New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-02
THE COSTLY CAPITOL.
TESTIMONY CONCERNING IT'S CONSTITUTE
TON.


Mr.. BRTDGEFoRD's DlscHARGE-MoRE EVIDENCE
ABOUT COMMISSIONS FROM CONTRACTORS
HENRY SMITHS ACCOUNT or IRREGULARITIES.
Testimony was given before the Aldermen's
Investigating Committee. yesterday by VIM. A. Rcc'
sylyanus H. Sweet and Henry smith, the persons spoken
of by John Rrdgeford able to throw light on the con
striction OF the now Capitol nj Albany Mr. Rice was
treasurer and secretary Of the Capitol Commission Oh
which Hamilton Harris the head. lie said inc
other commissioners lived outside OF Albany ana
the actual work was performed mainly 10y
Mr. Harris and himself Mr.. Harris and he gave ont the
small contracts but the large contracts were given out
by the full board John Brdgefori, In the Summer OF
1874 was discharged by Mr.. McAlpne, who was orig
nally appointed consulting engineer. the b'ard
never discharged Mr. Bridgeford, and Mr. Rice ola not
know that any commissioner eye. ordered ms qse a
Al do not only heard 1t said that they coud not get
along together. =, A.,
Harris were for the interest OF the state Al
think we got the lowest bids wo could get almost
Sylvanus IT, Sweet, formerly State Engineer testified
that he inspector OF materials Tor me oap0 anu
randa OF the quantities Of material furnished by the con-
tractors. ,.,..-. 49,.
ments 10 Mr. Brdgeford. A.-Mr Brdgeord told me 1t
for the purpose of collecting commissions from INC
contractors. - understood MIN.
Odd you ever know of any COMMISSIONS Deins COZ
eeed Mr. 20 Bre s tell yon at the time he got
these estimates from you that he desired do for the
purpose OF finding out what the commissions "ouu DC
Odd he say whom he paid those commissions TO-
it, anybody Ale said he paid them principally 10
Q.EYou furnished him the memoranda on that repre-
Do YOU know anything more about It than that
AoDo Won know who was interested in the quarry of
,hS NoVy' York Granite COMPANY A-When it was
formed think Mr.. Lord, and Mr. Br1ggs ana MI
Henry Smith, Of Albany, was examined at great
length. He counsel IN an investigation INTO the
board Of when Mr. Harris was chairman lie was aske
II he remembered during the continuation Of one Of
these investigations giving John Brdgef3f4 etIeT
John Brdgeord and Mr.. Harris meeting at ms (the VIZ
ness house at that time, and the conversation when
ton lie declined. Alderman Cowlng sustained MN, re-
marking that the inquiry had political aspect lie pro
tested. but Mr.. Smith was directed to answer. MI
think the interview occurred in March Aprl. 1874
It related the investigation then going on. Fridge
ford complained that he -u,ed; That no Dau Dcch
superseded by unfair means; that all critlcisn OF the
management Of the work had been - showed on upon
hun. Mr.. Harris acquiesced in these statements OF
Bridgeford and claimed ii no fault OF his that ne
had been superseded that he was rs fend ana aMas
had been that 1t would be to their mutual advantage
friends aud t. act toSctheri ana ne asked
Bridgeford what he wanted lie added Why doh
you take Of these contracts for granite or some OF
businessl" B1dgeford replied You know very well
that don't want 10 make any money out OF ms Du,
ness have lost a great deal OF money in 1t ALREADY
Ny amb and desire Is 10 construct ms new CapliO
To be the Supernen lent that builds TINS work
the commission had taken offence at BrdgeOid As
himself lac would be quite willing TO sec nn restored
to that position. rs understood they separated wlth
the understanding that they were friends, ana would
O0pcrate in the future they both seemed 10 clam
thy had in the past
Q.-What did you understand Mr.. Brdgcford referred
when he sad All these matters had been showed on on
him Al understood him To referto Irregularities ana
Ia claim that the public mind was holding him reSIOh
sb for some OF these things because he had been super
ntcndcut, Will he claimed he had always actcd IN con-
formity with the direction of the commissioners
Mr. smith then detailed some OF tne irresuariIes th
investigated by the senate committee. There WA,
total loss To the state cement. Of Sf0742 %. The
foreman OF the carpenters allowed profit OF 90
cents each carpenter for each day II was assumed
that the carpenters paid 50 % each, while 81 90
was allowed hut I'm reality the foreman hired men much
cheaper aud p0ckctcd a large extra sum- The lumber
though this stone and iron building cost SlOO,Ooo
or nails 49, sos b. paid for, which seemed an i'm
pipes placed in the building merely for temporary
purposes but they cost $lO,lGG H. There in the
bills 6IO2 sledge and hammer handles, 24l4 10, OF
white had. 80 cedar pals. The Of the fOuuda
tion SsGJ.324 81, when the esomate $500 900
There II lose the brick OF S1719O %. Mr. smith
had made estimate Of the comparative cheapness OF
the two systems OF commissioners and superintendent
aud he found that while under the commissioners IN
1873 u cost S7l05SS 81, the same quantity of wo IN
1874 under superintendent, amounted 10 Si62,323 80
He believes that II demonstrated IN the lnyestgt-
ton that more than million and a half OF the public
money was needlessly wasted.
The committee adjourned to Saturday morning at IL