New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-29
THE TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.

John Brady said he had done seven or eight
Jobs for the city, but had not been bidding for the last
three four months because he didn't want any
work" He was questioned about the Ninety-ffth-st
contract
Mr. Whitridge-How did you make your estimate on
that contract I Al estimated what the pro
file and what thought into It, to the best OF my
knowledge | looked over the City Surveyors estimate
OF the quantities, but don't recollec what the figures
o-The surveyor estimated that there were l $50
cubic yards OF earth and 255O cubic yards Of rock TO be
excayated; what made YOU think you could lake all that
rock out at OF cent yard and the earth at
IS yard Al didn't think so.
Q. What wa your idea then A-That there was a
great deal more Garth and . great deal less rock
Q.-What made you think 40 A.-Ihe appearance Of
the surface and what knew OF the ground from having
built sewer in Eghtyseyent-st aud built two cellars
I'm the ncghbOrhOOd
@ You have made more money than the total of yonr
estimate Al don't know anything about that The
contract Is not yet finished have been paid about
o~You are not in the habit OF paying much attention
10 the sur7eyors figures A.-No sir; look over the
ground and 20 by my own Judgment anyhow. don't
make any borings or actual surveys.
Senator McCGrthy-IOw many yards Of rock and earth
have you taken out In this Ninetyhfth-st. contract
Al have not the slightest idea; you can't tell any
thing about It until the surveyor files his final certificate.
and think two or three hundred yards Of earth.
Q.-What did you estimate the Nlnety-htth-st con-
tract would cost you A-Weu' between $4,000 and
0.%That would your bid make iii A-About
Q.-what have you received on the contracts A
over 100000.
Mr.. Whtridgc-You have another contract on Eighty
eighth-st. How did you make your estimate that
An he usual way by looking over the ground That's
twoor three years and can't tell you much about it,
O.-Your estimate Of quantities differed from the
veyors Did strike you at the time that the surveyor
had made a great mistake A.-No sir. put in my
senator McCarthy-Do you usually make this m
reasonable difference in the price Of rock and earth
Al have three contracts that way put all the bid Oh
senator Dacsett-Will you swear that nobody in
tercstcd In that Niacty-h.th-s contract but yourself
Nobody in the department among the engineers
interested IN Il.
own name A-Yes. sir but on This Eighty-cghth-st
had to borrow money and assigned that to my
Senator McCarthy-You say you have had seven con-
tracts from the city and on the last three yon PM IN
unbalanced bids. What caused you to make that charge
A-Because did not want my competitors 10 know how
much estimated Oh each item. 49,. .. ,,,,,-- A.
Odd YOU not change your system OF bidding from
regular aud reasonable to irregular and unreasonable
prices consultation and collision with parties
outsidel ANo air. did nothing of the kind with no
body inside outside, either public or private made
my bids just to SUIT my self and am going TO keep on that
Senator Dargctt-Is it not fact that you changed
and make money out OF il unless you adopted that
systemi A-No sir; it is not lost $4,000 on the
Mr. WmtrlFe.-You generally get ahead Of the city on
that system 4. Smiling complaccntyl sir; but
the city has got ahead OF me, too.
senator Daggett-Where do you your information
senator Dasgett-rd like to have your head I'd make
Senator Cullen coaxinglyl-won't you please tell the
committee what II costs TO get your nformatoni A.
with compacent grim We'll, how much do you care
senator Culen--I guess that's about how it's got.
Mr.. Brddy.--I guess you know as well as anybody
Senator Mccarthy again endeavorod to
tain why Mr.. Brady had adopted the
unbalanced bid system, but after much per-
ssten questioning and some little loss Of temper on both
sids the only explanation he could get from Mr. Brady
was that he resortcd unbalanced bids because he did
not want his competitors to know what his real estimates
were He sad when lie made regular bids his competitors
learned what his prices and on succeeding contracts
woulI bid a few cents below him and beat him.
Senator McCarthy-Woud it not strike person ontsde
that these extraordinary differences in prices
picoasi AEWei suppose would. see it is reported
haze all been fair and above board
no RING AMONG CONTRACTORS.
Senator Daggctt-Have you tried the unbalanced
bid system elsewhere Ayes sir In Brooklyn, eight or
ten years ago. and was unsuccessful.
Q.-Do you make unbalanced bids for private con-
tractsl A-No sir always do that by the lump sum-
Senator McCarthy-Is there such thing as a ring
among contracorsl A.-That is something that don't
Odd YOU fail to succeed because you were not in the
ringi Al never knOwed anything about ring In New
Q.-Are you an Irshmani Ayes, sir
Dwell, is IL usual for an freshman to be know
nothingi A.-Yes, sir, lgrinninsI Ihey are all know"
nOtLings.
WHAT THOMAS KEECH KNOWS or IRREGULARITIES.
Thomas Keech was then sworn. lie SAID ne had Oeeh
superintendent Of the Bureau OF Repairs and Supplies in
the Department OF Public Works fov six years up to the
April IS last when removed He was familiar with
the course OF business in the Department Of Public Works
Mr. whitridge-DO you know OF any irregularities in
that object Ayes, sir.
Mr.. Payne-I do not think that proper question. .
Mr.. Whridge-Perhaps not IL court OF law Dut' Is
here. ., ,,,,.,,
Mr. Kcech, in answer to questions by Mr. Whtridge,
said that he had given the information TO the Council Oh
Reform which led 10 the charges made by that
body against Mr. Thompson. He knew all ABOUT
them but had not with him the papers CIV
ing sneciAo Information as TO figures. dates,
ETC. Such papers he promised to have ready at suDse-
quent examination. He explained that when bureau
officer needed repairs or supplies that pertain to h Pe
caI department he makes Tequisitlon WIN iu Details
and The Commissioners issues the order or makes con-
tract lie was then questioned about the repairs TO ne
GIN Record Office. He said that ON TINS lOD Johh T.
Power received order for mason WORK on fentuay
Amounting 10 $500 on the same day james H. McC0rd
received an order for stone work amounting 10 f4o4
The ri order for painting amounted 10 $50 ana was
gwen 10 william Minnick; another order "l me same
iob amounting 30 1897, gwen TO man named Doyle
on April D John T. Power azaln received an orueF
1 Thar