The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-08

seot At the appointed hour The chairman said that II
seemed to be impossible to get majority Of the commit.
together He considered that II the duty Of the
minority to take the evidence and let it be either accept
ed or rejected by the committee
A. c. Flagg sworn.-Q. Were you present at the open
ing Of these bidss A. was.
@ Were they correct in all their<7rmss A. No; some
O. Did you allow them to be corrected afterwards A.
bad not them in my custody; Mr.. Ebling had them.
Q: Were any Of the bids Of smith, secke Co. infor-
O. Is it customary to allow such bids to be rcctHed
after they recivedY A. II ia not uncommon
Do you know any other bids previous to this that
wards allowed to be correcteds A. Not Of my own know
ledge am notified TO attend and do o bids are open
ed and read take memoranda which keep; also keep
the informal bids marked, and generally concur: the
department generally, after the opening Of bids mako
the awards without my aid except In the Croton Aque
duct Department. the question Mt the opening Of
those bids whether the correction could be made
concluded TO allow them 10 correct them and take tho
thereon. pa.
O. What Is your opinion Of bid Of that Mnds Is It
Of foim, Of substaAce2 A. would pre-
fer leaving that question 30 be settled by legal gentlemen
O. Have you any recollection of contracts being award
ed TO any parties which we're irregular In this
A. have not.
The Chairman announced at this stage OF the proceed
ings that there was now majority OF the committee IN
tons None having been propounded Mr.. Flaggs evi'
dcnce here closed. -
Robert Wamsley sworr-o Were you present when the
bids were oIened? A. present all the time; it
found that Mr. eckels bids were not sworn to; none Of
my bids informal.
given by the heads Of Departmental A. ought to be-
rs have seer hundreds OF Them opened
q. Have you any Of them corrected after they
were enteredY A. l might have seen clerical error
corrected.
O. How many bids were thrown out before they
to decisions A. Three of Garrett F.. Winans.
Pernard McCafferty sworn--Q What do you know Of
this cases A. Being bidder put in an estimates the
first bid that opened rejected and SO we're nearly
twenty more
Q. 10 you know why9 A. heard because the sigma
ture WAS not attached TO the oath.
a. Are you accustomed TO contract for the Corporation
and sec bids opened2 A. Yes sir.
q. Are you of any bids that Informal being
accepledy A. recollect about two months ago
that bid accepted which correct the face OF
H. but the date was not affixed to the Affidavit on the
other side the contract was given to the party.
O. We wish 10 know If the heads OF the departments
give contracts informal bids. A. don't think they
would look at such a bid. The Croton Department, l
| know, would not
r Bowt,n sworn-Q What do you know Of this matters
A. have known por1nal bid to be received
correction TO be allowed unless in cases of clerical
rors; but in where certain act required BY the or
dinance to be done omitted the bid would not be
| ceived.
O. Were you prevent when these contracts opencdg
A. The greater part Of tbs time SO far az the receiving
informal bids never knew bid to be received that
not which the of the sureties were
not attached never knew but this instance In which
surprised that the Comptroller usually particular in
legal matters, should overlook it.
Mr.. Smith of the firm Of Smith, seckel Co., to
offer explanation He said-Our aidavits were sworn
to- but the Commissioner OF Deeds before whom they
sworn had not time owing to the iaeness Of the
hour to attach his signature This delay arose from
the detention Of OF firm longer than was
! ed In Philadelphia. The Commissioner called at Mr. Eb-
ings Office next morning 10 aix his signature. That
gentleman informed him that il not requisite as the
Counsel to the Corporation had decided it to be an in
omality, end that had right to correct it. and that
il would be better to make affidavit. We did so
Immediately and in fact expressed desire to do any
thing and ever th;ng properly.
The Committee then adjourned other person ap-
peaing to testify The Chairman seid that early re-
port would be handed in.