Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-20

TRENTON, June 20.-B. NJ. Gan
non was the third witness to appear
before the state bridge purchase in
vestigation committee here today
and when he toos the stand, he told
his own story fifst and then was
questioned on various points. Can
non made known that Chairman
George Burton of the ousted board,
was the only man he went to in re-
gard to getting the Donnel COM
pany a good price. He denied that
there was any agreement made by
which he was to receive anything
from the DonneH company for his
work or that Burton had been prom
ised anything.
In telling his story, Cannon de-
clared that a price was never men
toned in his dealings. He declared
that President McDowall and Secre-
tary Evans of the Donnen company
had notified him that they purchased
the land in 1916 10 be used as the
future home of the company when
the track elevation, probably mean
ing railroad elimination, was made.
When the purchase by the state
came up, the company officials came
70 him TO see TO il that part OF the
property was not purchased as II
would ruin them.
After the company officials had
seen him, Cannon declared he call
ed up Burton and told him he was
going 10 send Evans and McDowaA
over. Upon their return Evans MADE
known that they had been treated
courteously. Cannon then told that
ne had seen Burton number OF
rfrnes and that he was told not 10
bother seeing anyone as il was use
less. Cannon said he planned TO see
Commissioners Ferris or Duffy, who
were friends of his, but did not 90 It.
Cannon told the Investigators that
Evans then said: This IS the Sec
ond big favor you have done for us,
as YOU have twice kept US from 60
ing out of business. We want you
TO take this 900 in bonds as
present
Cannon claims he replied. Ism
Il rather heavy.
Evans told the county clerk that
they had received a good price for
the land and that the company hao
s.profited handsomely Cannon ad-
r1itted taking the bonds and in reply
TO a question put by McCrau denied
Later, Cannon brought out, Burton
told him that s235, 900 was too much
for the land but when he explained
that a lower price would mean ruin
for the company, the com mission
chairman agreed TO it. The first he
heard OF the purchase, Cannon de-
cIared, was when he read same in
the local paper. Some time later,
Evans notified him that he had re-
ceived the check from the state and
said to Cannon. I'VE want 70 do
something for you, Barney and the
county clerk said he replied You
can't do a damn thing.
The witness told the Investigators
that he did not say he took the bonds
as a political contribution but did
say politics is "a damn expensive
game and this will come in handily.
The county clerk also said that the
$4,000 was not for this work alone,
as during the war he succeeded in
getting lumber for the Donnell COM
pany. Evans notified him one day
in the Pennsylvania station in New
York City that they could not get
lumber and Cannon gave him q let
ted to President Wilson's secretary
Joseph TumuIty.
Evans went to Washington and
when he was unsuccessful in doine
anything, he telegraphed Cannon
who came to Washington. a week
after Barney's visit to the capital
he said, forty-five carloads of lum-
Der were received and shipments
came regular thereafter. on this
occasio Evans told Cannon, the
witness said. that If the company
could not get lumber and the other
companies could. the Donnell people
would be ruined.
The county clerk informed the in
vestigators that he practically alone
elected Burton to the assem- uly th'
first time and therefore the Soutf
River man was willing to do any
thing for him.
The secretary of the Donne1 com
pany, Evans, was the first witness
called today. He furnished the lis'
of bonds given to Cannon and de-
MED ever telling Burton that the
company paid s15S,000 for the land,
$40, 600 for a siding or large sum
for riparian rights.
Thomas ]. Wasser, former high
way board engineer, told what he
knew about the transactions which
led up to the purchase. He follow
ed Evans on the stand, Wassel
made known that he knew about the