New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-25

Q. Would rot be better to wait Until you examine
into the matter thoroughly
A. We suppose, in the first place, we can elicit facts
from the resur'e!ing by posting up the books, py
looking Up the vouchers and by getting whatever e1
plantations We can from Mr.. Smith and 50 that we eau
get the matter in shape that Committee could re
examine 1t more understandingly, and with much
greater facility.
q o. From your present understanding would YOU
give any oredence to the report that he was defaulter
In s2CO'cO0. or any other amount
A. No; but & wrong would be made in the way
have stated; Ihaye alluded TO the per cent contracts
only but there is another class of contracts where "a
cities could be granted which would be regarded
very valuable TO ccntractors-by giving him. when
he was in pinch money for the time being and the
power the contractors would have over him (Smith)
would be to do this and conceal it from me- they
would notify him when his note was payable,
and if II was protested and noise made about
il. that would come 20 me and break up
the whole concern and expose Inc matter;
but if the same transactions were carried with the
$40 OC0 contracts for instaLce where they are paid
on confirmation if anything has been added there be-
yond the account then would be fraud on the city
and the property holders and that thing we have not
gone int SO perfect as TO DE abe 10 state anynulS
with certainty; We went through those per cent
contracts becadse they were contracts OF the greatest
magnitude and these would be the most adr1t places
fer playing game that might never come TO my
knowledge; | anticipate that person who would act
wrong in these when contided in him. except to
close il up that the city could not say You have
been defaulter," would, when the pinch came do it
in the other case and it would be immaeral to him
whether the city anybody else suffered the morality
Of the thing is not changed in my judgment; my ap
prehensions that vouchers have been taken from
the files, where very great wrongs have been CON-
mtted and we can ascertain thar only by looking Tor
and not finding them.
O. II would be pretty certain you did not find them
that some disposition had been made of them, espe-
cially if he had charge OF those vouchers
A. He had charge of them and should have kept
them in shape where they would be found in each
case | could not exactly state when can give you
further examination in this matter; are very busy
now posting up the books and getting ready toy the
annual report but have rather delayed that by at
tending 10 this special matter because we considered
it important to endeavor get at the bottom of this
matter rs soon as possible.
Mr. GFNEr-We will postpone the further examlna-
ton until day You can notify the Committee that
yotfwili be ready. If the Committee see fit they will
examine other witnesses in the mean time. You can
notify us Friday when you will be ready. .
MI FLAGG-I think in regard to the wall spoke OF
in Ffty.seventh street our copyo the contract nad
no wall specified in il. You see depended upon MIR.
Smith to compare the surveyors certificates with the
contract and he should have apprsed me at once II
the wall was not found in the contract In two cases
he did disclose that TO me- the resut OF whch was
that in the two 81 600 and something was PAID
on that wall. That was mistake that might have
occurred innoceny and that was contract of John
Quinn, made in 1852. In relation to this wall con-
tract It leads to suspect that the nteriineation
was done to give this person, who had loaned HIM
money and Endorsed bis note, the amount he dare not
refuse, and which he dare ~ disclose to me. The
wal is made, and very well made, but II proDaDy
was private contract entered into afterward. The
wall was made there the very job to the amount OF
62 cubic feet and the sum of 500 900 not paid. Well,
there is case where the contractors say to him, We
have got - 600 or $40 600 At the time that was
paid there WINS $40 600 worth Of wall made accord
isg to their computation, and IN addition TO TINS pay
ment there was paid - 200, think
The Committee then adjourned till Friday afternoon
next, at o'clock