The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-06
One Of the Contractors and Recorder
Hoffman on the Stand.
&c.


The interest taken in the Investigation by the Cover
nor Of the action Of the city officials in awarding the
street clearing contract evidently sackened to zero
yesterday Few persons were In the Chamber Of the
Board Of Councilman at the time appointed for the In
curry 70 resumed and these chiefly the hangers
Of rival contractors and few Of the City Hall officials
and politicians. The public was not there. The public
did not feel interest sufficient 10 send single delegate
Boolc and Brennan came in with mirhful faces that
looked very provoking John McKeon who had long
vsage II his pocket had been picked Of ten thou
dollars and he had just discovered Perhaps the
GOODNESS Of the weather accounted for all.
The proceedings were commenced by the reading Of
the certificate Of incorporation Of the Compost Com
pany which was put in evidence.
John L. Brown was then called as a witness by Mr..
Waterbury, by the Governor and testified that he
Of tho contractors for street cleaning, that
there IS no one acknowledged as partner IN
Devoe he has known Mr. Knapp since he was Street
Commissioners has known Mr. Devoc six months;
those parties gong in and he thought 1t would be
well to go in with them; he heard nothing Of the sue
bidder he met Mr.. Devoe in the street, and spoke
to him about the business; know four OF
troller since he has been in Office; did not know
him before; have known Mr. Boole since he Alder
man; have known the Mayor for number OF years,
since he was Governor OF the Almshouse; put in no
bid under the first advertisements did not show,
previous to the meeting of the Commissioners, paper
purporting to be bid; asked persons TO go
rty for me; had not the security engaged Messrs
Knapp and Devoe were before tho ed OF May that
was not going to put bid with them before that
the bids were opened; he knew Mr. Kingsley, Mr..
Caftry and Gudet; i had no conversation with them
about the bids before they opened; saw these
gentlemen the day the bids opened did not
tell them that the bids not opened the first day, be-
cause had no bid in; If he said it, it was in joking
way; have been contractor thirteen or fourteen
years. before that was scale maker; have been in
different contracts; don't know how long Mr. Knapp
was Street Commissioner; ! was in partnership with
Gudet about six years contractor; never knew Mr.
Knapp as contractor, nor Mr.. Devoe except as the
cleaner OF Broadway and other prominent streets;
the 22d OF May did not say that the bids would not be
opened on that day to any Of the rival contractors.
Being examined by Mr. Brady, Mr.. Brown testi-
fed that he contractor for that brought him
in contact with Mr. Brennan; know of no roguery
rangement perfectly fair honest and upright
about this contract know OF no arrangement with Mr.
Brennan one else that is not fair and upright,
perfectly honest never solicited the vote OF any Of the
commissioners; tho charge OF arrangement with MI.
Elsrennan Is totally false
Being oss-examined by Mr. Booe's counsel, he tes-
titled that Mr. Devoe has the right to patents for
street ceaning know nothing of suit against him for
patent right there two machines introduced by
Mr. Devoe under the contract his right to use them
no indnccment to me to go in with him. called on the
Mayor before the bids opened not acquainted
with him before; Mr. Boole told me he was opposed TO
work never called him to tampcr with him;
there improper dishonest understanding be-
tween him and me- no always expressed himself opposed
to cleaning the streets 0y Contract.
Redirect cannot tell al the persons may have
spoken about the before the bids open
ed never spoke the Commissioners about il;
told any one could fix the matter with the Comptroller
the spoke Of commenced in the fall Of 1861
had the contract In my own name; ! cannot tell how
many contracts under the city have had.
Mr. ]. r. Whiting was next called and examined by
Mr. watcrbury-Hc testified that he acted with Mr.
