The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-24
SIMPSON UNDER Fire I
Testimony Begun in the Nc
Dermott Asphalt Ger
tiorari Case.
THE AWARD OF The CONTRACTS.
Rarber Company's Representative
Tod Mr.. simpson All About
the lribidad Company.

United States Commissioner R1mains
has begun taking testimony in the
certiorari proceedings brought by Allan
L.. McDermott In the matter of the
award by the Street aud Water Com.
missioners TO the Barber Asphalt Com.
pany of q larger part of the asphalt
paving which was proposed TO be
done. The certiorarI proceedings
were brought on the gr ound that the
award was Informal, owing to the fact
that the Barber Comp any was the highs
est bidder, and rs such was not entitled
to any of The work.
The proceedings, which will Ds aired in
court. will disclose as usual some highly
sensational matters.
MR.. M'DERMoTT's STAND.
Mr.. McDermott, in conducting the case
for the State. testified that he was, IA resi-
dent and tax pavsr of Jersey Civ, being
assessed about $4,000. AS a tax payer
ne objects to the award to the Barber
Company on economic aud legal or FUNDS.
ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE SIMPSON SATISFIED.
Aldermau-at-lnrgs Simpson vas ms
only witness sworn yesterday. Mr..
Simpson le ,tiied That while acting as
Mayor on August 30 he communicated
with the Street aud Wafer Commission.
ers GU the matter of asphalt.
DID You write that letter." asked Mr..
McDermott.
Ibid not" was the reply, "but I sane
toned it by signing It,. The only writing
l did was in attaching my signature to
it.n
d you remember ths analysis of the
true brands of asphalt that were sub
mltted to your"
II do not"
either2"
II go not"
do you know what asphalt is?"
Il understand it is a substance taken
from Trinidad Lake aud compounded
with chemicals"
VINO directed you to ask the Trinidad
Company not to sublet any contract
given it!"
Il really cannot say"
did not the Trinidad Company agree
to guarantee its work for ten yearsi"
ut did"
HIS EXCUSE,
why then did you suggest that the
work be given to the Barber Company
when you knew that it would cost the
city many thousands more than if done by
the Trinidad Company?"
II was inform-1," replied Mr., Simp.
son. that the Trinidad Company had
never laid a yard of pavement but always
suble5 its work."
Who told you not to sign the asphalt
resolutions for this company"
1.-The City Counsel"
did You examine the work done by the
Trinidad Company on Broad street, New
York;"
Il did," was the reply. "and 1 was told
that it was not done by the
but by an outside contractor"
INFORMED BY H BARBER COMPANY.
Who gave you that Information Pr
kGAf. h---.- HsL
Were you In New York with that
kentlemanf"
II was"
"How did you come to advise the Street
and Water Board to divide the contracts
between the two companiesf"
because l wanted both companies to
establish plants here in case more work
was TO be done. / knew of the ability
OF tho Barber Company to do work, hut
| was not positive about the Trinidad"
Nv nat was the extreme and peculiar
character of the business of those con.
tracts. and why did you favor giving the
Barber Company work that they wanted
$780, 500 for when the Trinidad Company
would do 1t for S41. 982 Pr
II thought we would get better work.
At this point Mr.. McDermott offered in
evidence an article published in The JEI,-
sEY CITY NEWS on August 16, in which
was described the policy of President
Madden md MesSrs. Yoe audCook in CO ~
Dining against Msssrs. Dugan and Som,
ers, aud ~railroading a resolution through
the Board which was contrary to the
law, relative to the award of contracts to
the highest bidders.
A LITTLE COMBINATION.
There appears to have been a little
combination in favor of the Barber Com.
pany, and Mr.. McDermott is determined
to show it up, and also to show the
nncitinno Of tho ~ IF oj,1
The testimony OF Mr.. Simpson will be
submitted to Judge Lippiucott, ana ar
Rument In the case will be begun as soon
as possible.
Some ono is going to get hurt before
Mr.. McDermoEt drops the case.