New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-10
THE BRIDGE TO BE INVESTIGATED.

COMMITTEE NAMED BY THE TRUSTEES.
MAYORS LOW AND GRACE CHARGED WITH THE DUTY
OF INQUIRING INTO THE FINANCIAL MANAGE
MENT OF THE sTRUCTURE-THE STEEL con-
TRACT.
The October meeting of the Brooklyn Bridge
Trustees yesterday attended by thirteen OF the
twenty trustees The first business was the follow
inc resolution offered by President Murphy:
Resolved That it be referred to committee consisting
of Mayor Grace and Mr.. Agncw, of New-York, and
and inquire into the administration OF the financial
affairs OF the bridge since It has been under the admins
trion of the appointed by the two cities under
the law of 1875, and especially as relates to the dspo
ton of the moneys IN thr nd If 1n a VI other
matters which they may deem proper relating thereto
or which may be brought to their notice, ana that such
committee be authorized To employ competent experts
and any other assistance which they may deem neces
sary to enable them thoroughly to investigate INTO the
said affairs of the said trustees up the present time,
and TO report thereon at the earliest practicable time
J. A. Bush moved as au amendment that the work
OF investi CATION be assigned to others than to
Mayors He said that charges had been published
and widely commented upon throughout the coun-
try and he hi ped an vestgation would be maue so
thorough anu exhaustive that II would set at rest
in the future all such charges. Ills anendnent pro-
vided for committee of SIX. including two
trustees two engineers appointed by tho Mayors oil
the two cities, and TWO expert accountants ap-
pointed in the same way. 49,
serve on Il con mttee to investigate acts in which
he himself was concerned. IL vas proper 10 nave
an entire investigation of the work OF the trustees
from the time when the work was handed over to
them. He knew personally THAT some of the
charges were absolutely false. No iavoritlsm had
been shown in giving contracts Mr. Agnew also
deciI ed to serve OH the committee.
Mayor Low said that it was inpracticable for the
Mayors ana Controllers personally to investigate
tLe matter but each Mayor could appoint pers0ns
TO investigate for whose report they would be re-
spons,be. jenkins Van Setback moved as sub
stitute that tic two Mayors, the two Controllers
and The president of the trustees be authorized TO
appoint three experts-a lawyer. an accountant
and an engineer to conduct an lnyestigation' Mr
Stranahan said that no responsible person had
made any charges against the trustees. lie
thought well of an nvestlgatlon, but white;
washing report was to be avoided. He favored
the intrustng of the matter TO the two Mayors and
Messrs. Marshall and Agnew.
Mr.. Mcdonald urged that MayOr Lows PROPOSE
ton to refer the matter to the two Mayors to adopt
their own method of investigation, be selected
Controller Campbell supported the same view.
Mr. Bush then withdrew his resolution aud Presl-
dent Murphy's motion. after being amended by
striking ont the names of Messrs. Agnew and
Mqrshall, adopted. Mr.. Murphy read letter
from the EdgemOoT Iron Company, stating that the
steel needed would all be ready by October Il,
except the large eyeDarS or dagonais the tlhe lot
which was not fixed. The amount of steel not yet
received was about 800 tons. Less than 100
tons would remain to he delivered after October 81.
ASSISTANT Engineer Martin, who was present, said
that 50 of the 400 panels were now in place. To
Mr. Mcdonald Mr. Martin said that he would not
like to recomm end the substitution OF iron eyebars
for the steel ones. NJ Martin SAID tuat III the
Edgemoor Company would keep at work on the
steel of the bridge it cOud be done by October 81
Mayor Low said he would go to EdgemDOr and see
Mr. Sellers personally about the delay in finishing
the WORK by October 81. Mr.: Murphy remarked
that a representative of the EdgemooI Company
had called at the bridge office with bill for extras
amounting tc $11 900. and if that paid at
once the work would go on promptly. Controller
Campbell declared that any honest and Just extra
charge would he paid but IL should not be
connected with the prompt completion of the work.
A resolution WAS adopted TO call upon the City of
New York for 1900 900 and the City OF Brooklyn
for 5000 900 of the amOunt awarded by the Legis-
latufe of 1882. General Barnes offered resp
luton calling upon the investigating committee to
examine into the strength OF tho structure OF
the bridge. and il was adopted.
The total receipts for the bridge up to September
so we're 1900 los 33, and the total expcnd;-
lures were $13,973.420 30.