New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-12
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE AQUEDUCT SCANDAL.
BAD WORK AND BROKEN CONTRACTS.
MR.. CRAVEN SAYS THE CITY LOST $2,0O0.000 on
I-NNrccssIpx AIIQHA AxcEG.

UNNECESSARY EXTRA ALLOWANCES.
The testimony given before the State Senate
Investigating Committee yesterday was hardly less
sensational than that offered on Saturday. Tho
line of inquiry followed by the counsel Of the
committee was designed to show how much ths
city had lost through the notifications of the
contracts regarding extra allowances for excava-
tion and the substitution of rubble work. for
dry packing In filing the space between the brick
arch Of the tunnel and the native rock. 1t was
impossible to get at the exact loss entaed by these
changes each of which, according to the evidence,
was utterly uncaled for and unjustifable. But
as near as could be ascerained they have together
put an extra expense Of over 81, 000 900 upon tho
taxpayers.
Only one man, the division engineer, Alfred
Craven, who made such stir on Saturday, was
examined. Every important statement that he
made was backed by notes and letters, that made
one think Mr. Craven had been looking forward
to an investigation of this kind for the last five
years His chair was surrounded by a breast
work of books containing all his official corre-
spondence In addition to this be remained en-
tirely self-possessed despite all the efforts OF
De Lancey Nicoll disturb his equanimity.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT.
The committee changed its quarters from Part
II to Part LII Of the Superior Court, the former
room being occupied by the General Term ALI
the members were on hand early. The crowd OF
spectators was larger than usual. Many of them
were Aqueduct officials or contractors, with hero
and there a few local politicians including ex-
Senator Ecclesine, Leroy B. Crane, ex-senator
DAILY, ex-senator Bixby, and the Aqueduct Com
missoners, who turned out in force. President
Samuel Gompers, of the National Federation OF
Labor, dropped IN for short time TO watch tho
proceedings. John O'Brien remained throughout
both sessions an unmoved listener TO all thai
the witnesses had to say against him and his
work General Tracy's place examiner Of wit
nesses was taken by Mr.. Boardman De Lancey
Nicoll had little to say until the close Of tho
afternoon session Then he made up for his
previous silence by long and scathing cross
questioning Of the witness.
At little after II o'clock Chairman Fassett
opened the proceedings and Mr.. Craven took tho
stand In reply to Mr.. Boardman's questions he
said that he had frequent differences Of opinion
with Mr. Church and his chief-assistant Mr.
Pug gsley in regard to the work The first dispute
of importance was about timbering some Of tho
tunnel in the south heading Of Shaft ls, section T.
Mr. Craven thought it was entirely
unnecessary to use any timber Tho
excavation had been practically completed over
year. and the ground particularly good. Iim-
bering meant in this case an extra allowance OF
at least 81, 500 to the contractors. Notwithstand-
ing Craven's adverse opinion, the Chief Engineer
allowed the contractors to timber it. This was
peated in the north tunnel of Shaft IL, where the
ground was equally good There about 22o feet
were treated in this way. In both instances these
sections were timbered after the excavations were
completed The result was an extra allowance
of 81 OOO0 to the contractors for job that cost
them a mere triAe.
o.-were the reports made by you against timberina
of charges being preferred against
youi A.-They followed by charges against mo.
made by Chief Engineer Church and his assistant Mr.
Pugsey.
o.--what was the nature Of these chargesf A.-They
general but reflected my ability and
insisted that was insubordlnate. Mr.. Pugsey made
the charges and Mr. Church indorsed them.
THE CHARGES AGAINST MR. CRAVEN.
The witness submitted a copy Of the charges
prepared against him. They were wall over
Mr. Craven's disobedience of orders, supplemented
by a prayer for his dismissal Mr.. Craven's letter
to the Commissioner, in regard to these charges
was read He demanded investigation. The
Commission granted his request An examination
lasted through one afternoon, and then it was
suddenly dropped The Chief Engineer gave no
testimony but Mr.. Pugsey did The only known
effect of this examination the resignation OF
Mr.. Pugsley
The whole trouble, Mr. Craven said between
himself and Pugsey was the allowance for the
tmbered sections mentioned. After the invests
cation, Mr.. Craven was told to take the
allowance for the timbered sections Out
Of the estimates. John OBrien and
other contractors tried to have it reallowed, but
the witness refused to do so until several months
aftdward, when Chief Engineer Church gave or.
ders that this money should be paid
Mr. Boardman asked if he had the letter from
Mr.. Church making this order The witness said
bo baI frorn tba Of En-
gneer, dated October g. 1897, directing the allow
ance. Mr.. Craven in reply said that he forwarded
to Mr. Church all Of the correspondence between
Mr. Pugsley and himself in regard to these sections.
But this had no effect upon the Chief Engineer,
who telegraphed October 81, 1887, that Mr..
Craven should allow al that the contractors de-
manded for this alleged timber work.
MR. CHURCH INTERPRETED THE CONTRACTS
At the request Of Mr.. Boardman the witness
took the plans and diagrams Of the work and
showed in all eases that the amount Of excavation
to be paid for was definitely fixed by specifications
of the contract and not left TO the discretion
Of the engineers. the contractors counsel had
endeavored to make it appear.
But despite this, for the past two years, it Is
claimed, Mr.. Church interpreted the contracts in
the interest of the contractors. long discussion
followed on this point, but the substance Of tbs
testimony was that. according TO fair and honest
Interpretation Of the contracts and emitting all
exceptional cases, The Ready Reference Ia hand
book Of calculations Of quantities, excavations,
etc, compiled by the Commission for the engineers,
and on which they determined the quanti-
ties to be allowed the contractors estimates)
gave the necessary data with absolute
accuracy for making up the contractors allowances
This book was thus used for two years without
question, but after the reorganization OF the Com
mission Aprl 1887 by which time a large paro
Of the tunnel had en conn ete !! extra allowances
never before heard OF, were claimed by the con.
tractors and allowed The claim for eight inches
Of excavation all along the line was conspicuous
illustration Of this, In the divisions Sections 7
an extra expense of 81 20, ,00O and will cost
$4,000 when completed for which thsre vac