New-York tribune., 1875-03-10
THE TESTIMONY,

ALBANY, n. Y, March 9.-The Special Com
mttee to Investigate tho Interpolation made in the
Fifth Avenue Pavement bill met this morning John d.
Parsons OF the firm OF Weed. Parsons & Co.. Lecisa-
tive Printers, the first witness examined Tic said
they printed bills for improving Fifth Avenue of
the same number; print bills on the order OF the
Clerk only the second bill not printed on tue order
OF the Clerk when printed did not send 1t to the
Clerk; young man named Walters asked us to print
this bill, saying he sent by the Clerk we told him
would not print until ne brought an order from the
Clerk; lie went of, and returned, saying 1t was
for the Clerk. but for Gen. Ayerl; we then
took It and printed it for that gentleman
sent the proof TO him at the Deevan House; he kept
the original copy; frequently PRINT bills thus and
under such circumstances for any one we have gen.
eral printing Office do all work; If gentleman calls
and asks us 20 print bill with the words aVorably
reported by committee, we would certainly print IL II
he paid for it; don't know Gen. Averlll don't know the
young Walters did not notice any alteration in
bill sent by Gen. Averll; never examined the bill it
was charged to Gen. Avern aud not to the state; We
printed the Savings Bank bill for Mr. Schuyler, men,
Der OF the Assernby printed severalhundred of the
and he paid for them printed others Tor persons out
Gsn Ayeriil was the next witness, and sadThe first
copy of the bill on the files as u came from the Com
mitee was Incomplete; Omitted all reference 10 re-
pairs and impaired the sense Of the b there was no
interpolation Whatever there was aa Omission whlch
he had filed and the bill reprinted, paying the ex-
pense himself; ho made tins correction Without the
advice OF the House; lI
he had cop taken til House. and sent word To the
Clerk to have them put before tue members al the
order to have the bill put on the nrs contrary 70 Tue
order OF the House he explained thai the omission was
from the word period 10 similar wOrd Deiow ne
thought the eopyist mad by mistake jumped from the
first word period" 10 the second.
Mr.. Day-Are Won aware that this interpolation IN
volves an additional expense to the city oI siOoOOOf
Mr.. Aver-No SIR; Itls about $4,000. anl the effect
To Mr. HaInmond-The hi as it first came from the
Committee was mperfect cannot say that the Dii tnry
wnen printed 20 tie Clerk with verbal message to hold
them aud lay them before tho House at the proper time
After this was done 1 asked Mr.. Seward II TINS was
properwhether 1t would not be right to have correct
hill laid before the members; never mad any e9nyersa
Of the matter. and all l had to do with IT, Witness
called attention 10 the words Board OF Public Worko
IN the bill There is such body; TINS he corrected
also 1t evident that the bill could not have been
discussed line for line IN the Committee.
received no orders from DEN Avcrll, any request
IN connection with this b II he sent any request 1t
printing bills In this the original bill was returned
with the bill week or so after tue report was made
an order to reprint this BILL, that tnere
were errors in it.. refused to give
bundle Of pnls and gave order TO hold back this bill
until the matter up in the House and then to lay
he was acting for Gen Aver; tho matter has not
brought before the House |, on the table there
being two re ports majority and minority reports IT is
common for me 10 receive papers OF all KINDS with
request " lay them on memoers' tables.
TO Mr.. Seward-rhe first bill printed Is the only one
on the official file; official file is on my desk only
the placing of the second Dill on the Inemners flies
would have effect ALL the bill on my fle would
be the read the original manuscript Dill does not
contain the Interpolation referred to- II was au unwar-
rantabe proceeding 10 take out from The HES the hrst
bill and insert this.
To Mr.. Hammond-So far as my clerks are concerned,
nothing unwarraDtabe was done witness eAhipiteu
order he gave to the In charge OF Tue dOcu
ents and 1t found that II had been tanpercd Win
IS TO make II read contrary. The order reau' MI
Hnston-HOh this package untila mooh Is maze 70
substitute this bill for the old one. HIRAM CALhiNs.
The top part torn of. as 10 leave IL 70 Itac
"substitutc this bill for the old one. HIRAM CALkiHs
This was done after IL lett binl
Archy Smith, employed in the Document ,!ootp, Was
the next witness aud planned thai he acted IN accord
ance with the order received by hlm ad not give an
order 10 tear the old bill of tic Dle
Tue old bill was torn of the file.
Mr. T. A. Brown, Sergeant alarms OF the House, was
next examined All e knew about the matter was tIat
le was Informed tho bill was substitute for Bill No
IO6; lie thought the change could not be made that
evening as the House about To assemble but as II
was understood hat the bill must 60 on file. told the
boys to go ahead. Mr. Alvord called my attention TO
the fact that we had rgIL to take OIL bii nad
told the boys off old No 1O6 as undefstoou the
new bill was take the place Of the OLD One -
Mr. Calkns Mr.. Seward-I have since examined the
and found onehird OF The nlcs bai not the
old bill hirds have botn bills gu ~ seen;d as
If had gone around aud torn on tue h1mocr
missng.
Adjourned.