New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-10
LETTING IN THE SUNLIGHT.
Mr.. FISH OPENS A SHAFT NOW AND THEN.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE FINDS TIE AoUEpUcT 4
DAHK PLACE To WORK. BUT XE Fps BORING

All the Senator's except Mr.. Pierce, we're on hand
before / 0 o'clock. General Tracy was the only
absent member OF tie oornsel. lie aid Stnator
Pierce are still on the sick lsr There was an
usually large crowd of speculators though many OF
them were witnesses that have been subpoenaed
and are impatiently waiting for an opportunity TO
testify Aqucduct Commissionor William Dowd
is one Of these. 1t expected that he would be
called to the stand yesterday afternoon. but IL was
so late before Commiss Aner Fish, tho
only witness Of the day finish I'd that the commits
tee decided to have Mr. Dowd begin his testimony
this morning.
Mr. Fish's evidence covered great.deal OF terri
tory. He began by taking iss,r directly with the
evidence given given by cx-Corporauon Counsel
Morgan J. o Brien in regard to the allowance mad,
the contractors Tor the eight inches of extra ex-
cavation. This he insisted done by the adj
vice of Mr. O'Brien, given orally at a meeting OF
the Commissioners, called for the purpose of con-
siderng the matter. Mr. O'Brien admitted on tho
stand last week that he gave this advice, but in-
sisted that it predicated or the understanding
that the contractors should acc ept such an allow
ance for all claims held by thea against the city.
which they refused TO do. Mr.. Fish declared that
he knew nothing about any such con-
diton being imposed; it was certainly
not made known to the Beard.
-
detailed account OF the substitution. of rubble
work for dry packing above the arch of the tun-
mel was given by the witness. The request for
this change he said orig nally made By
Brown Howard x Co. Mr.. Fish thought it too q.
expensive Thereupon the matter transferred
to the Committee of Construction consisting OF
General Newton, Judge Spencer, Mr. Barnes and
Mr. Fish, and by it handed over TO Chief Engineer
Church TO decide. The report OF Consulting En-
gincer Fteey, who opposed the adoption Of rubble
work except were absolutely needed, was read
and also that of Mr. Church The Chief Engineer
thou ght il would be false economy not TO adopt the
rubbe work, as suggested. His ideas prevailed.
Before leaving this subject Mr.. Fish remarked:
General Newton says he knows nothing about this
question and its sl,OOO,oOO extra expense, but
he was present at the meeting and voted for the
resolution
Mr.. Boardman handed the witness over TO Mr..
NicolL TIE defective work in the Aqueduct was
taken up. Mr. Fish said: e.!
There is no question bad works exh7, but I; is
q very small proportion the whole amount very small
Indeed. Il discovered by engineers before
this committee appointed and steps taken to remedy
#. 1 the bad work, for the part TO tho
sufficient number OF inspectors and % the char
acter Of those sent Us By Civil Commission. Of
which the Editor Of The Evening POST is chairman.
Previous to the time inspectors had 70 pass Civil
Service examinations had been ltue trouble On
this point.
DENYING ANY RELATION WITH FLYNN
Only one large contract, the witness continued.
had been let since he became IA Commissioner and
this was for 81 900 900 and it went to the lowest
bidder Mr. Fish denied most emphatically that
he ever consulted Maurice b. Flynn in relation
to the bill, adding:
FIynn's relations with Hubert o. Thompson made him
lnimcal measure, and Squire had hal bill OF his
make him the sole head and front OF the Connis-
sion.
In response TO M Nicolls further inquiries
Mr.. Fish repeated his testimony OF Friday re-
cardng Governor HIS relation to the bill.
The removal of Secretary McCallloh was touched
UPON No one, Mr. Fish said, ever asked hm to
vote for Sheehan but after the change was made
many people wrote him letters of approval
MIR. FAssrTT WANTS THE SUNLIGHT LET IN.
Please give US the names OF Republican lead-
ers7 said Mr. Nicol, who have asked you Tor
fayors as regards appointments
4 don't want TO 90 into that replied the CON-
missioner.
We want all the sunlight possible on this
thing said Senator Fassctt. I" If it hits the
Legislature, let it by ali means. You had better
tell
After some fencing Mr.. Fish. who had conveyed
the impression that every Republican in the State
had been after him for appointments, mentioned
the names of Senator's McNlilin, of Buffalo; loys-
radt. Of Westchcster FaSsett Robertson, Hem
dricks. Van Cott and Grswold. The Assemblymen
were Hustled and Hamilton. General Hustled Sc
cured places for four men. Mr.. Depew had never
asked any favor OF the kind
o-Tcie any funds contributed for the Republican
campaign by any OF the contractors or inspec'orsf A
No; heard Of such thing Itwas ali the o'hef
way.
Mr. Boardman took the witness again He
wanted Mr. Fish 20 give a more specific eXplana-
ton of the statement that his Fish's appointment
would help the Republican party in Putnam ana
Westchester counties Mr. Fish declined 10 90 50
except that by more evenly balanced Cominls-
sion the men in the works were more olsposea 20
:" split up their voting There was no coercion,
however: of that he was positive 10 the cnalr-
man he said that he could not tell m Just wha5
way OBrien and Governor Hill were to be bene-
fted by the reorganization. except that perhaps
Ililrs end OF the Democracy might be strengthened
by the appointment of one OF his friends 70 DC an
Aqucduct Commissioner Inc Democrats III ohs
LEGISLATURE who opnosod the bill were mostly mer
hers of the County Democracy Secretary Nc
Culloh's ease was again taken up. IL was shown
that Mr.. McCuoh, as secretary oi the hesl ista,e %
Commlttce. is now practically doing his Old WORK
His salary is $4,000 Sheehan's IS $4,000.
MIR. FAssETr ASKS a FEW QUESTIONS
After a long recess the committee reassembled
and Mr. Fish was again called TO the stand Mr.
Fassett began:
Did it rever occur you. Mr.. Fish that IL was
une singular that Judge Muller, Mr.. OBrien and Gov-
ernor ulll should favorable bill originating with
General Hustled and solely favorable the Republican
| party
MI Fish, don't know that the bin was specially
! favorable to the Republican parry.
o.-Dut they not the men you would select for
/ Republican programne. are theyf A-Not exactly.
Q.-Ths Aquesuct is % b. paid for By the city AMI
this rchems was o. reoraanize the COmD!ssonf Ayes
Odd you not think It improper 70 consult on thA'
] With frtgfDr "
/ than half the entire workf Al did not consult Mr.
Bron as contractor but the ehiTman Of the Dsn-
! ocratic state Committed.
o-Dd you know that at that time o'Brien was car
ryng so OOO or $1,000 OF Governor Hlrs paperf A.
| dld not know at that time, but have heard OF IL
recently.