turn the
hearing into a circus and TINS oraer-
" investigation into genera pee!
the session to get letter before tho
committee exonerating him of any re-
snonsibility in having the school build
ing contracts changed from terra Gotta
70 lImestone. Failing IN this the mayor
rave the letters to newspapers FOR pun
lication.
was interrupted by scenes Of unusual
disorder In which the spectators who
TANNED the room participated. express
ing their disapproval of the committees
ruling at one time, with storm OF
kissing.
1ent Mr.. Cntcrmyer called for enough
sergeants at arms to preserve order
and bring before the bar of the COM
mittee for nroper discipline and I" cN'
clude from the room people who o--lilEt
in demonstrations which cannot b" toll
Grated"
Bryan q Spectator.
One of the interested spectators Of
the proceedings was William Jennings
Bryan, who was greeted with applause
when he strolted into the chamber and
took q scat on the rostrum with the
committee. where he was Joined hy
Mayor Hylan. Mr.. Bryan said there
was no Significance to his presence. hut
he had merely dropped in as visitor.
H.. stayed but 4 short time.
The testimony hV Robertson. whose
concern has building contracts for the
Cunard pier terminals in New Jersey.
4 project Involving between S31.UhO.OON
and $40 600 U0r revealed new form OF
alleged graft. as the builder said he
paid the money not only Tor insurance
against strikes. but for lot OF int"r-
nation as tn future labor conditions.
pay Rr!ndell n total of SSO.00O fer his
protection and advice. and mad" the
mrs, payment of $2U,0H0 on March ~
following Il dinner with the lahor
leader in the Commodore hotel. He sad
that he llaced the money in $1po ana
81 900 tls on the seat OF an automo-
bile in which they were riding, saying
That's your first payment on account.
Left S6,l4e In Auto.
About May {, after another dinner
with Erindcl. the witness said, he rode
":.r,b0 the block" with the labor leader
and l-tt "S6.149 on tho seat when he
left the machine" The third payment
Of s%.S5l. he said was made on May -
on the first floor nf the Guaranty Trust
building Two moro Payments of Sl.no"
each Robertson added were made -
RrindolI in September and October aftct
"a ride around tn" block and hotel
dinner.
Robertson said the checks drawn 70
furnish the cash for Brndcll had been
charged to preliminary expenses ana
that the amounts wer" added TO the
contract figures.