Evening star., 1952-12-05
Of Phantom EmpIoye
Who Drew S25O,OOO
BY the Assoeiatsd Press

NEW YORK. Dec. State
Crime Commission witnesses say
shipping firms must submit to
mob rule. theft and padded pay
rolls to avoid labor strife on New
York's vast waterfront.
The dock probe hearings. which
went through a second session
yesterday, are aimed at exposing
rackets which take an estimated
$3.50 million annual bite out of
the 81 billion yearly New York
shipping business.
Thomas Maher, a 40-year vet
eran on the waterfront, testified
that his employers-the Grace
Line-listed a phantom employe
whose wages went to an ex-con-
vict.
Mr.. Maher said Tim O'Mara, a
loader with a police record. col
lected more than $250.000 in
wages over a Seven-year period
for non-existent employe known
as Edward Joseph Ross"
What did O'Mara do to earn
this money!" he was asked.
Prevent strikes" Mr.. Maher
replied.
Mr.. Maher. a member of the
AFL international Longshore-
mems Association ILA), now is
supervisor of hiring bosses for
the Grace Line.
Hours Work, Days Pay.
Mr.. Maher testified he once had
to rehire man. previously fired
over charges of thievery, ION or
ders from Fourteenth street.
headquarters of Joseph P. Ryan,
lila president.
Mr.. Maher said the man, John
Scanlon. from then on "did, maybe
an hours work a day" and COL
lected full days pay.
The witness corroborated earlier
testimony concerning the theft
OF 10 tons of steel from a United
States Lines pier. The firm gave
up that particular pier after six
months occupancy.
1t watchmen turned in a thiev-
ing dock hand. Mr.. Maher said.
the longshoremen would strike" !"
He testified further that the
union decided whom he should
hire as supervisory employees on
his pier. If that wasn't done. Mr..
Maher said, you'd have a strike
on your hands"
Asked if there wasn't a clause
In the lila contract against in
terfering with hiring of such per-
sonnel, Mr., Maher said, "yes, but
you might just as we'll take it out
OF the contract"
Threats Laid to Workers.
Earlier testimony described
strike threats as coming from the
longshoremen themselves rather
than from the union.
Frank Russo, an lila business
agent, admitted on the witness
stand that he received 81, 400 from
shippers over two-year period.
Mr.. Russo denied getting the
money to avoid labor trouble on
the piers, saying:
Il didn't go out and ask them.
I find most of it in my Office
when I go up"
n an earlier private appearance
before the crime commission. Mr..
Russo denied receiving any pay
ments from shipping or stevedore
firms.
Yesterday he told the probers:
II didn't have much schooling. I
didn't understand the questions"
Commission Member Ignatius
Wilkinson commented: You're
not that stupid. Mr.. Russo"
$500 to "Overlord."
Vincent Carpenter, partner in
the Davie Transport Co., testified
that he paid $500 a month for two
years to Michael Clemente, a A.
year-old longShoreman, whom the
Government describes as "the over
lord of the East River docks"
Mr.. Carpenter said the payments
were made on the basis of $50 per
ship which docked at Clemente's
piers. and the monthly trips aver
aged about 10 boats. Clemente
currently is awaiting Federal trial
on perjury charges.
Mr.. Carpenter also testified he
paid about $400 a month to
Thomas May, an lila official under
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