New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-06
TEE
~uK INTERROGATION AT TIL
CITY HALL.
Facts FIiciscd-Rvideuce for
~, Prosecution siiii Rather Weak
How Contracts are Awnrded-Tes''-
,,ouy OF Contractor Brown Judge
waiting and Recorder Hoh"an-Thc
Evidence Closed.


,y.,,;,g ard Recorder HoGman-Thc
Evidence Closed.
y, pursuance with the adjournment OF tne
ho,,,e the investigation before Gov. feh'on was
90 1',.,sd at the City Hall yesterday morning AZ ~
..',,k The first witness called was Mr' 'onh L.
- one NJ the present contractors for cleaning 'he
streets. npovx
"a, one of the contractors for cleaning the Strcets
~ ~ vork. my associate contractors are " n1itm
q -, aud Sheuherd Knapp; have hnown inc hIter
H. 60 or ak wears; have known Devoe only about slA
y" M nersonpllv MT Dev0e and were tisSociateu
n this business by mutual desire 70 enso Win Krorn
''.".;or contract: became associltco WIN hnapP
ue.Iiae same vay; went TO see Knapp asont the
m the first advertisement ioI Dldsi lrst sPohc 20
iyoe when met him IN Nassanst.; sup ,os,,a ~
III hid because knew be was sweeping biohI"eN
YOU machine. | know four OF the Commissioners
g.,onally-the Mayor. the Controller, tls OOr
Ystion Counsel and the City Inspector; aih
lember Of the General COMMITTEE % IaiInsy M, ~,
Ia have met the Controllers have known Mt
80 and the MAYOR for a number OF years; Messrs.
Toaop Deyoe and had no bid prepared previous 70
'esd,y on which the Commissioners met 10 receive
"a. nnder the first advertisements hau pid pa,
t. nv nrenared but the sum not written OUT
Ed several persons TO go security Tor mes Ga 10,
re inc whole amount Of security prepared neIoTe
iiding. cOnversed with MeSsrs. Knapp ana peIoe
Sntbers stating that was not going TO put ~ old
.SSr the frsts lvertisement l spoke to Messrs;
III, ard Cunther ON the subject only once before
5eeved the contracts went TO get lniorna'lon ol MT;
1ol, preyious 10 the receiving OF the contracts
i1ov Guldet Kingsley and McCaferty; had 10 con-
,ersstion with them on the day the contract was
be awarded; don't hay any recouecilon OF any con
,,s,ion with ans on that days don't fecollcct OF
Ing Kingsley. Guidet, McCaherty, walker aud
robertson al Crookss at that times al one time sad
them that had not got my bd IN .et said IL IN
;king way have been contractor for Is or IL years;
Us scale manufacturer before that; knew Dev0e as
Contractor; on the 22a of Nav tie day for receiving
ils under the first advertisement | Odd not say 10
robertson. Walker, Kingsley or McCaferty anything
about the bids.
Cross exanined-When I first knew Mr. Deyoe he
was sweeping Broadway was building sewers Tor
he city which brought me in contact with The then
controller; had contract 10 repair streets TOT SIX
months don't know OF any roguery in the present
s,trsct which. as far as L know, Is being fulfilled
Nnnestly; NEVER had any partnership with Mr. Bren
raa; only slightly acquainted with him; never So
r,i,ed the vote Of any Of the Commissioners the
arce Of any partnership with Mr.. Brennan etc. are
osy false. since this contract has been awarded 10
ne don't know of any suit against the Corpoiaton IN
,ersrd to any patent except what have read in the
upr there are two patent machines used by the con
tractors aud those used by Mr.. Deyoe before We
rceiyed the contract; my bid under the second
siVertlsenent before which had some talk with Mr.
Dcvoe who said that he was opposed to the contract
there never was any understanding between us.
RedTect--l may have conversed Wlth "a NUMBER
sbou the contract before receiving the award CON
,ersed with Walker. Petigru, Bowling, and many 9th
rs none of whom knew TO be on particularly friend
r terms with the Commissioners. except one man
sTer cOnversed with any one who had claim against
~ Corporation; / built sewer In the Fall Of leJa
ue contract for which obtained in my own name.
TESTIMONY OF JUDGE WHITING.
