Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-15
"sHODDYn TUNNEL WORK.
Testimony Before the Military Court
Of Inquiry To-day.

II
Of Inquiry To-day.
The military court Of inquiry into work on
| the aqueduct tunnel continued its sessions to-
day at the War department, commencing at
| 1880 o'clock.
ONLY KNEW OF ONE PIECE OF BAD WORK
The first witness was Patrick ]. Healy, tun-
nelman employed by Beckwith 4 Quackenbush
| since December, 1888. Witness said his duties
| were to see that the work was done to the sat-
isfaction Of the inspectors and engineers. His
principal business was to attend to the work Of
excavation, but he looked after any or all con-
| struction. He had discovered bad work
| and had called the inspectors attention
| to it. Witness might have DISCHARGED
the men who did "shoddy" work-he had the
power-but he did not do so. He was instructed
| by the contractors to see that the men employed
by them did a fair days work. Witness was
not at any time subject to the subcontractors;
he was superintendent for the original con-
tractors. He thought that the inspectors were
the proper persons to look after the quality of
the lining; that was what they were in the tun-
mel for. Witness was certain that he only knew
of one piece of bad work He lad never
heard Of any other faulty construction in the
tunnel during all the time he had been en-
ployed.
TOLD TO SATISFY THE INSPECTORS AND ENGINEERS.
On cross-examination by Capt. Chester wit
ness said that he was not at first instructed by
Beckwith Quackenbush to see that the work
was done in accordance with the specifications;
he was told to salty the inspectors and the en-
gineers in charge. Afterward the contractors
did tell him to follow the specifications; this he
did. The finding Of that one patch of bad
work did not excite any suspicion in his mind
that there might be more Of the same kind
TESTIMONY OF SUPERINTENDENT LEROY.
Arthur W. Leroy, paymaster for Beckwith &
Quackenbush, and superintendent of the Rock
creek and Foundry branch shafts of the tunnel,
was then sworn. His duties as superintendent,
ne SAID, were OF a very general nature. He saw
that the material being used was good, and
looked after the workmanship. Witness never
saw any faulty brickwork, nor was he aware
that ''shoddy" packing was being or had been
done. Witness never had any occasion to find
fault with the sub-contractors on account of
the quality OF the work done by them. Wit
ness understood that there is bad work in the
tunnel, but he knew nothing of it until the
formal charges were made and investigated.
witness paid all the contractors men in the
tunnel He paid Brennan and Palmer They
each received salaries.
INSPECTOR LUCAS PAID FOB OVERTIME By THE
CONTRACTORS.
Witness had paid inspectors for overtime; he
was not certain that he did to more than one
and that was Mr.. Lucas. He knew of no gifts
to government employees. He did not regard
Brennan and Palmer as sub-contractors. There
was percentage agreement between them and
Beckwith Quckenbush; it was in writing and
he had read it.
Mr.. Ross Perry, present on behalf Of the con-
tractors, arose and offered to produce the
agreements, an offer which was accepted by
Gen. Ruger, who desired Mr.. Perry to produce
them tomorrow.
THE sUB-coNTRcroRs RESPONSIBLE ToR FAULTY
Mr.. Leroy, continuing, said that the sub
contractors were undoubtedly responsible for
faulty work in the lining. Witness said he
knew Of the discovery, by Mr.. Palmer, of bad
work IN Champlain avenue east, and he was
also aware that Palmer had warned the inspec-
tor who passed the work that another such in
stance of neglect would cause him (Palmer) to
report him to Chief Inspector Kerlin
Cross-examined by Capt. Chester witness
said his attention had never been called. at
any other time, to bad work. Capt. Chester,
however. produced and the witness identified,
letter dated July, 1883, from Lieut. Townsend
calling the attention of Beckwlth & Quacken-
bush to
ATTEMPTS WHICH HAD BEEN MADE TO DO
"sHoDDY'' WORK,
and notifying them that unless honest work
was done their contract was in danger of an
nulment. That letter witness received, read
manded witness, and thereafter he was more
watchful. When Inspector Lucas was paid for
overtime work il was done with the consent of
Chief Inspector Kerlin. Lucas name was not
on the contractors pay-rolls, and witness could
not say how the expenditure was accounted for
on the contractors books. The payment may
have been by check. Lucas gave him no re-
ceipt.
There being no other witnesses in readiness.
the court at 1905 took a recess until 80
O'Clock and devoted the afternoon session to
listening to the reading of the record.
The Congressional Investigation Again
Delayed.
To-day again there was no quorum of the
congressional committee for the investigation
of the aqueduct work. Senators Edmunds and
Faulkner were on hand in the Senate commit
tee-room on territories, but the House members
did not appear. Sometime ago the members
on the part of the House complaining of
the absence of the Senators. Now the tables
are turned, but Mr.. Edmunds is inclined to be
liberal with them, and after waiting about an
hour and a half. an adjournment was taken
until O'Clock Monday. 1t is expected that at
least four members of the committee will be
present at that time.