Badger President for the Compost Company In refer
to the contract; handed the bid OF the Compost
Company to the Mayor few minutes before che hour Of
meeting on the ed; told the Mayor and OF the
other Commissioners that the should be award
cd 10 the persons who would do the most work for the
@ nas II he once Of Sr the a.
the meeting IN the private ONCE OF the Mayor Mr. Devlin
stated that man bad called at his Office and
complained OF the arbitrary OF the City Inspector
the contract; the suggestion was considered
sonabe by the Board and the Commission proposed
to return the bids and make them less onerous
for the contractors; IL assented TO by all pre-
sent including the bidders; the box opened by
the Mayor and the bids returned to the contractors
The witness then described the bids Of the Compost
Company and related several suggestions made by him
TO the Commissioners in regard TO the contemplated
changes In the specifications and the which in
duced him TO make the suggestions The witness then
entered into an account OF his experience in sanitary
post Company, how they to be formed, how they
became Incorporated He gave his opinions to
how the street cleaning should be DONE, the considcr
tons and rules that should govern the contractors and
the Commission and the whole discourse rreie-
want TO the question at Issue that the smile on many
faces indicated suspicion that the witness inclined
TO become Is he not already, facctious. The Re-
corder said this Compost Company have right to take
this contract; answered ~ think they have;' said he
''liaye you examined the question:? replied that tho
powers OF the Commission executive, judicial
he said ~ don't believe the Compost Company have the
power TO make the contract Nr. Devlin made the
remark and went TO look ut the Revised staues he
said that IL they doubted the power of the company
Mr. Badger, the president would take II and give
rity In $250000; this TO the Mayor; he said he
would state that to the Commission | had not then
read the certificate OF incorporation Of the company he
then got copy OF the certificate to the Commission
discussion here among the counsel rs TO
Snce The wpess ben the me sv
versations he had with the Mayor about the
award OF the contract he nsked him II he had
made that communication in reference 10 the will
lngness OF the President TO take the contract the
company's terms and he replied that he had; Mr.
Aud, the Mayors clerk also told him that the Mayor
had stated the proposioa to the Commission
Being cross-examined by Mr. Brady the witness test
~ COO 600 OF the public property; the Mayor said
why don't you buy the contractY' said, what could
i be had forS he said, $3.50 ~ said not in
the habit Of buying contracsthat II very cheap
$4,000; no said ''Then why did You not buy itfp
had read then the previous set Of specifications and had
made suggestions to the Mayor In reference 10 them
had suggested that the City Inspector should
much power; suggested that the contract should be
under the control OF the Commission instead OF the City
Inspector The witness then testified 10 discussions and
suggestions made to tho Commission at meeting nj
winch he was present, but no point OF interest was
brought 70 light He next repeated the testimony al
ready given, OF the conversations he had with the
bcrs Of the Commission the subject OF the ability OF
OF the Compost Company TO make contracts that
pany have used my name trustee without my
sent or knowledge don't know whether they have any
capital property or facory; only know OF them that
Mr.. Badger Is their President The witness also tes
ned-I don't think minated to the City Inspector
that he could absent himself from the meetings Of the
Commission II he did not approve of the contract: hc
knew Of suit by Mr.. Smith against Mr. Devoe, for in
ringing patent for street sweeping machinery tho
Recorder think, stated this company had power TO
make contract 10 clean the streets Of the city, the Re-
corcr stated that though the certificate Of the company
might authorize Il, the law did not
Recorder Hoffman, being examined by Mr. Lawrence,
stated that lac received notice from the Mayors Office,
notifying him OF his appointment the Commission;
he attended tho first meeting at which little OF import
n
the specifications for contract read he submitted
the specifications subsequently 10 Mr.. Craven among
others; the meeting or the Commission the time
the proposals TO be opened many suggestions
mndo relating 10 the power Of the City Inspector; that
Official admitted that he had power over tho con.
tract than he thought proper; there suggestions
about his power the work Of the contractors:
argued that the power ought 10 belong TO the City In
spector--that should have controls: all
tho amnndrannta 10 the snnnincaLL-n. naain