Mr. Badger was President Of the Compost Manufac-
tung Company and acted for him; l attended some
sous OF the Commissioners in regard to the bids and
aided In preparing the bios OF the Compost Company
landed the bids to the Mayor, who put them in box
Vile was there l had some conversation with
,e Mayor in which / advised him that ii
vas his duty 10 award the contract parties who
vould do the most work for the least money; re.
named until all the other gentlemen arrived; was IN
the second room of the Mayors Office at the time
lsiete I repeated what had SAID 20 the Mayor 10 all
ihse gentlemen; i sat near the window with MT
Poole on nay left hand; Mr. De7ein stated to me that
R attention had been called 10 proposals Inv OWING
.snse forcing contractors TO pay damages an case oil
1a fufug their engagements he announced that the
Commission had 10 the conclusion that the cord
n we're TOO OnerOus for contractors and advised the
ep,lemen to withdraw their bids; saw the bids re-
Irred saw those OF the Compost Company wcIs re-
frned; anterior the advertisement told TIE Mayor
., The best plan to prepare set of proposals. let
Ing contractors know what was expected OF them;
1bese BIDS were taken. think, by Mr. Scott secre-
iGy Of the Compost Company; think the
second set of specifications were prepared some
what different nom the trst; i think / addressed
seter 70 the Mayor Oh the subject vi some alterations
think the letter only suggested some alterations w9ch
would render the contractor less under the control oil
che City Inspectors the day OF the second set Of
specifcatiols, went TO the Mayors office with my
1ree lids and put them in the box the other gentle.
ran arriving shortly afterward l was In the smell
room for n few Minutes; when the Mayor asked NO
Has tlis Compost Company the night take this
Contract answered, IL think they have after
ward beard the Corporation Counsel say that he didn't
tk the COMPANY had the power 10 make the contract;
said then 10 TIE Mayor, Il desire YOU 10 say 10 this
COMMISSION that they have any doubt Of such power
tie part O the company. MIR. Badger the President
oiiAst company. viii take the contract giving ample
sclry; then went oEt; after the award, agau
ciaei 10 tie Mayors office with little WeInOTanu
ny picket OF the several plague pots OF the city
s'Eee Az. Gunther whether be had reported 10 The
Commissioners what bad said; objection raised by
w. Brady, Mr. Ilgrabsm, and others, bat it not
sstaipeG9 aler rraGiIg 4ir AulGs minutes rcmem
ted the request Tad made TO the Mayor and asked
y bitter whether be had said to the Commission what
| lnd him he said YES did" Mr.. Aud also eX.
Gained Yes. he did, then turned on my heel and
a he office.
Nj Graham and Mr.. Brady desired TO have protest
recorded against this evidence IL regard TO what the
-lyW sid.
Nomination Of witness resumed-I made no appli.
n for the modification # any Of the specifications
hak my letter was wTiIteu after the return VI the
3 Were Won present ct the tine Mr.. Dcvoe was
taag examined before the Senate Investigating Com
0aiee,
Nj, Braly-I object
M, Glaham-I was present at the time; Mr.. Devoe
t'a cane forward aud answered Mr.. Writings qdeS'
VT Waterbury thought that the question in regard to
~ bevoe should be answered by witness.
oeeiion sustained.
Observation-Disclosures | asked the MAYOR II he had
Communicated ny suggestion. j said ia substance:
"ig have then given away 81 COO 900 Of public prop
efy;' be said Well. sir do you consider the con.
Iiei valuable 30 l replied that did; when be said
WY don't you Purchase il. then you probably
V'FN iOr slOoOO0;' replied tia, l was not q con
ulelct, and dd MT bNy contracts AIR. Smith had
s'lelmes spoken 10 about the details OF fuill.p z
eeon,rae and suggested modification OF the speci-
uoaA 50 a. to render tire contractors less under tie
'eairc Of the City Inspector; also suggested some
l 5s Nhcstons; did not advise tho return OF tae
So, - "a Ihe mt case; own stock in the Compost
I1Eay; Know nothing Of their capital or affairs, and
- Ie'g been present al tie meetings Of the tfus'
49,, ,s o9iv know Nj. Badger personally; was PIE
80 ADVISE tie Commission that Mr. Badger could