New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-13
FLAWS IN AQUEDUCT WORK.
Mr.. CRAvENs TESTIMONY NOT SHAKEN.
THREE BRIGHT LAWYERS TRY TO DO 1T IN VAIN
PREPAYMENT SPENCER APOLOGIES.

ceedlngS or the State Senate lnNestiSatinS Nonr
mttee was the determined and repeated efforts
made to break the force Of the testimony given
by the division engineer Alfred Craven, and the
practical failure of every OF these attempts,
though they were conducted by three exceptionally
bright young lawyers De Lancey Nicoll Mr.
Lovet the legal representative of the contractors,
and Aqueduct Commissioner Hamilton Fish, ir.
Each of them hao fair chance at the witness.
They made the most of it, but when Mr. Lovett,
who had the last innings gave up late in tho
afternoon, the general feeling among disnterested
spectators was that Mr. Craven's evidence had
suffered no material injury.
1t was Mr.. Craven's third day on the rack, but
one would never have thought so from his ap-
pcarance. He was just as cool and collected as
ever, except once during the afternoon when Mr.. ,
Lovett attempted to make some reflections upon
his honor. Then Mr.. Craven stood up and made
q brief but impassioned address that turned the
tables completely on the contractors' counsel.
AN EXPLANATION BY PRESIDENT SPENCER
The committee had intended to hold another
session to-day but some Of the counsel in the case
were required to attend to cases in court Chair"
man Fassett announced that the Investigation
would be postponed subject to the call Of the
chair but before adjourning President Spencer.
of the Aqueduct Commission was allowed 10 take
the stand and make long explanation IN oenau
Board Mr.. Spencer did not begin his address until
5 O'Clock but ne had insinuated that the COM
mttee wanted to choke him off, Senator Fassetc
refused 10 adjourn until the official head OF ths
Commission had been heard. For his renections
upon the committee, Mr.. Spencer rendered an
apology while on the stand.
Mr. NicOl began his examination OF Mr craven
on Monday afternoon. He resumed Yesterday by
asking about the bad work in Shaft No To- Mr.
Engineer Church on May 10, telling him of the
"organized gang Of rascals" there who were en-
gagged in the frauds already mentioned. When
President Spencers attention was called to the
subject he said that matters should stand until he
could invCstigate-and they stood The wit
ness said that he had taken back Inspector Corri-
gan because he was able and honest Ills greas
fault was intemperance.
INSPECTORS WHO PASSED BAD WORK.
Mr.. Craven gave the names OF his four assistant
engineers Besides these he had under him four
chainmen, two Jewelers. one transitman and
thirty or forty inspectors
Q-Can you identify the inspectors who passed bad
workl A.-Oh, yes; theis Stevenson Cox,
McGrah, Quinn, Flynn, Ryan, Corrigan, Donne Lesry.
Sullivan Smith and Reilly superseded thsm all. but
had to take some Of them back.
The witness said that he had heard Aqueduct
Commissioner Barnes we'll spoken of en-
gineer, but he knew nothing of his politics MIR.
Barnes's name had been mentioned when the bill
to reorganize the Commission was pending at
Albany.
ment7 A-Not much beyond the fact that brother Of
Maurice Flynn the agent for it and sold It at the
Aqueduct
Mr.. Craven spoke highly of his associate en-
Mr. Nicoll asked: Well what do you think
of the Chief Engineer, Mr.. Church.
would rather not be compelled TO answer
that question:" replied the witness
John OBriens lawyer, Mr.. Lovett, who said
that he represented the contractors, the subcon-
tractors, the superintendents', and the public
of Wcstchester County in general, wanted to cross
examine the WI but gaye way t TO
of Pnassy aisg snG Hsd not
both these gentlemen resigned to take positions
elsewhere? Yes Mr. Craven said, he believed they
had.
o-when did you first suspect bad work Shaft 1Sf
AIN December or November. reported Corrigan for
1t and suspended him
Odd you ever go down In Shaft No. Is the tunnel
night instruct your assistants to do so, for the pur
pose Of examining the work3 A--No. sir, never did
didn't think 1t necessary and don't know whether the
other engineers did or not.
Q-Were not ten the fourteen inspectors reported
suspended by for incOmpeency discharged from
the worki Ayes they were often being sent 10 othef
divisions of work and proving equally incompetent
Q-Now don't you know that the Commission was
obliged take such for inspectors as the Civil Ser
vice Board gave themi A-No. SIR, 1 do not for they
Iere afterwan examined by the Chief Engineer.
TO DEPEND ON THE RECORDS
Chairman Fassett interposed here to say thaa
of record This Committee" added the Senator,
" is here neither to prosecute defend any one.
We intend to give the widest latitude, but tho
records where there are any, had better be de-
pended on rather than the defective memory Of
a witness"
Mr. Fish ito Mr.. Craven)-You have been in the Nsvy.
Mr.. Craven, have you mott Ayes sir, 1 have.
o.-And you also a member Of the bart A-No.
OIL judged you from the freedom with which
you expressed opinions and gave your interprea-
tions Of contracts Al asked questions and
swered them.
In response to further questions, Mr. Craven said
that enough money had been kept back on the
contracts to prevent the city from losing anything.
He had told Commissioner Dowd, Judge Spencer
and General Newton that the engineers were not
properly supported in the work.
President Spencer wanted to know IL he had
not talked about the bad work with the witness,
and Mr. Craven said that he had
Mr.. Lovett took the witness. but the committee
adjourned for recess before he brought out much.
On reassembling the contractors counsel offered
in evidence letter from d. NJ Carey d Co., to
show that they had given Inspector Quinn s25
to get hold % Sn him. They dd baSr mot
claring that Mr.. Craven had tried to borrow money
from John O'Brien and had been refused and that
afterward he had obtained loan from Contractor
Mclean.
THE WITNESS SPEAKS OUT.
Mr. Craven thereupon arose and made an ex.
planation lie never asked OBren for o loan in
all his life. He did borrow $500 from Mr.. Nc
Bean, but the money was repaid at the next pay
day. After this MIR. Lovett lapsed into silence.
Mr. Fassett asked the witness great many Ques-
tions about the scope of his duties and why it was
that he could not spend all his time in the tunnel
Professional etiquette prevented the witness from
reporting bad work directly TO the Commissioners.
He usually went to the Chief Engineer about all
imperfections, but once or twice he went directly
to the Commission
BY this time it was nearly 5 o'clock and
the members were thinking OF dining. President
Spencer, however, arose and demanded that the
committee meet to-day to give HIM a hearing
Senator Fassett said ii was impossible. President
Spencer grew red in the face and began to i'm
pugn the motives OF the committee. He thought
This made Mr. fassett angry and lac declared that