Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-14
CLAIMS OF FAV0RITISM
Contractor Riesmeyer Says the City
Used Ligonier Stone
TO ADVERTISE BOOTH AND FLINN.
His Explanation of the Extras at No. 4
Patrol Station.
POLICE SUPERINTENDENT wEIR's REPLY

W. IL AsiSSAuCyeT echooeiohoi
developments in the suit of McGhee and
Riesmeyer, contractors, against the city of
Pittsburg, for $40, 211 so, alleged to be due
for the construction of No. patrol station,
on Forbes street, Fourteenth ward. He
says he is the victim of political maneuvers,
and that he will show up something
startling when the case comes up in court
"They wanted me to drop S625 simply
because l would not engage Peabody, a
relative of Chief Bigelow, to do the paving, "
continued Mr.. Riesmeyer as his indigna-
tion reached the upper letter on the musical
scale. 81 had the work done by Long ac-
cording to specifications, with an approved
pavement and when 1 went to get my
money, Superintendent Weir informed me
that another kind of paving would hav to
be laid and that he would keep back S625
to do it. That kind of paving
is handled by no one but Peabody. They
had previously asked me to get him
to lay it, and because refused they wanted
to keep back the money to give him, as
they claimed, to fix it up. The pavement
used was at first satisfactory to Architect
Bickel. but afterward, just about the time
the work was about to commence, he and
Superintendent Weir came to me and said
they wanted another kind used. refused
and they got angry Weir is having his
revenge now. He put me off from day to
day until election time, but after the ring
ticket won he told me to go ahead and sue.
Had to Use Ligonier stone.
The other extras are for Ligonier stone
and slight changes in the plans. When I
took the contract, L supposed sand stone
was to be used and prepared to get it, but
Chief Brown informed me that must put
in Ligonier stone. Ligonier costs about four
times as much as other kinds and is an ex-
pertinent in building, 1t was furnished by
Booth & Finn and the city's object in de-
manding that it be used was to exhibit it in
that Booth & Finn will get
market refused to be made a political
tool and would not commence the work.
They said they would sue my bondsmen.
We negotiated over the matter for several
months, and an agreement was finally made
whereby the city promised to pay me for
the extra expense. That amounts to about
S11 900. 1t is clear case of putting up the
money to advertise Booth & Finn, but
that is none of my business provided I get
the money. The other extra expenses are
changes in the plans, and have no political
significance.
'The thing that makes me an ,ry is
the treatment 1 got from Superin-
They say they will pay me all I
will not settle without getting ALL After
the election they both gave me the cold
shoulder, but before they treated me as nice
as possible"
Weirs Side Of the Story.
Superintendent of Police Gamble Weir
was asked about Riesmeyer's charges last
night, and said the trouble with him was
that he had taken the contract about S. 900
up the cost of bad business transaction.
With regard to the assertion that Ligonier
stone had been used to advertise Booth &
Finn, Mr. Weir said:
eff a man orders ham and eggs in q res
taurant he doesn't want beefsteak, and
when the city ordered Ligonier stone they
didn't want sand stone. 1t wasn't for the
contractor to decide which was the better.
He took the contract to use Ligonier stone
and neuchatel or cysalrock paving, and we
didn't care who he bought them from. He
used the Ligonier stone as required,
but did not use the specified paving.
We will not pay extra for the stone, as he
states, and will retain enough money to put
in the paving we want. The extras that
" ere ordered amount to about $500. The
contract price was s19, $50, of which S16,659
has been paid, leaving balance of SO, 291.
Add to this $500 for extras and subtract the
cost of paving and the sum represents what
we are willing to pay. Riesmeyer has not
paid number of his sub-contractors, and as
.lfey cannot get lien on public building,
hey will probably lose the money"
Mayor Gourley was asked about the mat
;er, but refused to talk. He said he did not
know anything about it. An attempt was
made to see Chief Brown, but he could not
De found.