The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-28
ANAncnIrrcr,s COMMISSIONS.
"The English Way" of Taxing Contractors
Tried In Sew York.

The Aldermens Committee appointed 10
investigate the charges made by Robert Cushing
against H. II. Porter, President Of the cominis-
sion for the erection OF the new Jefferson Mar
kct Court House. and Calvert Vaux and Fred
orck C. Withers, architects OF the Court II 0use,
began their work Yesterday Mr.. Cushing, tho
accuser, testified that the clerk in the archi.
tects ofice, who had charge OF drawings and
plans, refused to allow him to see the drawing
Of the work for whicn he had made proposals
until he had signed an agreement to pay the
architects three. quarters OF one per cent. OF the
cost of The work done, provided that ne wac q
successful bidder. The agreement that he signed
bore the signatures Of other bidders. He told
Commissioner Porter OF tho demand made on
him 10y the architects. and Mr.. Porter replied,
7" that's all right. That's the way they do II IN
England" Mr. CUSHING showed the committee
II copy ~ a Till Of quantities that had been fur
ui-hed a contract or by the architects. The hll,
for which. Mr. Cushing said. the contractor had
to pay go ~pccined now the WORK should he
done. AT the foot Of the bill was written, Add
= Ter cent. for quantities.'
whether every contractor had to pay commits
siOn to the architects, Mr.. Cushing said that MIR.
C"mmissinn OF one per cent 10 sustain his
charge OF ex extfavagancc IN Mr.. Porters manage.
msnt MI Cushing said that he had received
sl.1CO for carving hsures which he had learned
That M Porter nau determined not To use on
the building. The witness produce d two checks
Of $50 each. dated Nov. II and Dec. T. Is %. re-
spectvely, and laid that he lent them to Com
missioner l. rter. He el.1 obtained Tor the
Commissioner a loan of Sl,o0l from i. h. Hor-
kan, another contractor. soon att fward. the
witness's biii- Tor Work done ON the Court
House wero referred to Mr. Bcfrian, one II the
tOmmissioners. Mr. Berrian told the witue &
that the Commissioner would act taNutabN On
the bills. After wliting some time for Nr.
Porter to pay MIN the 500 which he had bOr-
rowed, tho witness dunned hin. Mr. Porter
thereupun paid tue money, but the Witness
bills were rejected.
10 prove the cnarse that MIR. Page. Secretary
TO the Commission, had drawn pay white he was
ahaaf nj ItaNl
that Page told MIN that he was In England for
he kept the fact secret. that Comptroller Green
might not refuse to pay him. The witness had
often seen the superintendent Of tue masonry
work, when he was In comp my with MI Porter,
too much intoxicated TO attend to his business.
The SUPERINTENDENT was still IN the Com missiOn-
ers' employ.
A. further proof OF the dishonesty Of the
architects, Mr.. Gushing said that iu Novem ber,
1873. Mr.. Nithers approached him In front OF
the new building ON sixth avenue aud asked
him To sign a receipt for S.uO for work done on
the tower. adding tnat hc would get a receipt
FOR SlVD from the carpenter. In explanation of
his request. Mr. Withers told him IN Il a special
appropriation u $5jUtD for the erection u the
tower had been grdnted that the tower wOIid
nos cost that sum, but that be wished TO make
the Commissioners nclieyc thAt II h q cost
$4,000 Mr.. Gushing knew that not $l,OO worth
Oi work hau been done on the tower. and there
fore refused to gtye Mr.. Withers the receipt.
The committee Is to hold another session IN a
few days.