New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-09
THE FIFTH-AvE. PAVEMENT
Mr. LAcoMBE ADVISES A COMPROMISE.
low THE CITY MAY sUFFEa-wRAr THE CON-
TRACTOR Is WILLING TO DO.

low THE CITY MAY sUFFEa-wRAr THE CON-
TRACTOR Is WILLING TO DO.
Corporation Counsel Lacomhe yesterday took
. hand IL STRENGTHENING out the trouble between the
s.sy aud Contractor Baird. Mr. Baird suspended work
the Fifthave. pavement few days and says he
viii do nothing moro until he Is paid for what he has
done in accordance with his contract His stopping OF
work brought General Newton, as Commissioner OF
Public Works, face face with serious responsibility
He lost time In communicating with the counsel to the
Corporation - to his duty, power and liability He
asked particularly ne had the to annul the con-
tract In he hsd that power and exercised It,
vha. provision there was for carrying on the work.
Mr.. Lacombs pretaceo his reply to General Newton
BY stating circumstances which make the deadlock be-
tween him and the contractor alarming matter for
the Taxpayers He says:
portion Of the avenue and acc and dwelling
the line % ntereed A9hs s
buildings for damages TO their business and unless ing
city involved in extensive serious and embarrassing g
has riEh to attempt to coerce the department into
Sy NO % be
in certifying that the contract 10 being wronsfuy ne
the facts; the contractor asserting that he mas
faithfully done his work In accordance with the spec'
cations the cy engineers dsputing that POSITION
He therefore advises that IL General Newton is amply
satisfied that ne is right and the contrae9ri wrong ne
unfinished work and recover any excess between MS
expenses and the old contract price from baru anu s
suretes .
The letter containing this advice was delivered to
General Newton about n M An hour ister ne was
again communicated with 10y Mr.. LacOmDe who wrote
that he deemed 1t his duty as lawyer and q pubic
something could not be done 10 avert tbe
costly litigation in which the city and the contractor
seemed about He points out that II the YER
diet should be aganst the city could not be less IN
amount than $500 000 while II against tho contractor
would him $l5 600 In actual outlay In view OF
and the fact that the reports OF various
entirely different as TO
the degree and Of contractors decencies MI
Lacombe had sent for Mr.. Bairds lawyers, j. T. shaw
and Thomas Alison and as a result or conference
felt IL his duty to recommend c0mpro-
mise He advised General Newton to appoint an en-
should confer independent ngneer named by the
contractor and those should select thrd Inc three
engineers should compose q board or examiners VINO
should pass upon the character OF the work In question
presenting their report upon all the facts In dispute 10
the Commissioners of Public Works II they report
that the work Ia not properly done Mr. Lacomoe al
vses that the contract be promptly annuiled III they
that 1t 10 done substantially In accordance win
the contract Mr. Lacombe advises that the city pay the
Mr. Allison Mr. Bard's counsel seen at his
office He said
everything 10 the city that IL could pos
siby ask We have done work as well as any coutac
under the kept and we are ready 10 prove H.
facts before them Why, are 80 certain OF
our show that all that want Is
TRIBUNE that II General Newton takes
The Councils advice and the Two engineers
named him by Baird, have any difficulty
to the third. we VIII let
Controller will give the city two of the
three The people have heard but side OF e
that dishonest side. We ready with the facts
very hand the whole matter to
aJury.