Morning journal and courier., 1892-04-02

out, which instead of being favorable to
the Big Four's side of the case were in IA
vor of the citizens side.
wALDRoN RECALLED.
AS soon as the court was called to order
Attorney Hamilton recalled ex-Clerk
Waldron and asked him to identify the
sewer committee book from which permits
are issued and to identify the handwriting
of the persons making out the permits,
the evident intention being to prove that
Mr.. Waldron was away from the office a
great part of the time and that the permits
were made out by someone else. This
completely failed, as it was emphatically
stated by the witness that the most of the
permits, which were made out by persons
other than himself, were made in his pres
ence, he being at the time busily en-
gagged in some other duty.
Ex-cITY ENGINEER HILL.
Ex-City Engineer Hill was the first wit
ness called and he testified substantially as
follows: II was first employed in the city
engineers department January 16, 1871
a little over twenty-one years ago, when
Charles H. Fowler was city engineer. In
the fall Of 1871 I was appointed assistant
engineer in charge of sewers on the recon-
mendation of the consulting engineer. AZ
ter the death of Mr.. Fowler 1 was acting
city engineer for few months and was then
elected city engineer. My work was to
make the designs and the duties of the
assistants were to make the surveys, maps,
ETC., under the city engineers supervision.
Sixty-fve of the sixty nine miles of sewers
have been made since was in charge, in
GLIDING all municipal outlets. havo atso
H. uNi ont 0f fu-f1U
miles of pavenents, and also of bridges.
l have alsu done nearly all the work at
the East Rock park on Farnam drive.
do not recall any time during my term
when any substantial complaints have
been made against me, but the criticisms
of my acts in the board of public works
were in the main from Commissioner At
water. I have never, during nay twenty
one years, been disobedient to the orders
charges have ever been made against
me. Ny first difficulty with any
of the commissioners was when
Commissioner Sullivan came into the
board. This was when the question of
the appointment of sewer inspectors ca me
up. told him that they were usually ap-
pointed by recommendation of the city
engineer Commissioner Sullivan took me
into the vault and told me that one of the
old inspectors wanted to be reappointed
and that he had worked against him
politically, and that if recommended him
for reappointment there would be trouble.
plans laid out and if you interfere there
will be war; I replied to the effect tn at
threats did not count with me and imme
diately left the room. again had trouble
with Mr.. Sullivan shortly after the cleo
ton of Mr.. Brown to the board of public
works when Mr.. Sullivan accused me of
trying to help Brown as against the board.
In the spring of 1891 there was an investi-
cation of the engineering department
During this investigation 1 was questioned
mostly by Commissioners Atwater and
investigation that affected me was whether
or not had done work outside of the
city. I told them that I had done work
out of the city, but that during the time
was in Office I had given the city ten
hours day in work, and often spent sew
eral hours of the evening in the Office on
city work. One Monday morning the
committee on supplies held a
| meeting and after the meeting
called Mr.. Atwater's attention to the fact
| that one of his teams had been reported
for carting away surplus gravel from the
Mechanic street sewer. I told the COM
missioner that this was not the first time
this thing had occurred, and I wished he
| would stop it. Mr.. Atwater became angry
and said: Mr.. Hill, that is none of your
| business to which replied that consid-
| cred that it was, and SO long as I was in
| the employ of the city I should look out
| for the city's interest. declined to make
out an order once for pipe on the New
Haven Pipe company, and in consequence
again had trouble with Commissioner At
- l.
order on the ground that E. A. Chatfield
had contract for all pipe for the board of
public works, and further, that Mr.. Atwater
was a commissioner and therefore it was
not proper for him to receive any contract
for supplies. The order was, however,
given by the committee on supplies later"
At this point Mr.. Hill gave long ex-
PLANTATION of the difficulties which had
arisen between him and Commissioner
Atwater in reference to the Prince street
sewer and also the Mechanic street sewer,
when Mr.. Atwater got the board to in
crease the price per cubic yard for carting
from fifteen to twenty-five cents and then
Mr.. Atwater began Immediately to cart
ashes.
Mr.. Hill resumed: "In reference to the
Prince street sewer matter Mr.. Carroll pre-
sented bill to the board of public works
for 500 for damages. At first the board
refused to pay the bill, but later it was re-
ferred to q committee, of which Commits
sioner Atwater was chairman. At the next
meeting Commissioner Atwater reported
in favor of paying the bill and it was paid.
Commissioner Atwater was Anthony Car
rolls bondsman on most of his contracts,
though l am unable to swear whether he
was on this particular contract or not, and
furthermore the commissioner furnished
Mr.. Carroll with his pipe"
During the reference to Anthony Car
roll in the testimony that individual was
very nervous and several times was noticed
in earnest consultation with the attorneys
for the "Big Four"
Glow about the boulevard severe" in
quired Mr.. White.
ssThe taxpayers were obliged to pay go
per cent. more than was necessary because
the advice of the city engineer and his
assistants was disregarded. There was
certain form Of sewer contract which left
the control of the work in the hands of
the city engineer. Commissioners Todd
and Sullivan were opposed to the form of
contract and wanted it changed so that
the contractors would deal directly with
the commissioners instead of through the
city engineer"
els not this form of contract one sane
toned and insisted upon by members of
v
II object" said Messrs. Doolittle and
Hamilton almost in one breath. And then
followed an interesting spat between the
several attorneys.
"Well, claim the question:" returned
Mr.. White, and the board unanimously
voted to admit the question.
The witness then answered to the effect
that the form was sanctioned and insisted
upon.
The witness resumed 1.-THE attempt to
change this form of contract has come up
repeatedly and it would have been changed
long ago but for Commissioners Leigh and
Whitney. Commissioner Todd has al
ways been strongly in favor of changing it
and 80 were the other commissioners"
HILLS cRoss-ExAM1NAT1oN.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Daley the
witness said: CATER the death of Engineer
Fowler there were two candidates for the
position, Mr.. Sylvanus Butler being one
and myself the other, but there was no
contest. I know there was disagree
mont for nearly five weeks by the COM
missioners over the appointment of sue
cessor to Mr.. Fowler, but took no part
in it."
At this point Mr.. Daley introduced
what purported to be copy of petition
asking for the appointment Of Sylyanus
Butler a. city engineer.
stMsy we see that papers" asked Judge
fsnartainJv We are MT ashamed of - ,,