New-York tribune., 1884-02-19
THE PUBLIC WORKS INQUIRY.
WORK OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

A SHORT SESSION YEsTERDAY-oSLY TWO wITNEs-
SIS on THE STAND.
The Senate Committee on Cities held brief
session yesterday and did elicit much information OF
Importance Senator Mccarthy was the only absent
member. A. J. Maett the last witness at the previous
examination was first called the stand and his cross
examination was continued by Mr.. Payne ne
the contractor who carted the Zoo euDio
yards of limestone chips for A. J. Howell
from the to Kingshrdge road. Mr. Payne
questioned him at length about the letter which be wrote
Mr. Howell. and which read at the last eIamina-
ton after indignant protest from Mr. Payne In IL the
witness said he had the crowd to deal with he had
yet got and that the chief occupation OF the
employees seemed to be pitching pennies. Mr. Payne as
cerained from the witness that the letter written
after he had been engaged the job only one day Ihe
council endeavored to draw from the sdmis
that the letter written insufficient and uncer
tain information.
Mr. whittdge-were you ever told that Colonel
Moneys son was going 10 put head" upon yOui A.
Senator DaGgett-T suppose thought your head was
not good enough. Laughter, in which the wlthess
joned.l
Robert B. sedgwick an accountant. then sworn He
saic he had recently paid visit 10 the TOmpkins Cove
LimeworEs. Mr.. Whitrdge asked him whether ne had
ascerained whether there other places from which
limestone chips could furnished the city. Mr. Payne
protested the question. and there was some con-
tenton between him and Mr. Whtridge as to lts prop
ETY.. vote taken u to the admissabilty OF the
question: Senators Thatcher Lansing and Daggett voting
to permit It and Senators Cullen and DAILY against it, Mr..
Payne then submitted, but added: IAN these charges
have been practically published in THE NEw-Yo
TRIBtNE. They are Just authoritative from THE rRIB.
T-NF as from the witness. Why bring here file OF
THE rRIBuNE and place it in evidencei"
Ile witness said IN t he na learned ny personal IN
dury that the limestone chips supplied tC the city came
from the Tompkins Cove Works. those works being sltI-
ated in Rockand County Haverstraw. He had ex-
years 81 80 and 's3 Mcdonald had bought from them
4,s49 cubic yards Of limestone chips; An lnterection
from Mr.. PAYNE as to tie rel9yaIney OF thls ihs
testimony dG dIe% See nTnor 0m bar M connd bod sold In
those years. according to his testimony, upward OF
l3OOO CUBIC yaIl, p lilsone TnIps an. a '@ 900 "a cIc
yards which was than he had sold to the city alone
the Tompkns Cove Works were the only
source OF supply for limestone chlps
the market representing quarry a VerplanGk Inc ln
tity Of limestone chips which had obtained ro1
that latter source shown in the evidence, was small
amount All this indicated that there was something
wrong somewhere- -, ..o,.,,o, 81, hr,o.
cross-examIndtiOn OF the witness Mr Whitrdge said
that the next witness whom he expected to call.
William II. McAvOy, the superintendent CT the Bureau OF
supplies in the Department OF Public WORKS, was men
before the Grand Jury He proposed that the committee
shOd wait for him. It subsequently ascertained
that McAy0y presence could not ne obtained Tor some
hours The commit lee then decided 10 adjourn Sehator
Thatcher thought the committee should adjourn to the
10Th inst Washnston's Birthday ne lacetous!y r.
marked generally demorllzed the community, and he
diano that much progress could be made by con
tinuing the examination tue day folowing-the 23d.
Mr. Payne-The resolution calls Tor report on the 1JLh
OF March.
Senator Thatcher-We can have that time extended
Mr.. Psyne-When the committee gets through | snail
have rebuttng testimony TO oEer ana don't want
II crowded ont.
Senator Culen-How much time will you want
Mr. Paync-NOt much II you don't make more progress
than you nave.
The committee agreed 10 adjourn to next Saturday at
10 a. m. when Mr.. McAvOy win be nteTOgated as 70
the division OF orders for painting the rotunda OF the
Court House the orders for COAL and other pecrlues
III connection with that system.