New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-07
Special Committee on Investigation Of the
New Court.Housc Affairs.

This Committee met at 3 o'clock last evening;
present, Supervisors Fox, Blunt and Hayes.
Mr. George r. jackson sworn, and testified that
he made bid in good faith for the iron work on the
New Court House; according to the newspapers MS
was the highest bid put in for the work witness
had furnished iron window frames, &c. for buildings
other than the New Court Honse; the price per pound
for the iron used was from 10 10 20 cents. and
IL had reached high az from rs TO 80 cents,
according 10 the work dOne this had been within two
years. had furnished iron stairs at and 70 cents per
pound rough iron shutters bring from IL to 20
per ponnd bad furnished wrought iron orders for
10 and Il cents per pound; had furnished rolled iron
beams ready 10 put in bndng AZ 0 ana IL cents per
nound. had nut on iron roofing buildings during the
last two years. and 1t costs about y cents per pound
II was on Brown Bros. building IN Wall.st. :
had been requested by Kirkland Co. TO give opinion
rs TO the work the dome in the Capitol at Washing
tOu had examined II thoroughly and did not believe
could be done for less than 20 cents per pound Just
as good work this had been done in this city The
price of wrought gfatings has been from l2 TO 10
cents per pound for the last TWO years. there is vast
difference IN the workmanship OF the iron for dwellings,
and for stores and public buildings would be willing
10 contract for iron arches for buildings at from ~ 10
10 cents per pound; the price Of PIG iron advanced IN
1864 from $50 per tun 10 se5 per un has furnished
corrugated partitions at 20 cents per square loot.
a question on Of the preliminary points OF the
charges he desired TO know If be would be permitted
10 act on the part Of the prosecution
Mr. Fox said that, If Mr.. Ely desired 10 act rs n
prosecutor in this case the Committee would afford
him every opportunity Of doing so.
Mr. ELY had understood that lie was 10 substantiate
the charges be had made relative TO the expenditures
on the New Courthouse He had also been Informed
that he was 10 be witness. He would Ike TO know hs
position before the Committee. AT the last meeting Of
the Committee he had placed himself In their hands
and only wished 10 know what bis position was 10 Dc mere
to-day. ,
Mr. Fox said il the gentleman desired to assume the
position Of prosecutor IN the case the COMMITTEE have
no objections. If the gentleman would give his reasons
why certain gentlemen were summoned here, the Com
mitee would give him any opportunity OF prosecuting
the case.
ceve the fullest investigation; that anything contained
in the charges could be than substantiaed If the
Committee would allow him, he desired to examine the
witness.
MT Fox said the Committee wanted 10 investigate
the case and get the bottom Of it, and to that end If
the gentleman wished, he could examine the witness
The witness was then cross examined by John II.
Anthem ESQ., counsel for Mr.. Ely, and testified fol-
lows
His bid was not based upon the market price Of iron
at the time II made; he had made his calculation
upon the certain rise that would In the iron
ket; he had had conversation with Mr.. Kelium. the
architect of the building, about the work; the sub
stance of that conversation was about the work on the
Court House and that in few days he would be ready
10 have an estimate made for the work Kellum had
said TO witness he would notify him when TO put In an
estimate for the work 1t was from keum witness got
the first nmation Of the contract and before putting
in his bid witness had had aconversaon with his part
ner about IT. that gentleman had drawn up the bid for
the contracts witness had had no conversation with b.
b. Althouse In reference the iron to DO used in the
Cont House bnilding had no particular knowledge Of
Athouse putting in bid for the iron work OF the build
ing; Mr.. Althouse had no foundery Of his own; his
(Althouse 81 house would do any kind Of work they
could get and If they could do it themselves they
would have it done elsewherei Athouses house could
not do the work Of making wrought iron
beams and other large pieces Of iron work;
Athouses house could not Of itself do all the iron work
Of the CourH except the wrought iron wall beams
witness had made arrangements with view Of put
ting in bid II 1t should be awarded him; he had an
expectation that lie would be awarded the bid had no
conversation with the Committee on New Court House
in relation 70 his bids neither had his partners had no
conversation with Cornell Co previous pating in
q bid iron in the years 1863 and 1864 had advanced
about 50 per cent bar iron In 1863 the prices OF
some iron were 80 per cent lower than an estimate
made few months ago; he believed the iron work
would constitute large portion OF the work on the
building; had never been inside Of the building.
Redirect by Mr.. Fo1--Anhonses house by having
GOOD facilities could do any work they contracted for
Mr. Fox said that inasmuch as collision the part
of the gentlemen engaged In the iron business had been
intimated he had been especially requested by those
gentlemen to be allowed the privilege Of being repre-
by counsol and 10 give them an opportunity Of
doing So would adjourn the investigation to clock