New-York tribune., 1873-01-03
EAST RIVER BRIDGE DISCLOSURES.

STARTLING REPORTS on THE MANAGEMENT OF
THE BRIDGE FORTHCOMING TO-DAY
EFFORTS MADE TO SUPPRESS THEM-THE
INJUNCTION OF SECRECY TO BE REMOVED.
One of the most important meetings OF the
Board of Directors of the East River Bridge Company
will be held to-day. Some months agoa committee was
appointed consisting of Abram s. Hewitt of this city,
Controller Schroeder and Demas Barnes OF Brooklyn, to
examine into accounts of the Superintendent ana
the manner in which the business has been conducted
Rumors have long been current that ring existed IN
the Company, and direct charges OF mlsmanagement
have been made by the Committee OF Fifty The enor
nous amount demanded and paid for the services OF the
Superintendent for comparatively short PERIOD
and the interest believed to be held by certain stock
holders in the material and supplies furnished Tor the
construc OF the bridge partly brought 10 hgn
by the Investigations o. this Committee The Exanln
ing Committee understood to have found these charges
substantially Two reports were snbmtted Mr
Hewett and Controller Schroeder uniting In one ana mr
Barnes furnishing minority report The two reports
are substantially the same, but the majority report
favored concealing the facts until the directors imph
Gated could prepare statements in defense, while Mr.
Barnes insisted making known all the revelations 10
the public without delay The majority report pre-
vailed and time given the superintendent 10 make
reply 10 the charges Efforts have since been MADE 10
suppress the reports altogether OF TO give them Dneny
TO the Brooklyn newspapers only but is understood
that the Injunction of secrecy will be removed to-day.
the reports furnished for publication and many facts OF
a startling nature TO taxpayers will be diyulged
It is understood that the charges Of fraud and msman
agement contained in these reports are OF the
GUS character. Very little precise information has been
obtained by TRIBUNE reporters to the details of the
reports The members Of the Committee and the direct
ors Of the Company extremely recent upon the sub
ect It is understood that the reports the entire
management of the Company since the inception OF the
proectthe disbursements for material the sources OF
supplies payments account of salaries the award
OF contracts and the various interests held controlled
by persons who are identified with the Company, and
said to have proted at ITS expense 1t is al
lodged that bids for contracts advertised for
Monday and the proposals opened on the ensuing satu-
day. thereby defeating competition and virtually award
ing the in advance TO the favored few who
may have been previously advised upon the subject
matter. In one instance it is charged that when
bids for the construction of six were opened the
lowest bidder was awarded the contract to build one
scow. the management concluding that only one was
needed Very after this five additional scows were
contracted for each at price six times greater than
that of the one previously ordered and the only excuse
offered was that there urgent need and insult
hcient time 10 advertise for proposals.
Among other charges which will be made public
through the reports in question, is one Of pay
ment TO the Superintendent Of five per cent on the
pendture as salary amounting in two years 10 $4,000,
$4,000 OF which he returned when the fact Of this
enormous payment became public.
The accounts of the Bridge Company with the
Brooklyn Saw Mill Company, OF which the Bridge Super
ntendent and another director owners and another
account amounting nearly 100000 with A. Ammer-
man. who is a clerk in the saw.mill, have been over
hauled and the business relations OF directors with the
Blue Stone Company which supplies large amount Of
the material have been investigated.