New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-09

Mr. Bcwers-If your views were that, why did you noe
appoint double commssioni
M Ainsworth-whas do you mesai
MI 9owersone nom each side ncnpartison; ono that
would DO the work more ehcApIy and honestly. DO
nos understand 1t TO be your view.
Mr. Answottl-I arm unable to give you what you
understand. / win reDca: my views II you desire.
BIZ. Bowgrs-Yes / desire,
MI Ainswor,h-ay position 10 that wherever large ex
pendiiucs Of ths kind male. feel taat mo interest
CT the State would tc better protected by ssocang
VINO are 10 supervise the expenditures OF that money be-
longing daercut political PARTIES that either party
would have tho advantage Of the appropriation but that
by tho presence Of men Of both parties that eomso
y would deprive tho other party OF getting thet advantage
That IL my position
Mr. BOwers-weu. what you are ultimately looking 10
as legislator and what you were ultimately looking
when on the Appropriation Committee In 1883
tho benefit OF tho people at large or the people Of the two
political parties.
Nj knsworth-I was not very DESTROYS to benefit the
Democratic party looking for the benefit Of tho
Iroplo o. tho State at large.
Mr. BONers-oniyi
nv AlnsworEr-Yes. only.
Mr.. Bowers continued this line Of questioning until
tho witness asked "wbat do you seek to get me to
sayis
Mr. BOwers-You stated to me to-day that the politics
In that bll were discussed
MI Answorth-I think So
Mr. Bowers-I asking you 20 explain what you
meant BY the politics IN the bill, and am striving to
reach conclusion that win satisfactory 70 the people
Of the State namely that the Legislature OF 1888 was
even In consideration of tho politics OF the BILL actuad
by what the members considered the best interest OF inc
people Of the State. That what trying to indi-
cate and think your answers Indicate hat you looked
Of this BIN in tho interest Of politics
Mr. Alnsworth-I do not desre to discuss this matter
with you but VIII say that this kind Of action Is one mat
has entered into the discussion OF appropriations maae py
city boards for water commissioners and school CON-
mssionerA There is a desire By the people that they
should have non-partiaan boards
Mr. Bowers-You are unable then totally to eliminate
from the consideration Of this bill the question Of tho
effect that II might have upon one or the other OF inc
! political parnca Is that tTuef
Mr AIIsworth-I do not desire 10 eliminate anything
further than to say That 1 believe when money was
honestly expended Il better for the people, Wnen IL
was honestly expended had no fear for my party
Mr. Bowers-Your deSire then, was 10 have this appEo-
pYiaon expended In manner a. 70 be solely bene
fetal the people the State, and to accomplish that
you did not consider It advisable at That tine 70 place the
work IN tho charge Of Commissioner Perry
Mr. Aipsworth-If your question implies dstrust OF
Commisssoncr Perry personally dislike 20 say yos
felt that Commissioner Perry was 70 have that work.
or anybody else unassssed By any Republican upon the
Commission, Il would be disastrous for u.s.
Mr. BoWers-Disastfous 10 usi What 90 you mean by
thati To whom does the word US referf
Mr. AnswortaIt rsfers 10 the people and to my party,
because that II they misappropriSted any Of that
appropriation It would not only iniue the people, but
would be done with desire to njure our party.
Mr. Demonstrating that as your final definition OF
politics IN tho bill named here the interests Of the people
tho Of your political party. am to under
stand that these matters subject Of discussion in
your comnitteef
Mr. Ainsworth-Yes, sir.
Mr. Ainsworth then gave Mr. Bowers history Of
the progress OF the Ceiling Appropriations bin through
tho Committee on Appropriations in 1888. lie de-
clared that year ago II was immsterAl to him
whether Capitol Commissioner Perry or su-
perntenden Andrews had charge Of the work, so long
a.. -a~.4.w.
eonsidered be said hat win three Republicans
and two Democrats as members of the Ceiling Com
mIttee and with Democrat in charge of It that the
Commission was essentially non-pariissn and no
politics would not enter into ITS operations"
Mr. Ainsworth further said that AsscmolymaD
John l. Plat drew up tho bill lie tAinsworthl mad
moved alternately in his committee that Andrews
and then Perry should DO given charge Of the WORK
and had been voted down In each instance. His final
decision in favor OF Mr.. Andrews having charge Of
the work was brosght about by his remembering that
Sir Pory's estimates rs TO the cost Of any work
be was TO have charge OF were always too.low.
Mr.. Dowers-HRve yos % tho conclusion from The
evidence regarding ths scandal tina. the bids for this
tract were arranged that the work must go 10 certain
named snAIthi
Mr. AinswOrth-NO. Sri although tAat Is contrary 10
popular belief.
Mr.. Bowers-You novcr have believed that Andrews 30
arranged hese bids that should get this eonraeti
Mr.. AinsEoFth-I do not believe that about Nj Andrews
Mr. BowersIDo you believe that the experts werc right
a. 10 the cost Of this worki
Mr.. Ainsworth--Tbey right to the cost, in my
opinion but the value think that Mr.. Snath,
whether frauduleny not DO not know. obtained the
OF Mr. Andrews 70 changes which be should NOT
hayo permitted be made. think tAey were made be-
cause of the intimate relations OF M sHaiA and Mr..
Andrews
Mr. Bowers then piled Mr. Ainswurth with questions
about tho investigation Of tho ceiling scandal made By
the Committee on Appropriations hr. Ainsworth
said that his opinion great wrong had been done 10
the state by the changes permitted in the ironvork and
In other parts Of the ceiling.
Mf. Fish said TO MFR. Ainsworh; What do you think
Of Mr.. snaitb nowln
Mr.. AInsworth replied "I think no Is doing per-
fecty right in remaining away from Albany when no is
denied the right 20. appear here by COUNSEL
Mr. Fish instantly said But, Mr. Ainsworh, this
man snalth fed nom this city with his books before
this committee was asked to permit him to appear by
counsel"
Mr. AInsworh evidently considered that this altered
the look OF tho affair for be said "Then he did very
foolish thing, aud he should return here at once"
px.Assomb,yman John l. Plat, Of Dntchess County,
testified that he drew up the bill under which the Cell
Ing Committee was appointed. He had believed that
Mr. Andrews had tho right under the law OF 1883
10 have charge of the work upon tho
comnletod norton OF tho Capitol. He also believed
thar cnni.ol Commissioner Perry was extravagant
and uronld exceed his estimates Mr.. Piatt was
80, ,ho ,ronrnssion that the original estimates for
The ceiling work we're prepared for Mr. Andrews by
sullivan & Rhlsrs who made the second lowest DID
Assemhlyman Vrcoland H. YOungnan, OF Albany,
ic.t;aed that no introduced bill for tho construction
Of wooden ceiling tn February, 1883 This bill
provided that the work should DO done under the
Supervision Of the President pro tam Of the senate and
tbs speaker the Assembly tbs o n T Msa nct SGe
euncman IN concluding bis evidence gave No inter-
osng evidence that tho loboynS aoBsnn
Smit,ed IL report on its Investigation OF the ceiling
scsndsi had sad 20 him that inc J, nncs .wSnit
Us report. A.. s,,n.rtntendent OF Public
TOOK charge Of him and drew OUT ne L.I ~ ana ana
Andrews had been drug cETE p ~ hisbama Tho
onIy tin tme that no had ever snperinisnded aHynlns
was when he sort OF 1na The nosition
road after no had been ktednnt1o 49,. Ts,stsasln ~