The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-18
.BROOME KNOCKED OUT
His Own Experts Will Not Say
That the Bas Reliefs Are
Contrary to Speei-
feations.

Architect Louis H. Broome had to take
water at the meeting of the City Hall
Commissioners this morning. At the last
meeting of the Board he charged that
the bas .reliefs being furnished by Con-
tractor John Herman were copper and
not electro-bronze, as called for in the
specifications.
He was authorized to engage experts
to substantiate his charges, with the un-
derstandng the report of the experts
should be submitted at today's meeting.
Corporation Counsel Blair and Mr..
Broome were present when the meeting
was called to order.
President Pearson announced that Con-
tractor John Herman, his counsel, ex-
Mayor Collins and ]. H. Mullins, the
manufacturer of the disputed bas-reliefs
Mere present to Ssq feaqte tBr Broomes harg m
port from one of his experts on the
quality of the metal when this announce
ment was made.
Il am not prepared for anything like
this" he said excitedly. II had no idea
There is nothing to be lost by hearing
these gentlemen, quietly remarked
viii likely stay up for some uime.. The
question. of their compliance with the
Specifications should have been determined
definite can be settled will be when the
question of payment arises
Il will not COMMIT myself at this tl1i,; time" i'm
draw the report of the expert"
Without consulting anyone's wishes, he
walked over to Clerk Farrells desk and
took it.
THE manufacturer is here from Ohio
and must be heard SAD Gomsi9pes nnS t1
wa I wnll1d
letters here from the manufacturer, over
his own signature, setting forth the
accordance with specifications"
Il want that. report OF the. expert"
suddenly remarked President Pearson.
''I have it in my pocket and will pre-
sent it at the proper time replied
you must sustain your charges, and I
insist upon 2, having the report OF your ex-
Very reluctantly Broome gave up the
report. The gentlemen were finally ad-
It was from U. Paulson of the Hecla
Agricultural Bronze and Iron Works. 1t
was as follows:-
galvano-plastic process, but is made of
hammered copper or bronze, riveted and
soldered together, and in our judgment
the work is not worth one-half (and
probably has not cost one-half as nluoh)
as if made by the galvano process"
1--WE know, said ex-Mayor Collins,
'thdt the rel1eIS are III SlI1Gl
with the specifications.
s'Will Herman take them down if it
is shown they are not what was called
for2" asked Judge a Blair of +ba+ Fact
and l guess they will come down" said
Mr. Collins; 'sthe mere. fact that the
reliefs are UP does not change the char
acter of the metal at an
1.-THE report of this expert does not
answer the question we ask nor does IT
sustain your charge said President SID at
either copper or bronze. 1t occurs to me.
Mr.. Broome in engaging an expert you
should have found one who knew Wnat
the metal is.
Then followed discussion as to the
merits of copper, bronze, and copper
bronzed by one process OF another.
Mr. j. H. Mullins went ait Broome with
out~gloves, and in short order put tha5
gentleman in such q hole that ne caileo si
a halt BY saying Ihe was not there TO
be cross-examined. ),
tinued Mr.. Mullins Your own expert
says it is not, and | say 1t IS prone, as
and as the manufacturer, l nave mace
an affidavit that it is bronze and ,e ac-
cording to the specification. What let
ters you have from me you may reau.
I was only jollying y@ you along ION 70 fbe gee
groups l had made. You accepted the
drawings and my business with you end
"Idehy amy possible contradiction that
the metal IS not bronze as called Tor;
Vn1, charged that these panels would
fall apart in few years
"I did not" retorted Broome;, ,,;o7
Il read it in the newspapers, repileo
asYou must not believe all you read
said Broome, excitedly.
Il will believe what | read sooner tna,l =
some things people say aI tl,lsf'
good metal, why then did you nave
o9BrSo BBroome's face redeemed. but he made
~ MT ep Mullins explained that he ,e con, ear
Square Tower, and said good archltecls
Of New York preferred copper 10 electr9
he was anxious to read the lettens from
Mr. Mullins. in which the latter IS al
legged to have written that the. bas-re-
lefs We're not according to sPeGildaaiIbdi; Paaa bi,,,
not 10 Iii was finally decided to- make no
f,prtfer effort to prove the metal.
K)iernan will sue the city for his money
and expert testimony VII l,n Re anuueeo e, IN
POSITION where they are pending a oe-
Centractor Herman says he can pro
duee men who when estimatlng on TINS enrs
ing .half-figure" would be accepted by
The architect, In am affidavit made by
Mr.. Mullins and now on NE WIN the
Commissioners he says:-Inat a.5 y, pan pan,
| bronzed and not of sheet copper as
charged BY Broome. architect; and fur
fher that no metal OF any kind not
bronze was used IN se panSdfs, psad IN eSJeR1ng ining
mates, and further that said Plates are
rivetted with bronze rlvets
The question of conformity with Specl-
fications, will be settled IN court.
-~n1urr, cmprpn1s UT 0Tror